§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much was spent by district health authorities on inspection of registered nursing homes in each of the last five years;
(2) how much was received in nursing home registration fees by district health authorities in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. MellorThe total income from fees recorded in the annual accounts of health authorities in England for the registration and inspection of private nursing homes and private hospitals since 1984–85 was as follows:
£ million 1984–85 0.24 1985–86 0.52 1986–87 1.39 1987–88 1.97 Fees are set at a level which covers the full costs incurred in providing this service. Figures for earlier years are not available and provisional ones for 1988–89 will not be available until the autumn.