HC Deb 21 May 1986 vol 98 c223W
Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate how many private and voluntary homes have closed since the introduction of the new board and lodging arrangements.

Mr. Newton

Information collected centrally on nursing and registered residential care homes relates to the number operating on a particular day in each year and does not indicate how many may have closed or opened over a particular period. The latest available information for example is that the total number of private and voluntary residential care homes in England rose from 5,774 at 31 March 1984 to 7,021 (provisional) at 31 March 1985.