Integrated Community Equipment Services

HL Deb 07 July 2003 vol 651 c16WA

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress has been made in developing integrated community equipment services. [HL3707]

Lord Warner

Of the 150 areas in England where there are expected to be integrated community equipment services, 111 (74 per cent) are indicating currently that they will achieve local integration by the target date of April 2004. The Integrating Community Equipment Services Team are supporting the remainder to achieve integration as soon as possible. Removal of the power of councils to charge for community equipment, which came into effect 9 June 2003, will further help integration by aligning councils' equipment charging regimes with the National Health Service.