HC Deb 30 November 1971 vol 827 cc64-5W
Mr. Nicholas Edwards

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many younger chronic sick patients in hospital are accommodated in wards used wholly or mainly for elderly persons; what action he is taking to reduce these figures; and if he will make a statement.

Sir K. Joseph

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have today laid statements under Section 17(2) of the Act, covering the six-month period ended 30th June, 1971. It should not be assumed that all these patients need or wish to be accommodated in special units for the younger chronic sick. Nevertheless, the main task in achieving a reduction in the number of patients inappropriately placed in geriatric departments is to provide more such special units. As I have announced previously, money has been set aside to be used specifically for this purpose over this and the next three financial years. This extra money has so far been used to finance 26 special units on which a start is to be made this year or next. In addition six other units are being financed from boards' normal resources in those years. This will raise the number of units from 28 to 60 and the number of beds in special units from about 700 to over 1,500. I intend that progress should be maintained so long as there is a need for more units.

SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFITS
Average Earnings Effective data of rate Single non-householder plus standard rent addition Per cent. of average earnings Single householder plus average rent Per cent. of aaverge earnings
£ £ £
October, 1966 … 20.30 … November, 1966 3.95 19.5 5.77 28.4
October, 1967 … 21.37 … October, 1967 … 4.05 19.0 6.18 28.9
October, 1968 … 23.00 … October, 1968 … 4.25 18.5 6.54 28.4
October, 1969 … 24.83 … November, 1969 4.40 17.7 6.86 27.6
October, 1970 … 28.05 … November, 1970 4.75 16.9 7.39 26.3

The average earnings figure for October, 1971, will not be available until February, 1972.

Mrs. Doris Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the value of a single person's National Insurance pension as a percentage of average earnings for the periods October 1964–65, 1965–66, 1966–67, and 1970–71, respectively.

Mr. Dean

The value of the standard rate retirement pension expressed as a percentage of the average earnings of male manual wage earners at October since 1964 is as follows:

Year Percentage
1964 18.6
1965 20.4
1966 19.7
1967 21.1
1968 19.6
1969 18.1
1970 17.8

The average earnings figure for October, 1971, is not yet available.