To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will undertake an investigation of the public interest implications of local authorities withholding money for administrative purposes from LINKs budgets. (247680)

We have no plans to do so.

In line with wider Government policy to encourage greater local accountability, funding to support the establishment and operation of local involvement networks (LINks) has been given to local authorities as part of the annual area based grant. Local authorities with social services responsibilities are under a duty (set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act, 2007) to make arrangements for the activities of LINks to be carried on in their area. It is for each local authority to decide how to use the allocated funding to fulfil this duty.