§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to publish information about the new limits on board and lodging expenses he will bring in following the review of November 1983; and if he will make a statement about his intentions in this respect.
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§ Dr. BoysonI am arranging for a list of the local limits that have been set on the amounts of supplementary benefit payable to meet charges for board and lodging accommodation, residential care homes, and nursing homes, to be placed in the Library of the House. A full explanation of the system of local limits is given in chapter 6 of the "Supplementary Benefits Handbook", and I am also placing in the Library a set of background notes on supplementary benefit for people in residential accommodation and nursing homes. The new limits indicate the maximum amounts of benefit payable to meet charges in the areas concerned. The benefit paid reflects the actual charge, which will generally be lower. We are arranging for the collection of up-to-date information so that we can see how the criteria for fixing the upper limits are operating and can assess their effectiveness.