HC Deb 22 December 1983 vol 51 cc411-2W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what recommendations his Department has issued to regional councils in providing supportive community services for the elderly with particular reference to elderly people receiving non-hospital accommodation;

(2) if he draws to the attention of regional councils the comparatively lower cost of providing a home help or meals on wheels than the cost of a bed in a geriatric ward when reminding them of supportive services for the elderly.

same format as on page 69 of the Committee on Scottish Affairs' minutes of evidence of 9 May 1983 (HC 354 of Session 1982–83).

Mr. Younger

My announcement about public expenditure in Scotland on 12 December 1983— [Vol. 50, c.326–29.]—gave fuller and more detailed figures than the autumn statement. The following is the information requested in relation to those later figures.

Mr. John MacKay

These are matters for local authorities to determine within the available resources. The Government set out their views in the White Paper "Growing Older" (Cmnd. 8173) published in March 1981.