§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning transfer of financial responsibilities for residential care from local authorities to supplementary benefit; what replies he has sent; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonI assume the hon. Member has in mind the interpretation that has been placed in some quarters on the November 1983 supplementary benefit amending regulations governing payment to people in residential care and nursing homes. The Department has received a number of representations from local authority social services interests and others which presuppose that those regulations were intended to effect a transfer of financial responsibility from local authorities to supplementary benefit. In reply, the Department has made it clear that the regulations were intended to regularise and clarify the existing arrangements for supplementary benefit support in such cases, and not to extend the scope of benefit support. Local authorities' statutory responsibilities remain unchanged and there is no question of a shift in Government policy on financial responsibility for residential care.