§ Ms Rosie WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how the Government intends to take forward the implementation in England of the Supporting People programme. [138765]
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§ Mr. RaynsfordA consultation paper entitled 'Phased Implementation' was published on 17 May, inviting all the major stakeholders, local authorities, probation services, health authorities and provider organisations to give us their views on the implementation process for this programme. Specifically they were asked to say whether they supported the view that implementation should be phased.
The responses to the consultation paper have been most helpful to our decision making on this issue, and I am today publishing a summary of the analysis of the consultation responses. Copies are being placed in the Library and will be sent to all those who made responses.
The overwhelming response from stakeholders was that Supporting People should be implemented in all local authorities in England at the same time, and that phasing the programme would only add unnecessary complexities and cause confusion for authorities, their partner organisations, providers and service users.
Following publication of the consultation paper, the Comprehensive Spending Review made available substantial resources for the implementation of this programme, the majority of which will be used to resource implementation at a local level.
The Supporting People programme will therefore be implemented across England in April 2003.