§ 40. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study he has made of the need to increase the pension disregard for contributions by residents in elderly persons' homes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DeakinsIn assessing a person's ability to pay for residential accommodation provided under Part III of the National Assistance Act 1948, local authorities are required to use the rules laid down in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Supplementary Benefits Act 1976. In respect of pensions, these rules provide that the State retirement pension shall be taken fully into account, but that up to £1 per week from an occupational pension shall be disregarded. These rules are amongst the matters being considered as part of the review of the supplementary benefits scheme set on foot by my right hon. Friend.
§ 57. Miss Joan Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to remedy the shortage of places within the National Health Service for elderly people suffering from advanced physical and mental handicaps.
§ Mr. MoyleIn guidance to health authorities we have made it clear that priority should be given to the development of hospital and community health services for the elderly. Cmnd. 7049 gives details of the planned expenditure on the National Health Service over the period 1978–79532W to 1981–82 which provides for demographic change and makes some allowance for constantly improving medical techniques and for development in the priority services. Also "The Way Forward" urged health authorities to appoint additional medical, nursing and rehabilitation staff with skill in caring for the elderly to enable a greater number of patients to receive treatment and return home quickly and thus reduce pressure on beds.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the resource implications of the increase in numbers of the elderly by the end of the century, especially those over 85 years of age, handicapped and living alone; what action is being taken by the Government; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe numbers of elderly people over 65 in the population will fluctuate between now and the end of the century, though the number of those over 85 years of age will steadily increase. While these very elderly people tend to make greater demands on resources, the overall resource requirements of the elderly will depend upon a number of factors. The Government intend to publish a discussion document on the elderly this spring and a White Paper in 1979 which will deal with the issues involved.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary State for Social Services what is his estimate of the percentage of persons in the United Kingdom in the age bands 65 to 74 years, 75 to 84 years and 85 years and over, who are, respectively, very severly handicapped, severely handicapped, and appreciably handicapped on the criteria used in the OPCS survey "Handicapped and Impaired in Great Britain"; if the proportions have diminished significantly over the past 10 years; to what extent he expects the proportions to diminish by the end of the century; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe Office of Population Censuses and Surveys survey was carried out in 1968–69 and covered people living in private households in Great Britain. As we have no means of estimating how the prevalence of handicap has changed within age-groups since that time, I regret that it is not possible to provide the figures requested.
533W
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the population in the United Kingdom in the age bands 65 to 74 years, 75 to 84 years, and 85 years and over, and the percentage living alone in 1951, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991 and 2001.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe available information about the past from the Census of Population and about the future from the official estimates (indicated by*) is as follows:
PERSONS AGED 65 AND OVER IN THE UNITED KINGDON thousands Year Age 1951 1961 1971 65–74 3,689 3,879 4,713 75–84 1,915 1,881 2,121 85 and over 224 338 473
thousands Year Age 1981 1991 2001 65–74 5,079* 4,894* 4,472* 75–84 2,618* 2,863* 2,825* 85 and over 566* 749* 858*
PERSONS OF PENSIONABLE AGE IN GREAT BRITAIN Year Persons over pensionable age Proportion living alone (thousands) (per cent.) 1951 6,685 14.0 1961 7,567 Not available 1971 8,850 24.9 1981 9,595* 33.2* 1991 9,690* 37.2* 2001 9,292* Not available * Pensionable age is 60 for females and 65 for males.