§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many households are estimated to be eligible for direct payments for community care on eligibility criteria(a) if restricted to physically disabled recipients aged under 65 years, (b) if restricted to physically or mentally disabled recipients with no age limit and (c) as 77W listed in paragraph 15 of the consultants paper on the Community Care (Direct Payments) Bill. [20455]
§ Mr. BowisIt is not possible to estimate accurately how many households will be eligible for direct payments. The number of households receiving home help and home care services provides an indication, but it cannot give a complete picture as direct payments will also be available in lieu of other non-residential community care services.
In 1994, local authorities provided home help and home care services to 538,900 households in England. Households may, of course, include more than once client. The oldest client was aged 65 or over in 478,600 households-89 per cent. of the total. Out of the total of 54,500 households receiving home help and home care services where the oldest client was between the ages of 18 and 64, 32,500 households were receiving services for clients with physical and/or sensory disabilities, and 4,110 were receiving such services for clients with learning disabilities. Figures are not available by client group for those aged 65 or over, but a substantial proportion of clients in the 478,600 households are likely to be people with physical or learning disabilities.