§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will extend the consideration of the fitness of applicants to run private care and nursing homes to include an assessment of the fitness of persons holding office in companies in ownership of homes.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThere are no plans to do so.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what sanctions are available to registration authorities when a successful prosecution for the operation of an unregistered home does not lead to the closure of the home.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyIt would be open to the registration authority to take fresh proceedings against the person running the home.
The Registered Homes (Amendment) Bill of my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, West (Mr. Butterfill) will, if it becomes law, extend the requirement to register to residential care homes with fewer than four residents.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action can be taken by registration authorities against private or voluntary residential care or nursing homes which fail to produce and provide residents with a written complaints procedure.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyPersons registered under the Registered Homes Act 1984 are required to inform residents in residential care homes in writing how any complaints will be dealt with and to see that complaints received are fully investigated. If this requirement is not observed the response of the registration authority will depend on the particular circumstances of the case. The objective will always be to ensure that an effective complaints procedure is in place.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce a requirement for the public display of complaints procedures within residential care and nursing homes.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThere are no plans to do so.