HC Deb 23 February 1981 vol 999 cc300-1W
Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average capital cost of a new residential place for a severely handicapped person of the type represented by recently built accommodation for local authorities with loan consent from his Department, or by hospital authorities.

Sir George Young

The current departmental cost allowance for residential accommodation for the physically handicapped, based on a 20-place scheme and including "on costs", averages £18,785. The corresponding figure for a mentally handicapped resident is £12,644.

The average capital cost per residential place from a sample of nine local authority tenders accepted over the past 12 months is £15,265.

Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the total (a) number of residential places provided by voluntary bodies for physically handicapped people aged under 65 years, (b) the number of such places taken through placement by local authorities and (c) the number of places funded by hospital authorities.

Mr. Rossi

Information is not held centrally of the number of places for younger physically disabled people in residential homes run by voluntary organisations. The latest estimates suggest that there were about 5,000 aged under 65 in such premises on 31 March 1979. Local authority social services departments sponsored about 4,100 younger disabled people in voluntary and privately run homes on 31 March 1980. Whilst health authorities are empowered to make arrangements for NHS patients to be treated in independent hospitals and nursing homes, this involves the provision of medical and nursing care rather than residential care.