§ Mr. Cyril Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will raise the present fee of £1 for the registration of new homes for the elderly.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudication Bill, which had its Second Reading in another place on 22 November, provides in schedule 3, paragraph 2(2) for the fee accompanying an application for registration to be prescribed in regulations. We intend to increase the fees—on a banded scale—to offset the registration authorities' costs arising from registration and inspection.