HC Deb 15 April 1964 vol 693 cc63-4W
Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how long it will be before all the old public assistance institutions now used as residential accommodation for old people will be replaced, based on the known plans of local authorities.

Mr. Noble

Local authorities have been asked to consider whether institutions in use before the National Assistance Act, 1948, came into operation can be brought into line with modern standards or whether they must be replaced. No set date has been fixed for the replacement of all such institutions.

Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many old people are in residential welfare accommodation provided by local authorities; what proportion this figure represents of the total number of such people requiring such accommodation on the basis of local authority waiting lists; and what is the annual rate of new provision.

Mr. Noble

At 16th December, 1963, there were 6,411 persons, mostly old people, in residential accommodation provided by local authorities, including welfare accommodation made available to local authorities by hospital boards. Information about the total numbers on local authorities' waiting lists is not available. During the five years 1959 to 1963, 648 places have been provided in new homes or extensions to existing homes; over 200 places are expected to be added in 1964, and more than this, we hope, in 1965.

Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of old people in local authority residential accommodation is in former public assistance institutions; how old is the oldest of such institutions; and how many are between 50 and 100 years old, and over 100 years old, respectively.

Mr. Noble

At the end of last year 56 per cent. of all the residents in local authority residential accommodation were in establishments which were in use for similar purposes before the National Assistance Act, 1948, came into force. The other information requested is not readily available, and to obtain it would involve a disproportionate expenditure of labour.