To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance has been given to local authorities on the extent of the financial assessment which should be undertaken when considering whether individuals receiving long-term support under the Supporting People programme are eligible to pay charges; and whether individuals' debts and monthly outgoings should be taken into account. (182185)

[holding answer 25 January 2008]: The Department has issued guidance (“Supporting People (England) Directions 2007/08”) which states that each administrating authority is required to set out in its Supporting People strategy the rules for charging of service recipients, which must include:

(i) the circumstances in which there is to be relief from charges;

(ii) the process for making an application for relief

(iii) the rules for determining the relevant date of application; and

(iv) details of the review mechanism which is to apply where a service recipient disputes any decision under the charging rules.