§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are currently eligible to receive home helps in Cambridgeshire; and what were the equivalent figures in 1979.
§ Mr. NewtonLocal authorities may provide home help services to elderly people under section 45 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968; to blind, deaf, dumb and handicapped people under section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948 and section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and to households where someone is ill, lying-in, expectant, aged, handicapped or of school age under Schedule 8 of the National Health Service Act 1977. It is for local authorities to determine how far people resident in their areas in these categories are in need of home help. 6,560 people were provided with home help in Cambridgeshire in the year ending 31 March 1979 (DHSS returns A/F79/1). The latest available figure of those receiving home help is 6,954 for the year ended 31 March 1981 (CIPFA statistics 1980/81 Actuals).