HC Deb 22 December 1983 vol 51 cc413-4W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he collects or has received on the numbers on the waiting list in Scotland for the following services (a) meals on wheels and (b) home helps.

Mr. John MacKay

This information is not held centrally.

Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his most recent estimate of the comparative costs of providing (a) a home help, (b) a place in an old people's home and (c) a bed in a geriatric ward per week in each of the past three years.

Tayside Scotland
1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
Number receiving meals-on-wheels 1,101 1,060 1,237 1,142 1,006 14,641 13,203 14,894 14,595 14,408
Retired Population
Men 65+ 23,151 23,120 23,130 24,354 24,166 269,962 271,600 273,425 278,890 277,610
Women 60+ 50,137 49,534 49,829 51,202 51,739 582,411 579,457 586,801 587,583 598,978
Total 73,288 72,654 72,959 75,556 75,905 852,373 851,057 860,226 866,473 876,588
Number of persons receiving meals per 1,000 of retired population (men 65+; women 60+) 15.0 14.6 16.9 15.1 13.3 17.2 15.5 17.3 16.8 16.4

Mr. John MacKay

The number of elderly men and women on the waiting list for admission to beds in these categories at 31 March in each of the years shown was as follows:

Mr. John MacKay

The information requested is as follows:

Average Cost per Week
1979–80 1980–81 1981–82
£ £ £
(a) Home help per client 10.3 11.4 12.4
(b) Local authority old people's home per place 87 112 124
(c) Geriatric bed 149 192 210

These figures do not take account of interest charges on capital expenditure on buildings or of income accruing by way of payments from those in receipt of the services.