§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state for each year since 1979 the numbers of claimants of supplementary benefit or income support towards the cost of private residential care who have subsequently claimed benefit towards the costs of private nursing care and then again claimed towards the cost of private residential care.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants in the Wakefield benefit office's area are currently claiming towards the cost of(a) private nursing care, (b) private residential care and (c) voluntary nursing or residential care.
§ Miss WiddecombeI understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.