§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many health and social service departments provide home helps on a 24-hour a day basis; and if he will list their names in the Official Report.
§ Mr. John PattenLocal authorities are responsible for providing home help services. These are not normally provided on a 24-hour a day basis, but authorities are increasingly recognising that some extended home help outside normal hours is needed by some people at periods of particular stress or at certain key times of the day. There are a growing number of special schemes to provide such a service. The information I have about them is not comprehensive and there are many different types of scheme, some of which are of an experimental nature. I am, therefore, writing to the right hon. Member to indicate where the available information is published.