Written question asked by Richard Taylor (Independent (affiliation)) on Tuesday, 29 January 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 31 January 2008. It was answered by Ann Keen (Labour) on Thursday, 21 February 2008 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Local Authorities: Public Participation

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she is taking to monitor the expenditure of local authorities on LINks; what restrictions there are on the ways in which such local authority money can be spent; and how compliance with such restrictions is monitored by her Department.

Answer: I have been asked to reply.The level of the local authority contribution to the local involvement network (LINk) is a matter for individual councils. Government funding for local authorities' responsibilities in this area has been added into Area Based Grant.As part of its annual reporting to the Secretary of State, a LINk will be asked to declare the amount of funding made available to it in order that it might carry out its activities as set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

Secondary information