§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider establishing an independent inspectorate to monitor and assess the quality of residential and nursing care.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 1 March 1989]: I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 23 February at columns 794–95.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of Government spending on community care is allocated to residential care.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 1 March 1989]: Residential care is funded by local authorities and not directly by central Government, other than through contribution made by social security benefits which are, of course, a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security. About half of local authority service expenditure on the personal social services goes on residential care.