5.4  Capital investment in social services

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

  1.  The information requested is provided in Table 5.4.1

  5.4.2  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? [5.5.3]

  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:

  3.  Four further Councils will be ready to submit their Outline Business Cases in the winter and they are Wirral, Birmingham, Sandwell and Hertfordshire.

  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.

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

  1.  Table 5.4.3 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.