HC Deb 12 June 1984 vol 61 cc442-4W
24. Mr. Terry Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will set up a review body to consider the operation of new provisions on private residential homes for the elderly.

Mr. John Patten

I presume the hon. Member refers to the provisions in the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983, governing the registration of residential care homes which include homes for the elderly. It is proposed to bring these provisions into force later this year when a range of supporting material is ready. At this stage it is too soon to contemplate a review of the operations of these new measures.

26. Mr. Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much he estimates will be spent on sponsorship by his Department of residents in private old people's homes in the next financial year.

Dr. Boyson

I assume the hon. Member has in mind supplementary benefit payments to those residents and patients in residential care and nursing homes who are not sponsored by local authorities or supported by health authorities under contractual arrangements, and who claim supplementary benefit to meet or help meet the charge made.

The latest available figures indicate that at December 1982 there were 14,000 supplementary pensioners in private and voluntary homes and that the average amount of benefit in payment, including an allowance to cover personal expenses but net of any resources such as retirement pension which fall to be taken into account in assessing the claimant's entitlement, was £47.27. I would expect expenditure in the 1984 financial year to increase to reflect demographic change, the effect of inflation on the homes' charges, and the uprating of the personal expenses allowance.

38. Mr. Weetch

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) private residential homes for the elderly and (b) local authority residential homes for the elderly there were in Norwich (i) in 1979 and (ii) at the present time.

Mr. John Patten

The precise information requested is not available centrally. I give below the number of homes whose postal address is shown as Norwich and which are designated as being for elderly people.

As at 31 March
1980 1983
Local authority homes 18 18
Private homes 17 20

If the hon. Member requires further information he may like to consult the Director of Social Services of Norfolk county council.

39. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the Government's policy towards enabling the elderly to stay in their own homes rather than go into residential homes for the elderly.

Mr. John Patten

It is the Government's policy that elderly people should be able to stay in their own homes for as long as practicable and that statutory, voluntary and private services should combine to facilitate this, in cooperation with family and friends where and when possible.

57. Mr. Bell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the new code of practice on residential homes for the elderly will be enforced.

Mr. John Patten

The code is a non-statutory document drawn up by an independent working party and is intended to provide a framework that will help registration authorities in their registration, inspection and support functions, and to assist those running homes to clarify their aims and objectives. We intend that it should be regarded by local authorities in the same light as general guidance that we issue from time to time under powers at section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970. The recommendations in the code are discretionary rather than mandatory for authorities. However, when considering applications for registration, or when inspecting premises, registration authorities should take these recommendations into account along with other relevant guidance to see whether the statutory provisions and those in the regulations governing registration are met, for example, that the accommodation and the space allotted to each resident for their care by day and by night is reasonable.

58. Miss Maynard

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will establish a procedure for monitoring the increased number of private residential homes for the elderly.

Mr. John Patten

I refer the hon. Member to the reply to the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman) on 10 February 1984 at columns820–21.