§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report those local authorities which imposed a minimum charge for a home help service provided to supplementary benefit claimants.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe latest available information about local authorities in England who impose a minimum charge for their home help service is set out in columns 215 and 216 of the "Personal Social Services Statistics Actuals 1983–84" published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, a copy of which is in the Library. No information is separately collected by the Department about such charges to supplementary benefit recipients.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will direct the Social Services Inspectorate in its review of social services provision to investigate the new role in personal care of the frail and elderly undertaken by home helps; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe social services inspectorate's inspection of home help services is concerned with the efficiency and effectiveness of those services and will include an assessment of the personal care being provided by home helps for frail and elderly people in the participating authorities.