§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many places in residential homes for the elderly are supported by payments from his Department; what is the cost; and if he will provide the equivalent figures for each year since 1980.
§ Mr. Peter LloydPayments by the Department of Social Security are not made for the purpose of supporting places in residential homes. Income support is available to help individuals with insufficient resources of their own to meet their fees in independent residential care and nursing homes.
The table sets out the number of people in independent homes receiving income support (formerly supplementary benefit), and the estimated annual cost, for each year since 1980. Information specifically about residential homes for elderly people is not available.
245W
Supplementary Benefit (Income Support from April 1988) to people in independent residential care and nursing homes Number of claimants (000s) Estimated expenditure (current prices (£ million) December 1980 13 18 December 1981 13 23 December 1982 16 39 December 1983 26 104 December 1984 42 200 December 1985 70 348
Number of claimants (000s) Estimated expenditure (current prices £ million) February 1986 90 459 May 1987 117 671 May 1988 147 878