§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent the payment of social security benefit to ex-inmates of National Health Service mental hospitals, now transferred to private residential homes, is affected by local health authority payments to provide for the care of those ex-inmates.
§ Mr. PortilloUnder section 23(1) of the National Health Service Act 1977 a health authority may make arrangements with the proprietors of a private residential home for a NHS hospital patient to be accommodated and cared for in the home instead. In these circumstances the patient's entitlement to benefit is not affected by the transfer: benefit is payable at the same rate as if the patient were still in hospital.