§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to collect data on the average cost of providing residential and nursing home care in advance of the implementation of community care.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe Department receives representations from interested organisations and individuals, including information on costs. In addition, last year the Department commissioned Price Waterhouse Management Consultants to undertake a survey into the costs of running residential care and nursing homes and a copy of that report is available in the Library. We have no current plans to undertake a similar exercise.