By JASON BEATTIE Political Editor DAVID Cameron refused to protect funding for respite care yesterday, as he faced claims he was "washing his hands" over the case of Holly Vincent.
The Prime Minister came under fire after admitting he had lifted rules forcing councils to spend money helping disabled people.
He rejected calls to look again at the decision even though it could affect thousands of families just like the Vincents.
Mr Cameron said he had "every sympathy" for the parents of severely disabled Holly but denied her plight was linked to Government cuts. He said: "I don't believe there's a relationship between the cuts that are taking place nationally and this individual case."
Downing Street said it was providing £800million over the next four years towards respite for carers of disabled children.
But the money is not ring-fenced, meaning councils are not obliged to spend it on respite care and can use it to fund other services.
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Mr Cameron's spokesman said the Government decided not to ring-fence the money because town halls should decide how to spend their funds – not central government.
Asked if the decision meant the Government was "washing its hands" of any responsibility, he replied: "It is the Government's judgment that these decisions are best made at a local level.
"That doesn't mean we are not involved in it. We have set up the system and therefore we are responsible for the system."
But Holly's mother Riven said that the amount of money was still not enough – and it should have been protected.
Shadow Education Secretary Andy Burnham warned of the financial and human cost in the long term. He said: "When council cuts bite, more parents and carers won't be able to cope. That ends up costing society more. These are the dangers of cutting too far, too fast."
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