§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the number of elderly people whose residence in private nursing homes is paid for out of public funds; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonSeparate information is not available in respect of nursing homes. In December 1982, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 14,000 residents in private and voluntary residential care and nursing homes in Great Britain in receipt of supplementary pension. This excludes people sponsored by local authorities in residential care homes and those supported by health authorities under contractual arrangements in nursing homes.
Information about the number of elderly private nursing home patients for whom contractual arrangements are made by health authorities is not held centrally.