§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many current and former psychiatric patients were boarded out in the years 1979 to 1983; what was the average cost per week; and if he will ensure that the criteria for registration are extended to over appropriate standards of care.
§ Mr. John PattenThe numbers of persons either suffering from or recovering from mental illness who were supported by local authorities while lodging in private households in England between 1979 and 1983 were as follows. The figures are at 31 March each year.
Numbers 1979 1,023 1980 1,033 *1981 482 1982 569 †1983 529 * The basis of collecting statistics changed in 1981. Those supported by social security benefits or supporting themselves are no longer recorded. † Provisional. Information on costs is not held centrally.
The Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983 included provisions to strengthen the registration and inspection procedures in residential care homes catering for all client groups. The provisions will be brought into force later this year and will mean that when four or more persons are boarded out at an establishment where personal care as well as board is provided the establishment would have to be registered as a residential care home. We have no plans to extend these registration criteria. In deciding the criteria during the passage of the Act the House recognised that control by legislation is less appropriate for domestic-style provision. Where a person is boarded out by a local authority, I would expect a local authority to keep a close eye on him or her and to arrange to remove the person if the standard of care provided was unsatisfactory.