HC Deb 25 October 1982 vol 29 cc301-2W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which local authorities charge for home help services provided under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 to those living at the supplementary benefit level.

Mr. Rossi:

I cannot add to my reply to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Foster) on Tuesday 15 June 1982—[Vol. 25, c.718–9]. No information is held centrally about the number of those charged who were living at the supplementary benefit level, nor about the number who were provided with home help services under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 as distinct from other statutory powers.

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of home help hours provided per 1,000 population aged 75 and over in 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82; if he is satisfied that all local authorities are fulfilling their duty under schedule 8 to the National Health Service Act 1977 to provide a home help service on a scale adequate for the needs of their areas; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Newton:

Information is not collected by the Department in a form which would enable these statistics to be provided. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy first published local government comparative statistics showing the numbers of home help contact hours per 1,000 population aged 65 and over in 1979–80. The figures are available in the Library of the House for the years 1979–80 and 1980–81 (actuals) and 1981–82 (estimates).

It is very difficult to assess centrally whether the number of home helps is adequate to meet the needs of any local authority area. The number of hours of help required varies for each client and according to what other services are available locally. This is a matter for each local authority to determine.