§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the average age of admission to local authority residential homes for the elderly in Great Britain;
(2) what is the average age of current residents of local authority homes fo the elderly in Great Britain.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe data available centrally for England on persons admitted to, and resident in, local authority homes for the elderly and younger disabled relate to age groups. These data do not allow for precise calculations of the average age of such persons but a rough estimate indicates an average of about 81 years for both categories. Statistics for Scotland and Wales are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.