§ Ms LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if additional funding in the form of a ring-fenced grant will be made available to Welsh local authorities to provide the means for carers to have a break from their caring responsibilities. [70954]
Mr. Jon Owen JonesThe Welsh local government revenue settlement is not hypothecated. We are consulting widely with carers, their representatives and local authorities about how the National Strategy for Carers, announced by the Deputy Prime Minister on 8 February 1999, should be implemented in Wales. Final decisions will be taken by the National Assembly for Wales.
567WFollowing the transfer of powers, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.