§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the circumstances in which responsibility for social services would be removed from a local authority; and if he will make a statement. [43235]
§ Jacqui SmithIt is for local councils with social services responsibilities to meet their statutory obligations and achieve best value for the people they serve. We have agreed a protocol on the use of intervention powers with the Local Government Association. This forms Annex D of the (former) Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Circular 10/99, which has been placed in the Library. The protocol sets out the framework to discuss policy for the use of the intervention powers set out in the Local Government Act 1999. It states
Except in cases of serious service failure or unless there is a need for urgent intervention the authority will normally be given the opportunity to make the necessary improvements itself.My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health would only use the powerto transfer responsibility to another local authority or third partywhen it was necessary to protect the lives of vulnerable children and adults.