Residential Care Homes

HC Deb 31 March 1998 vol 309 cc508-9W

Helen Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on future levels of regulatory fees for residential care homes and nursing homes. [37354]

Mr. Boateng

The Department received 189 replies to the consultation document on increasing regulatory fees for residential care homes and nursing homes issued on 19 January. 106 respondents agree that fees should be increased, although many of these felt that the proposed increases were insufficient. Of the other respondents 80 felt the proposed increases were excessive and the remaining 3 did not express an opinion about the level of increases.

Having considered the responses carefully, I have decided that fees should be increased as proposed in the consultation document with effect from 1 May 1998. I will be laying the necessary regulations before Parliament to bring these increases into effect.