§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual aggregate figure for the 127W amount of benefit being paid to those in residential care homes; and how many people are living in homes run by (a) private organisations, (b) voluntary organisations and (c) local authorities.
§ Mr. Major[pursuant to his reply, 20 November 1986, c. 331]: I regret that the information is not available in the form required.
In 1984, the latest year for which figures are available, supplementary benefit was paid to 42,000 residents of private and voluntary residential care and nursing homes at a total cost of £200 million. In addition, £45 million was paid to 35,000 claimants in residential care accommodation provided by local authorities either in their own residential care homes or in private and voluntary homes. These figures relate to Great Britain. Information on the amount of other social security benefits paid to people in residential care homes is not available.
Information on the number of supplementary benefit claimants in each of the three categories specified is not available. However, the following table shows the number of residents in the different categories of homes in England at 31 March 1985.
Number All residents in homes for the elderly and disabled (1) Private 69,000 (2) Voluntary 31,423 (3) Local authority 105,864 (4) Lodgings 1211
Number of persons in supplementary benefit assessment units below pensionable age by types and economic status—Great Britain 1983—thousands Economic Status Married Couples Married Couples with Children Single Persons One Parent Families 1. Where the head is in receipt of supplementary benefit or housing benefit supplement. Over pension age 540 — 1,340 — Under pension age Full-time employment — — — — Sick/disabled 50 53 131 8 Unemployed 223 1,552 792 24 Others 107 36 73 1,198 2. Where the head is not in receipt of supplementary benefit or housing benefit supplement but with net resources below the supplementary benefit scale rates. Over pension age 430 — 660 — Under pension age Full-time employment 90 433 134 29 Sick/disabled 24 9 37 0 Unemployed 79 170 284 0 Others 43 77 245 53 3. Where the head is not in receipt of supplementary benefit or housing benefit supplement but with net resources up to 140 per cent. of the supplementary benefit scale rates (includes supplementary benefit assessment units shown at 2 above) Over pension age 2,000 — 1,820 — Under pension age Full-time employment 224 3,363 434 93 Sick/disabled 134 134 114 0 Unemployed 152 230 507 0 Others 110 196 509 223
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his latest estimate of the cost of the housing benefit scheme; how many people received housing benefit in 1985; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what is the latest estimate of the cost of the housing benefit scheme currently met by (a) central Government and (b) local government; and if he will make a statement;
128W
Number Supported residents in homes for the mentally handicapped1 (1) Private 1,019 (2) Voluntary 3,620 (3) Local authority 12,281 (4) Lodgings 603 Supported residents for the mentally ill1 (1) Private 285 (2) Voluntary 952 (3) Local authority 2,682 (4) Lodgings 419 1 No information is available on residents not supported by local authorities in these homes.