§ Mr. WyattTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Carers Grant is additional to the amount county councils have already spent on respite care; how much Kent County Council will receive from the Carers Grant; and if he will make a statement. [126247]
§ Mr. HuttonThe carers special grant is allocated to local authorities to stimulate the diversity and flexibility of provision that enables carers to have a break from caring. Services funded in this way must be additional to any breaks services previously provided.
Kent County Council received a carers special grant of £530,713 in 1999–2000 and £1,264,352 in 2000–01.
These figures are in addition to the figure of approximately £197 million and £207 million which Kent received for the provision of personal social services, in 1999–2000 and in 2000–01 respectively, through the standard spending assessment. This money can also be spent on services which benefit carers.