Clause 52 - Disregarding of resources when determining need for residential accommodation
Health and Social Care Bill
9:15 pm
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam, Liberal Democrat)
I am grateful to the Minister for setting out the legal basis on which local authorities are meant to operate and to refresh the Committee's memory about recent guidelines and guidance . I am sure that it is all very helpful.
The concern I have drawn to the Committee's attention through the amendment is that with all that good will and guidance, and even the statutory underpinning that the Minister has described, evidence has been provided—as recently as last year by the Nuffield Foundation—that breaches are occurring.
The question that I hope the Minister can address is, with all the guidance, what measures are being taken to ensure compliance? What steps are being taken in respect of SSI inspections, for example, to ensure that compliance is actually being achieved? We have beginnings of the new performance regime in terms of SSI inspectors going to see departments every year to talk about services. Is this issue being explored? It would have been useful for the Minister to have addressed that concern. Nevertheless, it is useful to have on the record the statutory position. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.