§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled people who have been discharged from institutions in the last five years are living with parents who are over pensionable age or are themselves disabled.
§ Mr. NewtonThis information is not available.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will outline the measures he has taken to ensure that adequate community care is available for all disabled people who need it after leaving institutions; what steps he takes to monitor these measures and their subsequent results; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonWe have always encouraged the development of appropriate community care for disabled people who do not need to be in hospital.
In our guidance to authorities on the care in the community initiative we have stressed that the needs of patients should be individually assessed before they leave hospital so that proper provision can be made. We have set aside £16 million over the next four years for a programme of pilot projects to show how care in the community can be effectively developed. These will be monitored and the lessons learnt made widely available. As regards the monitoring of overall service provision made by local authorities for disabled people in the community I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr.Morris) on 8 May at column 367.