§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the maximum weekly sum currently payable to his Department's claimants in respect of accommodation at old people's homes; and if he has any plans to review this figure.
§ Mr. WhitneyUnder the currently locally determined limits frozen at the levels applicable at 5 September 1984 the maximum amounts of supplementary benefit allowed for accommodation in residential care homes varies from £55 to £220 a week. Under the proposed new arrangements announced by my hon. Friend on 21 March at column 1008, a new structure of national limits based on different categories of establishments would be introduced as follows:
Maximum weekly sum £ Residential care homes for the elderly 110 Residential care homes for the mentally ill 120 Residential care homes for drug and alcohol misusers 120 Residential care homes for the mentally handicapped 140 Residential care homes for the physically disabled below pension age 170
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action his Department has taken to ensure that benefit paid to claimants resident in old persons' homes is used for the purposes for which it is granted; and if he will make a statement on his Department's actions in ensuring the protection of the financial interests of such claimants.
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§ Mr. WhitneyI shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total annual sum by year from 1980 paid to Department of Health and Social Security claimants in respect of residence and maintenance in old persons' homes in Wales.
§ Mr. WhitneySeparate figures are not available for Wales and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.