HC Deb 10 July 1974 vol 876 cc491-3W
44. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total cost to the national Exchequer of geriatric services, including geriatric hospital wards; and what is the estimated cost of such services provided by local authorities, including the cost of health

Dr. Gilbert,

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 3rd July 1974], gave the following information:

The information for those years for which regional figures are available is as follows:

visitors and other officers engaged in helping the aged.

Dr. Owen

The extent to which services are used to help the aged cannot always be specifically identified and precise figures not available. Figures for the financial year 1971–72 suggest, however, that in England the revenue costs—at November 1972 prices—of hospital geriatric services might have been of the order of £95 million and of services provided by local authorities about £140 million. Provisional figures for capital expenditure in 1973–74 were £25 million and £23 million respectively.