To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the net expenditure from the carers grant by each social services authority in England (a) was in each year since 1997–98 and (b) is projected for financial year 2003–04. [122383]

The figures for net expenditure are not collected centrally.The Carers Grant started in 1999–2000 and information on gross expenditure is available for 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02. A copy of these figures has been placed in the Library.