§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the source is of the moneys to be allocated to social services departments through the community care services specific grant. [8918]
§ Jacqui Smith:[holding answer 22 October 2001]: The £300 million allocated to councils over this year and next is additional funding for social care. The increase in the 559W personal social services settlement for 2001–02 over 2000–01 is now 4.7 per cent. in real terms compared with 3.7 per cent. before this grant was announced. Similarly, the increase is now 3.7 per cent. in 2002–03 compared with 2.9 per cent. before this grant was announced.
Recognising the key role that local government has to play in delivering community services, £80 million of this funding has been provided by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, and a further £20 million from Her Majesty's Treasury. The remaining £200 million will come from resources the Department has identified which previously were not earmarked for social services.