Standards may vary from one local authority to another. But since the United Kingdom is relatively homogeneous, the standards may be expected to approximate to each other over time. It is said that the standards of civilised society as interpreted by the social services committee of a particular local authority is too imprecise a concept to be of any practical value. I do not agree. But even if it were so, I do not see how it becomes less imprecise by bringing into consideration the availability of resources.
Resources can, of course, operate to impose a cash limit on what is provided.
This, as it seems to me, is the fallacy which lies at the heart of the Council's argument. The point can be illustrated by a simple example. Suppose there are two people with identical disabilities, living in identical circumstances, but in different parts of the country. His needs remain exactly the same. They cannot be affected by the local authority's inability to meet those needs.