§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people presently live in residential care; of these, how many live in (a) voluntary homes, (b) private homes, and (c) local authority homes; and for each category how many residents are on supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. WhitneyInformation is not available centrally in precisely the form requested. The latest comparable data are given below.
England: Residential care homes registered under the Registered Homes Act 1984 and comparable local authority homes—31 March 1985 (provisional) Residents Voluntary *36,000 Privately run *70,000 Local authority 121,000 227,000 * In the case of homes for the mentally disordered we are able to give figures only for those residents who are supported by local authorities.
In Great Britain on 31 December 1984 42,000† people in voluntary and privately-run homes (including nursing homes) were in receipt of supplementary benefit and additionally 35,000† residents of residential care homes and comparable local authority homes were supported by both supplementary benefit and by local authorities.
†Provisional figures only.
370W
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) voluntary and (b) private residential care and nursing homes have closed down following the introduction of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements and Resources) Miscellaneous Provisions Regulations 1985.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe information is not available centrally.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services for each year since 1980 for which figures are available how much each local authority has spent on payments towards residential care in voluntary and private sector homes.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe available figures cover payments for services provided by voluntary organisations and registered private persons. The following table gives figures for England for the years 1980–81 to 1983–84; 1984–85 national figures are not yet available. Tables showing individual local authority figures will take a little longer to compile and I will let the right hon. Member have a further reply, including 1984–85 figures where available, as soon as possible.
In addition some local authorities make general contributions to voluntary organisations whose activities may include the provision of residential care. Any such contributions are not included in the table.
£ million cash 1980–81 119 1981–82 135 1982–83 144 1983–84 146
§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) which organisations Ernst and Whinney have met in compiling their report on residential care;
(2) when he expects Ernst and Whinney to report on their survey of residential care.
§ Mr. NewtonErnst and Whinney conducted a sample survey of about 1,300 homes in England, Scotland and Wales on the basis of a questionnaire backed up in some cases by interviews. About 450 have responded. I understand that discussions have also been held, in the process of designing and conducting the survey, with local and national organisations including, for example, the interested trade associations such as the National Confederation of Registered Rest Homes Association and leading charities. These were held either at Ernst and Whinney's request or at that of the bodies concerned. We expect Ernst and Whinney's report in the next few weeks.