HC Deb 19 October 1988 vol 138 cc905-7W
Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of meals provided, for each of the last 10 years, by the meals service; how many were

Meals service—England
Number of meals served (millions) and rates per 1,000 population (over 65 and over 75 years)
Year ended 31 March Total Rate (Over 65) Rate (Over 75) At home Rate (Over 65) Rate (Over 75) Elsewhere e.g. day centres Rate (Over 65) Rate (Over 75)
1976 40.5 6,122 17,041 24.3 3,676 10,233 16.2 2,446 6,808
1977 41.2 6,141 16,937 24.6 3,670 10,123 16.6 2,471 6,815
1978 41.1 6,046 16,493 25.3 3,717 10,139 15.8 2,329 6,353
1979 40.9 5,943 16,018 26.2 3,800 10,241 14.8 2,144 5,777
1980 41.7 5,981 15,935 27.0 3,874 10,320 14.7 2,108 5,615
1981 41.5 5,866 15,393 27.0 3,822 10,031 14.4 2,043 5,362
1982 40.3 5,672 14,602 27.1 3,813 9,817 13.2 1,858 4,784
1983 41.0 5,763 14,464 27.8 3,914 9,824 13.1 1,849 4,640
1984 42.4 6,001 14,570 28.8 4,085 9,917 13.5 1,916 4,653
1985 42.9 6,103 14,377 29.9 4,247 10,005 13.1 1,856 4,372
1986 44.1 6,140 14,454 30.9 4,305 10,135 13.2 1,835 4,319

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion the income from sales and fees and charges for meals provided by the meals service represents of expenditure thereon for the last 10 years.

Mr. Mellor

The available information is shown in the table. The latest available data year is 1986–87.

Meals service—England
Year Gross expenditure £ million Fees and charges £ million Fees and charges as Percentage of Expenditure
1977–78 22.447 6.000 26.73
1978–79 26.373 7.221 27.38
1979–80 31.828 8.975 28.20
1980–81 36.266 11.319 31.21
1981–82 38.742 13.176 34.01
1982–83 43.836 15.568 35.51
1983–84 47.728 17.439 36.54
1984–85 51.447 19.051 37.03
1985–86 54.805 20.634 37.65
1986–87 59.661 22.834 38.27

Notes:

1. Local authorities have discretion whether, and to what extent, to charge for meals. The Government's view is that they should seek to recover the economic cost of providing meals where this does not cause hardship. Where someone represents to their local authority that they cannot afford the charge, the local authority has a duty to reduce it to the amount that they consider it reasonable for the recipient to pay.

2. Gross expenditure is wage costs, supplies and administrative expenses minus other income (eg, health authority contributions to jointly financed schemes).

3. Data relate to meals on wheels and meals served in day centres

provided at home and how many elsewhere; and if he will relate these figures to the population aged 65 plus years and 75 plus years in each year.

Mr. Mellor

The information is given in the table. The figures do not indicate the actual provision to people in these age groups. The exact proportion of meals provided to each age group is not known.

for elderly people. Data are not collected centrally about meals which may be provided at other types of day centre.

Meals on wheels service—England £ million (Cash)
Gross expenditure Fees and charges Fees and charges as percentage of expenditure
1977–78 16.170 4.219 26.09
1978–79 18.773 5.244 27.93
1979–80 23.093 6.537 28.31
1980–81 26.423 8.342 31.57
1981–82 28.587 9.648 33.75
1982–83 32.103 11.370 35.42
1983–84 35.405 12.995 36.70
1984–85 38.714 14.534 37.54
1985–86 42.085 16.079 38.21
1986–87 46.360 18.036 38.90

Meals in day centres for elderly—England £ million (Cash)
Gross expenditure Fees and charges Fees and charges as percentage of expenditure
1977–78 6.277 1.781 28.37
1978–79 7.600 1.977 26.01
1979–80 8.735 2.438 27.91
1980–81 9.843 2.977 30.24
1981–82 10.155 3.528 34.74
1982–83 11.733 4.198 35.78
1983–84 12.323 4.444 36.06
1984–85 12.733 4.517 35.47

Gross expenditure Fees and charges Fees and charges as percentage of expenditure
1985–86 12.720 4.555 35.81
1986–87 13.301 4.798 36.07