§ Mr. Meacherasked the. Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up an independent inspectorate to inspect residential homes, nursing homes and similar institutions throughout the public, voluntary and private sectors.
§ Mr. John Patten[pursuant to his reply, 26 October 1984, c. 756]: No. When this proposal was canvassed following the issue of the consultation document ' A Good Home" in 1982, the balance of advantage was considered to lay in local statutory authorities continuing to carry out the registration and inspection functions. This view was confirmed during the passage of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act last year when the Opposition were at one with the Government in leaving these duties with local authorities. Regulations coming into effect on 1 January 1985 will strengthen and improve the powers of authorities to perfonn these functions.
On a national level, the social work service, the health advisory service and the national development team for mentally handicapped people advise authorities on the performance of these functions and visit the homes run by the authorities themselves.