§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are at present being cared for in rest homes for the elderly, totally or partly maintained by financial support from his Department; and how many people were in this category, 12, 24 and 36 months ago, respectively.
§ Mr. John PattenSeparate information is not held in respect of homes for the elderly. However, the number of supplementary pensioners—men of 65 and over, and women of 60 and over—in residential care and nursing homes in Great Britain in the four most recent years for which information is available was as follows:
1979 1980 1981 1982 (i) in private and voluntary homes, in receipt of supplementary pension to meet or help meet the charge. 11,000 12,000 12,000 14,000 (ii) in local authority homes, or sponsored by local authorities in private or voluntary homes. 20,000 24,000 21,000 16,000 Source: Annual Statistical Enquiry.