HC Deb 08 March 1991 vol 187 cc326-7W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his latest estimate of the number of claimants in receipt of income support payments towards the cost of care in(a) voluntary care homes, (b) private residential homes, (c) private nursing homes and (d) private homes with joint registration from each of his local offices;

(2) what is his latest estimate of the number of claimants in private homes with joint registration who receive income support payments towards the cost of (a) residential care and (b) nursing care.

Miss Widdecombe

This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his policy on the continued payment of income support towards the cost of residential or nursing care to residents in homes which have been deregistered under the Registered Homes Act 1984 and where the management of the home concerned has been taken over by either(a) a local authority social services department or (b) a health authority.

Miss Widdecombe

Residents of a home managed by a local authority social services department would be treated as accommodated under part III of the National Assistance Act 1948 and residents of a home managed by a health authority would be treated as hospital in-patients; such people who were entitled to income support would receive the appropriate rates of benefit.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the number of claimants in receipt of income support payments towards the cost of care in(a) voluntary care homes, (b) private residential homes, (c) private nursing homes and (d) private homes with joint registration.

Miss Widdecombe

Numbers are available only for all residential care homes and nursing homes.

Number
Residential care 128,000
Nursing homes 71,000

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the full annual cost of income support payments to residents in(a) voluntary care homes, (b) private residential homes, (c) private nursing homes and (d) private homes with joint registration.

Miss Widdecombe

Costs are available only for all residential care homes arid nursing homes.

£ million
Residential care 772
Nursing homes 618