HC Deb 21 February 1977 vol 926 cc435-8W
Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of home help cases in Walsall aged 65 and over per 1,000 of the population over 65 years of age in 1975.

Mr. Moyle

For the year ended 31st March 1976 there were 97.4 home help cases in Walsall aged 65 and over per 1,000 population of the same age group.

Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage of all residents in homes for the elderly provided or paid for by the Walsall Council as compared with the national average.

Mr. Moyle

In 1975 all residents in homes for the elderly in Walsall were supported by Walsall Metropolitan District Council, as compared with the national average of residents supported by local authorities of 80.5 per cent.

Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many households were provided with telephones, telephone rentals and other communication aids in Walsall per 1,000 population over 65 years of age in 1975 as compared with (a) the average for authorities within the West Midlands County Council, (b) the average for London boroughs and (c) the average for England and Wales.

Mr. Alfred Morris

Numbers of households assisted with telephone installation, rentals and other communication aids during the 12 months ended 31st March 1976, expressed as a rate per 1,000 population aged 65 and over, were as follows:

Walsall Metropolitan District 5.4
West Midlands Metropolitan County 14.3
All London Boroughs 29.0
England and Wales 13.5

Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of places in residential homes for the elderly provided or paid for by the local authority per 1,000 people over 65 years of age in 1975 as compared with (a) the average for authorities within the West Midlands County Council, (b) the average for London boroughs and (c) the average for England and Wales.

Mr. Moyle

In 1975 Walsall Metropolitan District Council provided or paid for 17.2 residential places per 1,000 elderly people as compared with averages of 18.2, 21.6 and 18.7 for authorities within West Midlands County, the London boroughs, and England, respectively. The service in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the percentage of the population over 65 years of age who received local authority mealson-wheels during one week in Walsall in 1975 as compared with (a) the average for authorities within the West Midlands County Council, (b) the average for London boroughs and (c) the average for England and Wales.

Mr. Moyle

During a typical week in 1975 1.9 per cent. of the elderly population in Walsall received meals-on-wheels as compared with averages of 1.0 per cent., 2.1 per cent. and 0.8 per cent. for authorities within West Midlands County, the London Boroughs and England respectively. The meals-on-wheels service in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the percentage of all meals provided by voluntary agencies in Walsall in 1975 as Compared with (a) the average for authorities within the West Midlands County Council, (b) the average for London boroughs and (c) the average for England and Wales.

Mr. Moyle

During the year ending 31st March 1976 46 per cent. of the meals in Walsall were provided by voluntary agencies as compared with averages of 63 per cent., 19 per cent. and 49 per cent. for authorities within West Midlands County, the London boroughs, and England, respectively. The service in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the numbers of domicilary meals and meals provided by Walsall Council and voluntary-agencies per head of population over 65 years during 1975 compared with (a) the average for authorities within the West Midlands County Council, (b) the average for London boroughs and (c) the average for England and Wales.

Mr. Moyle

During the year ending 31st March 1976 the ratio for Walsall was 6.2, compared with average ratios of 5.1, 12.9 and 6.2 for authorities within West Midlands County, the London boroughs, and England, respectively. The service in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of residents per staff member, namely, care staff, matrons, wardens, deputies and care assistants, excluding maintenance, clerical and domestic staff, in Walsall Council-run homes for the elderly as compared with, (a) the average for authorities within the West Midlands County Council, (b) the average for London boroughs and (c) the average for England and Wales.

Mr. Moyle

In Walsall Council old people's homes in 1975 there was one member of staff with a caring function per 3.29 residents as compared with averages of 3.15, 3.15 and 3.17 for authorities in West Midlands County, the London boroughs, and England, respectively. The service in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of home helps and home help organisers in Walsall in relation to the elderly population.

Mr. Moyle

At 30th September 1975, which is the last date for which figures are available, there were in Walsall, 165 home helps and four home help organisers or assistant organisers—both expressed as whole-time equivalents—these figures represent 5.9 and 0.1 per 1,000 population over 65 years of age, respectively.

Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of home help cases divided by the number of home helps in Walsall in 1975 as compared with (a) the average for authorities within the west Midlands County Council, (b) the average for London boroughs and (c) the average for England and Wales.

Mr. Moyle

The number of home help cases in the year ending 31st March 1976 divided by the number of home helps, excluding organisers, at 30th September 1975 was as follows:

Walsall … … 18.5
West Midlands … … 16.8
London … … 16.2
England … … 15.4

These rates are not strictly comparable, because of possible seasonal variations between authorities in the use of home helps.

Home helps in Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.