§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of private residential care and nursing homes employed staff who are suitably qualified, for each year for which figures are available since 1979.
§ Mrs. CurrieI regret that information is not available in the form requested. It is a statutory requirement that all nursing homes provide adequate professional, technical, ancillary and other staff. Similarly, residential care homes must employ sufficient suitably qualified and competent staff for the well being of residents. Available information is given in the table.
Registered Private Institutions 2 as at 31 December, England Year All Institutions Qualified Nursing Staff W.T.E. 1982 1,214 12,208 1983 1,316 13,754 1984 1,491 15,446 1985 1,833 18,354 11986 (latest available) 2,266 21,683 1 Comparable statistics were not collected prior to 1982. 2 Private hospitals, homes and clinics registered under section 23 of the Registered Homes Act 1984.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Wakefield,Official Report, column 58, 11 July, he will state why his Department does not collect information about the percentage of residents in private residential care and private nursing homes who are in receipt of income support; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloThe cost of collecting the information in the form requested would be disproportionately large.