HC Deb 20 July 1987 vol 120 cc11-2W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average number of residents in privately owned nursing and residential homes for the elderly in Wales.

Mr. Grist

The latest figures available indicate that there were 4,937 residents in the 340 private and voluntary residential homes for the elderly at 31 March 1986, an average of 14.5 per home. There were 1,356 beds designated for the elderly in the 78 private nursing homes at 31 December 1985, an average of 17.4 beds per home. No information is available centrally on the occupancy of the private nursing home beds.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance his Department has issued on the ideal maximum number of residents at nursing and residential homes for the elderly.

Mr. Grist

The Department has issued no specific guidance on this matter.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the average cost per annum of accommodating an elderly person in (a) a private nursing or residential home and (b) a local authority owned nursing or residential home in Wales;

(2) what is the total annual cost to public funds of accommodating those elderly people in Wales who live in private nursing or residential homes; and what were the equivalent figures for each year since 1979 at 1987 and outturn prices.

Mr. Grist

The information available to the Department relates only to the expenditure incurred by local authorities in providing residential homes for the elderly, and does not include expenditure by other Government Departments. No reliable comparative information is available for private nursing or residential homes. The estimated average net expenditure incurred by local authorities for accommodating elderly persons (over 65) in local authority residential homes in 1985–86 was £3,900 per head.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what proportion of the retired population of each county of Wales are accommodated in (a) local authority owned and (b) privately owned nursing and residential homes; and what were the corresponding figures for 1979.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.