§ Mr. McCrindleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the current cost of social security payments for elderly persons entering nursing and residential homes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottI refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 25 November at column44.
§ Mr. McCrindleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many elderly people are receiving social security payments in residential homes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottI regret that information is not available in the precise form requested. However, the total number of income support recipients in independent residential care homes was estimated to be 103,000 in May 1988. At the same time there were estimated to be 44,000 such claimants in independent nursing homes.