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From the Minister of State
Department of Health
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London SW1A 2NS
1 March 2001
POH(4)1689/1949
Councillor Cliff Morris,
Social Services North West
Dear Cliff,
Thank you for your letter of 10 January about the local government finance settlement. I apologise for the delay in replying.
The level of resources for social services next year will be just over £9.8 billion, 6.2% more than in 2000-01. Within that increase the standard spending assessment will increase by 4.7%, and there will be significant increases in the grants made available by this Department to improve specific areas of social services. For example, the significant increases in the grants we are making available to improve children services, mental health services and services for the more frail or elderly members of society. I believe these increases in funding demonstrate our commitment to improving the quality and quantity of the social care services that are available. The people supported by the social services authorities in the North West will directly benefit by this commitment by the Government. It is for individual local councils to ensure that the resources are used to best effect and to maximise the outcomes for the people who receive social services.
I have, of course, seen and examined the recent LGA/ADSS survey that you refer to in your letter. Indeed, I met Sir Jeremy Beecham on 14 February to discuss the implementations for social services authorities. As you point out the survey identifies that a large element of the overspend is on children's services, an area where we have targeted significant resources at, since we came to office. We take these issues very seriously and my officials are meeting with the ADSS to try and establish the reasons for the growth in the number of children looked after and to decide upon a way forward.
Yours,
(signed) John
JOHN HUTTON
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