§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total level of public financial support for(a) private residential and (b) private nursing care for each year since 1979.
§ Mrs. CurrieInformation in the form requested is not held centrally. Following is the available expenditure information derived from annual accounts and financial returns submitted to the Department by health authorities and local authorities in England, respectively.
In addition, people in homes may be able to get help with fees through supplementary benefit. Information on the amount of total expenditure on supplementary benefit payments to people in residential care and nursing homes was given in my reply to the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman) on 17 December 1987 at column 704.
Health authorities1 expenditure with contractual hospitals and homes £ million Local authorities2 expenditure on private residential care £ million 1979–80 22.3 47.3 1980–81 27.5 58.9 1981–82 30.9 70.0 1982–83 33.5 79.6 1983–84 36.4 86.8 1984–85 39.9 89.8 1985–86 43.2 65.8 1986–87 45.2 not yet available 1 Total hospital and community health services expenditure with contractual hospitals and homes (including contracts with voluntary organisations, etc.). 2 Net expenditure on all private residential care incurred under personal social services programmes.