§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to(a) nursing and (b) residential home owners of the implementation of the new national required standards for residential and nursing homes over the next five year period. [74565]
§ Mr. HuttonWe intend to publish the proposed standards for older people in residential care, produced by the Centre for Policy on Ageing, for consultation shortly. We will also consider the detailed cost implications for nursing home and residential care home owners of introducing the standards prior to taking any decision about their implementation.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision will be made in National Health Service funding 1999–2000 to independent providers of residential and nursing care to meet the cost of pay increases awarded to nurses and auxiliary nurses; and if he will make a statement. [73981]
§ Mr. HuttonNone. Independent providers of residential and nursing care homes are free to decide on the pay rates for their staff according to their particular requirements and circumstances.