§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) whether his Department sanctioned Gloucestershire county council's accumulation of uncollected rents from Coverage Care (Gloucestershire) Ltd.; and what steps his Department is taking in the matter; [155230]
(2) what financial guarantees he has approved Gloucestershire county council to make in order for (a) Coverage Care (Gloucestershire) Ltd. and (b) a successor body to continue to operate elderly care homes; [155231]
(3) what contingency arrangements his Department has made to prevent closure of care homes run by Coverage Care (Gloucestershire) Ltd.; what liabilities will be undertaken by Gloucestershire county council; and whether any liabilities will be funded by council tax revenues. [155232]
§ Yvette CooperSection 25 of the Local Government Act 1988 requires the consent of the Secretary of State to be obtained if a local authority decides to give financial assistance in connection with elderly persons' residential accommodation.
The Secretary of State consented to Gloucestershire county council giving financial assistance in 1994 when the current arrangements with Coverage Care (Gloucestershire) Ltd were entered into. In 1999, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister granted a general consent to all local authorities in England to give financial assistance in various circumstances. No other consent has been sought by the Council or 60W granted. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not sanctioned the accumulation of uncollected rents from Coverage Care.
Powers to make arrangements for residential care are vested in local authorities and therefore it is the responsibility of Gloucestershire county council to deliver this service to the public. Consequently, it is not for Government to make contingency arrangements.