§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the non-back dating of local authority payments for care move placements once they have completed the assessment if the resident's assets have fallen below the capital threshold. [57784]
§ Mr. HuttonThere have been representations from the hon. Members for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter) and, for Lewes (Mr. Baker) and from my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney) and the voluntary organisation Help the Aged concerning backdating of local authority payments for home care placements once the assessment has been completed.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those care services and establishments that are not covered by a regulation and inspection regime(a) currently and (b) under proposals made by his Department. [57779]
§ Mr. HuttonThere are several gaps and anomalies in the current regulatory system for care services. In particular, residential care homes and nursing homes run by organisations established by Royal Charter or Act of Parliament, domiciliary and day care services, small children's homes, and other arrangements involving children living away from home are not covered by statutory regulation. In addition, local authority care homes, whilst required to be inspected by social services departments, are not subject to registration arrangements.
The Government are committed to reforming regulatory arrangements in this sector. Our proposals will be set out in a White Paper on Social Services which we intend to publish shortly.