§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list those local authorities who use the differential between the personal allowance element in the supplementary pension in the local authority homes and the higher sum paid to those in private homes to buy clothing second-hand for their residents; and if he will list those local autorities which have a policy of only providing a choice of new clothing to residents in their residential homes and those local authorities who have no policy on this matter;
(2) if he will list for the latest available year (a) those local authorities in England which made budgetary provision for clothing allowances for residents of pensionalble age who are in local authority or private residential care homes, (b) how much each of those authorities budgeted and (c) the amount this represented per resident in receipt of a supplementary pension.
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§ Mr. John PattenThe information requested is not held centrally. Under section 21(5) of the National Assistance Act 1948 local authorities are liable to provide all necessary amenities and requisities, including personal clothing, for those residents whom they support in residential accomodation, including sponsored residents in private and voluntary homes. It is for that reason that the personal needs allowance at the part III rate is lower than that for other state supported residents in private or voluntary homes, who are expected to buy their own clothing and footwear.