HC Deb 24 July 1975 vol 896 cc334-5W
Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the elderly groups (a) 65 to 74 years and (b) 75 years or over in Great Britain and in each English region used the following services in each year 1970 to 1974 (i) health visitor, (ii) district nurse and (iii) home chiropody.

Mr. Meacher

The information is not available in the form requested for each English region and all the returns on health visiting, home nursing and chiropody for the year 1974 have not been received.

The number of persons per 1,000 population aged 65 and over in England who used the following services each year 1970 to 1973 were:

Wales in reply to similar Questions from the hon. Member on 21st July and 22nd July, respectively.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of elderly households in Great Britain and each English region were in receipt of (a) the home help services, (b) meals in the home and (c) meals at centres for each year 1970 to 1974.

Mr. Meacher

The figures for Scotland and Wales were given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales on 22nd July. For English social work regions the information is as follows:

(a) CASES OF HOME HELP TO HOUSEHOLDS OF PERSONS AGED 65 OR OVER PER 1,000 POPULATION OF THAT AGE.
Year ending 31st March
Social Work Regions 1972 1973 1974
Northern 79.1 78.8 87.0
Yorkshire 84.8 86.4 86.0
North Western 72.2 77.6 83.8
West Midlands 64.1 67.6 75.6
East Midlands 66.5 79.7 85.7
London North 59.5 62.7 67.8
London Central 81.4 86.7 91.5
London South 43.5 47.7 51.9
South-Western 47.3 51.5 54.2
England 65.9 70.5 75.3

Corresponding figures for earlier years are not readily available.

(b) MEALS SERVED AT HOME.
Persons aged 65* or over served with meals at home during one week in November per 1,000 population of that age.
Social Work Region 1972 1973 1974
Northern 24.4 32.7 30.1
Yorkshire 24.2 26.7 30.4
North.Western 18.9 20.2 20.4
West Midlands 23.2 27.9 28.5
East Midlands 24.9 28.4 32.1
London North 24.2 26.1 26.1
London Central 21.9 24.0 26.1
London South 17.0 19.2 19.8
South-Western 20.7 22.0 24.1
England 21.6 24.3 25.5
Corresponding figures for earlier year s are no available.
* May include a relatively small number 01 unidentified persons aged under 65.

(c) Statistics for meals at centres do not distinguish the recipients.