§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will say how many beds are made available for the purposes of respite care, for each regional health authority in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanThe information requested is not held centrally. The Government consider respite nursing care services to be an integral part of NHS provision for those groups of patients who require it. However, the actual level of service to be provided by a health authority is a matter for that authority to decide for itself.