§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list his estimate of the numbers of claimants in receipt of income support payments towards the cost of(a) residential care homes and (b) nursing homes for each of the last 10 years.
§ Miss WiddecombeI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) on 16 November 1990 at column238.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps are taken by local benefit offices to ascertain whether income support claimants in receipt of payments towards the cost of nursing home care are(a) in need of nursing care and (b) in receipt of nursing care.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe level of income support payable depends on the type of care the nursing home is providing for the claimant. The adjudication officer must be satisfied that the home is recognised by the registration authority as able to provide a level of care and that the resident is receiving such care. We have no evidence to suggest that residents of nursing homes do not need to be there.