§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) which authorities are providing training for staff in private residential care homes; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government concerning the provision of in-service training of staff in such homes;
(2) how many private residential care homes have been registered by each of the registering authorities since 1 January;
(3) which authorities have appointed specific members of staff to act as registration officers; and how many of these staff combine the function of registration officer and inspector of private residential care homes;
(4) where dual registration is appropriate for a private residential care home, on how many occasions such a registration has been approved by the health authority but refused by the social services authority.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIt is primarily for those who run these homes to arrange for the training of their staff. "Home Life", a code of practice for residential care, which we have endorsed and commended to local authorities as general guidance, encourages the registration authority to provide assistance with training. Information is not held centrally about which local authorities are doing so, nor about the other matters raised by the hon. Member.