§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many hospital patients are(a) exempted from community charge or (b) receiving community charge benefits.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe estimated numbers of hospital patients exempt from community charge in England and Wales are in the table.
England Wales Persons whose sole or main residence is an NHS hospital or NHS nursing home 42,000 3,800 Persons whose sole or main residence is a Residential care home Nursing home Mental nursing home Private hospital Hostel providing a substantial level of care, and also being treated or cared for in such an institution. 321,000 23,800 Total 363,000 27,600 The information for Scotland is not available.
Information on the number of hospital patients receiving community charge benefit is not available.
§ Mr. Maxwell-HyslopTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of the cost to Mid-Devon district council of administering community charge benefit will be reimbursed in 1990–91; and what proportion of that cost will be reimbursed in his Department's plans for 1991–92 and each of the ensuing three years.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe Department directly reimburses 50 per cent. of local authorities' estimated474W administrative needs through a cash-limited specific grant; the remaining 50 per cent. is taken into account in the local authority finance settlements. The specific grant is distributed between authorities according to a formula agreed with local authority representatives. In 1990–91, Mid-Devon's share of the specific grant was £48,538; this includes the additional money for the work arising from the capital limit changes announced in the budget. Although next year's overall totals have been announced, the distributional formula has yet to be decided. The arrangements for future years will be kept under review.