§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the availability of respite care; and if he will make a statement. [37610]
§ Mr. BoatengThe Social Services Inspectorate is currently conducting a special study to establish the availability and quality of short-term breaks. The report of this work, which is intended to help authorities in devising and delivering appropriate and cost effective services, will be available later this year.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research underlay the recent estimates of the Minister of State, Baroness Jay, relating to the cost of short-term care breaks based on a legally-based rights system. [37609]
§ Mr. BoatengThe 1990 General Household Survey estimated that in Great Britain there are 700,000 carers providing 50 or more hours of care a week. The calculation of the cost of short-term breaks quoted by my noble Friend the Baroness Jay of Paddington on 30 March 1998 was based on the cost of providing one day of respite care per month for this number of people, using an hourly cost figure of £4.50. The lower end of the range represents 8 hours of respite care; the upper end of the range represents 24 hour cover. No account in the calculation was taken of the cost of respite care which is currently provided.