HC Deb 08 August 1980 vol 990 cc436-9W
Mr. Fitt

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total expenditure in Northern Ireland and in each area health board, respectively, on (a) personal aids, (b) installation of telephones, (c) payment of telephone rental, (d) provision of a television, (e) payment of television licences, (f) adaptations to the home, (g) holidays, (h) meals at home and (i) meals at day centres for the years ended 31 March 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980; and what sum each figure represents per 1,000 population in each year.

Mr. Humphrey Atkins

I refer the hon. Member to the reply he received to his question on this subject on 26 March 1979 [Vol. 965, c.78.] Information for the financial year 1979–80 is not yet available; that for the year 1978–79 is as follows:

Area Health Boards Northern Ireland
Northern Southern Eastern Western
Expenditure Cost per 1,000 Expenditure Cost per 1,000 Expenditure Cost per 1,000 Expenditure Cost per 1,000 Expenditure Cost per 1,000
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Year ended 31 March 1979:
Personal aids 5,132* 14.05 6,274* 23.45 14,664* 22.08 2,508* 10.38 28,578* 18.57
Installation of telephones 13,067† 35.78 10,238† 38.23 19,560† 29.45 12,106† 50.09 54,971† 35.72
Payment of telephone rental
Provision of a television Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil
Payment of a television licence
Adaptations in the home 7,958‡ 21.79 11,831‡ 44.18 39,862‡ 60.02 13,757‡ 56.92 73,408‡ 47.70
Holidays N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.
Meals at home 115,866† 317.27 50,109† 187.11 402,294† 605.77 36,164† 149.62 604,433† 392.80
Meals at day centres
* Refers only to personal aids provided by social services departments of Health and Social Services Boards.
† Separate figures are not available.
‡ Excluding expenditure by Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Information on expenditure in the private sector is not available, but details of expenditure by the Housing Executive in providing adaptations for its elderly or handicapped tenants is as follows:

Year ended: Amount £'000 Amount per 1,000 population
31 March 1977 26.5 17.3
31 March 1978 89.9 58.4
31 March 1979 221.1 143.7
31 March 1980 309.5 201.1

Northern Ireland Housing Executive boundaries are not co-terminous with health and social services board boundaries.