§ 10. Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make an official visit to the York house residential home, Plaistow, to meet residents and staff to discuss levels of residential care attendance.
§ Mr. NewtonI have no plans to do so.
§ Mr. SpearingIs the Secretary of State aware that although he will still be welcome there, York house residential home is closed? Is he further aware that that is because the Government have neglected to act on the findings of the Price Waterhouse report, which showed that the income of residential homes from social security is between £40 and £60 a week less than the general requirement? Will he now consult not only Price Waterhouse, but the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and Age Concern over this very important national problem? Does he understand that more homes will be closed, not only in east London but throughout the country, unless he acts quickly?
§ Mr. NewtonI am, of course, aware of the problems that have been reported in connection with that home. However, I am also aware that it appears that the problem 13 in that case and, for all I know, in many others, is somewhat more complicated than the hon. Gentleman allowed in his question. In particular, I understand that of those currently remaining in the home—
§ Mr. SpearingThere is no one there.
§ Mr. NewtonI am told that there are still a number of people in the home, not on income support but fully supported by the health authority, which must mean that they are in need not of residential care, but of nursing care. That, in turn, raises questions about whether the home was properly registered. If it had been registered as a nursing home, it would have received substantially more money each week for those residents and they would be facing a large increase next April. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will accept that I do not dismiss his comments out of hand, but he should recognise that some of these problems are a great deal more complicated than is sometimes suggested in the newspapers.