To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to issue statutory guidance to local authorities requiring them to enter into contract with care home providers which fully protect residents' Article 8 rights. [112377]

[holding answer 13 May 2003]: The Department currently has no plans to provide guidance on standard contractual terms in areas that might be affected by case law on Article 8 rights. We would expect local authorities to have proper regard to the Human Rights Act, including in cases where they enter into arrangements with others for the provision of services. In any cases of difficulty, local authorities can call upon their own legal advisers.