§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the arrangements for reviewing the financial limits of elderly residents in board and lodging accommodation.
§ Mr. NewtonI refer the hon. Member to my announcement yesterday in the House, at column 1355.
§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will extend the board and lodging regulations covering residential care homes to include (a) those which prior to 29 April met their fees from their own resources but whose capital has subsequently fallen below the £3,000 limit and (b) those which had claimed some benefit prior to 29 April but had it temporarily stopped because their capital exceeded the £3,000 limit.
§ Mr. NewtonI assume the hon. Member has in mind the provisions within the board and lodging regulations concerning transitional protection. We have no plans at present to extend these provisions to cover the groups the hon. Member mentions. It is the normal practice where changes in the benefit system are necessary to confine the protection arrangements to existing claimants.
§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will amend the board and lodging regulations covering residential homes for the elderly to cover all existing residents irrespective of income.
§ Mr. NewtonNo. The board and lodging regulations deal solely with payments of supplementary benefit. This is a means-tested benefit and all other income is therefore generally counted as a resource.
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§ Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that priority treatment is given to appeals against rejection of applications for exemption under the new board and lodgings regulations.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe Department is responsible for the preparation of supplementary benefit appeal documentation and transmission to the clerk of a social security appeal tribunal. Responsibility for the hearing itself rests with the president of social security appeal tribunals. The Department gives a high priority to the handling of appeals, which should normally be cleared within 15 days from receipt. Arrangements are in hand to ensure that, within the generality of appeals, those which relate to the new board and lodging regulations are dealt with as quickly as possible.
§ Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has conducted a survey to establish whether claimants affected by the expiry of time limits on payment as boarders have been able to make alternative arrangements to receive supplementary benefit as householders or non-householders or to obtain payment as boarders in other areas.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret that the analyses of board and lodging following the 29 April changes have not yet been completed. However, initial feedback suggests that as a result of the new rules the numbers receiving board and lodging payments have declined significantly, and that most of the claimants affected are now receiving benefit at the householder or non-householder rate.
Residential accommodation for the elderly and disabled—31 March 1984 Number of homes Number of places Local authority Voluntary Private Local authority Voluntary Private NORTHERN REGION 229 27 114 9,324 905 2,069 Non-Metropolitan Counties Cleveland 35 2 5 1,470 85 54 Cumbria 45 5 34 1,613 127 545 Durham 44 3 8 1,836 73 183 Northumberland 21 4 12 1,033 155 234 Metropolitan Districts Gateshead 15 1 2 646 24 21 Newcastle upon Tyne 28 7 15 987 267 277 North Tyneside 10 2 25 468 63 504 South Tyneside 10 1 8 442 10 142 Sunderland 21 2 5 829 101 109 YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE 367 69 299 14,565 1,874 4,645 Non-Metropolitan Counties Humberside 60 8 58 2,360 213 959 North Yorkshire 47 29 107 2,020 862 1,519 Metropolitan Districts Barnsley 18 — 1 651 — 7 Doncaster 19 2 5 743 80 73 Rotherham 18 1 3 646 12 41 Sheffield 47 5 8 1,876 85 149 Bradford 37 6 59 1,453 111 988 Calderdale 19 3 16 703 61 230 Kirklees 31 3 15 1,251 71 295 Leeds 51 9 23 2,104 328 303 Wakefield 20 3 4 758 51 81 NORTH WESTERN REGION 437 119 463 17,189 4,967 7,086 Non-Metropolitan Counties Cheshire 61 11 15 2,053 794 254 Lancashire 98 23 243 3,996 886 3,537 Metropolitan Districts Bolton 15 2 6 653 71 77