HC Deb 02 May 1986 vol 96 cc510-1W
Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each district health authority, the National Health Service residential accommodation which is empty, and the number of beds unused in each case.

Mr. Hayhoe

I regret that this information is not held centrally.

Mr. Frank Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, how many people are currently in nursing homes and residental care and receiving supplementary benefit; and what number and proportion of these also claim the attendance allowance.

Mr. Newton

In December 1983, the latest available date, there were 26,427 supplementary benefit claimants in residential care and nursing homes. It is estimated that about 11,000 of these people (about 43 per cent.) were in receipt of attendance allowance.

Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the names and areas of all private residential nursing homes into which there has been an inquiry in each year from 1979 to 1986; and what was the outcome in each case.

Mr. Whitney

Responsibility for registering and inspecting these homes rests where it properly belongs with local authorities, and the Registered Homes Act 1984, which came into operation on 1 January 1985, improved and strengthened their powers. No information is held centrally about authorities which instituted inquiries.

Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, if he will give the names and areas of all private residential nursing homes which have been subject to a registered homes tribunal hearing for each year from 1979 to 1986; and what was the outcome in each case.

Mr. Whitney

Registered homes tribunals have been constituted only since 1 January 1985 when the Registered Homes Act 1984 was brought into force. Decisions of the tribunals are deposited quarterly in the Library.