LETTERS

摘要

Your survey (The MJ 18 February, p12-13) raises some interesting points about the extent to which financial powers should be devolved. The gradualist approach, which is what we have currently, is that as grant is phased out so local authorities take a more proactive interest in raising money by other means, the most obvious being charging and trading. However, I do not see the income from these activities being able to fill the bottomless black hole of adult social care and as charging and trading depend on the vagaries of the economy they are not a stable source of income. Whatever happens, the Government is going to have to work out a formula to fund adult care because you cannot expect such a vital service to rely on an erratic income base.