§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many local authority old people's homes there were in Wales in(a) 1979 and (b) 1989; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GristThe number of local authority old people's homes in Wales at 31 March 1979 was 200 and at 31 March 1989 it was 192.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many privately owned old people's homes there were in Wales in(a) 1979 and (b) 1989; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GristThe number of privately owned old people's homes in Wales at 31 March 1979 is not separately identifiable from available sources. However, the number of private and voluntary homes combined was 80. As at 31 March 1989 there were 461 private homes and 23 voluntary homes for elderly people.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to enable elderly people in Wales to meet the fees of privately owned homes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GristAt present public support for elderly people in independent sector residential care and nursing homes is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. The proposals for the new arrangements for 1 April 1991 are set out in chapter 3 (paragraphs 3.7.6. and 3.8.2) and chapter 9 of the "Caring for People" White Paper (Cm 849).
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy to encourage local authorities to open more publicly funded elderly people's homes in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GristThe "Caring for People" White Paper (Cm 849) makes it clear that local authorities will need to review the level of provision in their own homes in the light of the new community care proposals.