Select Committee on Health Memoranda


5.5 Capital Investment in Social Services

  5.5.1  Could the Department update the figures provided last year on the acquisition, upgrade and sale of personal social services assets? [5.9a]

  1.  Updated figures are provided in Table 5.5.1. While the figures show a decrease in provision and expenditure, we expect a small increase in response to recent increased provision by Government.

Table 5.5.1

LOCAL AUTHORITY PERSONAL SOCIAL SERVICES CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND INCOME 1996-97 TO 2001-02            

£ million



1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
provisional
2001-02
provisional
Maintenance14.211.8 10.910.412.7 16.1
New acquisitions165.8 138.2129.1123.6 150.3186.9
TOTAL SPEND180150 140134163 203
Sale of buildings35.2 34.442.440.8 49.676.8
Sale of equipment8.88.6 10.610.212.4 19.2
TOTAL SALES4443 535162 96
NET SPEND136107 8783101 107


  Note—figures may not sum due to rounding

5.5  Capital Investment in Social Services

  5.5.2  Could the Department comment on the outcome for personal social services of the Capital Challenge Pilot Fund scheme? [5.9b]

  1.  The Capital Challenge Pilot Fund scheme was launched in 1996 and is no longer in operation. The Department has nothing further to add to its reply in 1998.

5.5  Capital Investment in Social Services

  5.5.3  Could the Department provide an update on PFI projects currently supported, or being considered by the Departments, and state its criteria for supporting such projects? [5.9c]

  1.  The Department's criteria for supporting PFI projects remains unchanged: the Department is seeking to support innovative approaches to problems associated with social exclusion. This can apply to any social services client group such as older people, children, people with learning disabilities and people with mental health needs. The Department sponsors projects that are part of long term strategic service planning, that provide evidence of value for money and of flexibility.

  2.  The following PFI projects have been approved to date:
DudleyHealth and Social Care Centre
EalingResource Centres for Older People
EnfieldResource Centre for Older People with Cognitive Impairment
GreenwichNeighbourhood Resource Centres for Older People
Hammersmith & FulhamNursing Care and Extra Care Housing for Older People
HarrowCare Services for Older People
HarrowMixed Services for People with Learning Disability and Mental Health   needs
KentIntegrated Health and Social Care Services
KentIntegrated Health and Social Care Services
NorthamptonSpecialist Care Services for Older People with Dementia
PortsmouthMixed Services for People with Learning Disabilities
RichmondCare Services for Older People
StaffordshireChildren's Small Homes
SurreyServices for Older People
WestminsterResource Centre for Older People


  3.  Four further Councils will be ready to submit their Outline Business Cases in the Autumn and they are: Birmingham, Coventry, Sandwell and Shropshire.

  4.  Social Services PFI is increasing steadily, now expanding to people with learning disabilities and people with mental health needs. The demand for services for older people remains the highest. Generally, much of the demand is in response to Local Authorities' long-term strategic planning and Best Value reviews of their current provision of care services for social services client groups, for example, residential and nursing care for older people. Social Services' joint working with health is well established, with some developing partnerships with other key services such as housing.

5.5  Capital Investment in Social Services

  5.5.4  Could the Department compare actual capital spend by social services departments with the funding provided through credit approvals and capital grants? [5.9d]

  1.  Table 5.5.4 compares actual capital spend by social services departments with the funding provided through credit approvals and capital grants. The table shows that central government capital funding is only one source of capital for Local Authorities. Local Authorities can fund their capital requirements in other ways, through capital receipts, joint funding, EC funding and through the Private Finance Initiative.

Table 5.5.4

LOCAL AUTHORITY PERSONAL SOCIAL SERVICES CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, DEPARTMENTAL CAPITAL GRANTS AND CREDIT APPROVALS 1996-97 to 2001-02
£ million1996-97 1997-981998-99 1999-20002000-01 2001-02
TOTAL SPEND180150 140134163 203
Capital grants27.213.2 8.26.28.2 9.3
Credit approvals102.9 68.253.755.7 55.755.7
TOTAL PROVISION130.181.4 626263.9 65


  Note—figures may not sum due to rounding

5.5  Capital Investment in Social Services

  5.5.5  How many social services departments have retained social services assets but changed their use? What have been the net gains and losses to different social services sectors?

  1.  The Department does not collate or hold this information centrally.

October 2002


 
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Prepared 17 February 2003