§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress being made by the inter-departmental working group established to examine the issue of free personal care for people in residential homes. [122355]
§ Angela SmithThe Northern Ireland Executive commissioned work on free personal care and a report was forwarded to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on 8 August 2002. Following discussion at the Executive on 12 August, Ministers asked for further work to be undertaken. The inter-departmental group has reviewed a number of costed options that will be adjusted to current levels of provision at the time a further report is made to a new devolved Administration.
It is not possible at this stage to give any indication about the timing or subsequent handling of the report, since this is a matter which should be determined by the Northern Ireland Executive.