§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the number of local authority care homes which currently fail to meet the requirements of the Registered Homes Act 1984.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Registered Homes Act does not apply to local authority residential care homes. Information about standards in local authority homes254W compared with those expected of registered homes is not collected by the Department. From April this year local authorities are required to have arms length inspection units charged with inspecting and reporting on both local authority and registrable independent residential care homes.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the capital expenditure required by local authorities to bring their care homes up to the physical standards required by his Department.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyI refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 24 January at column294.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to make a statement on his policy towards care home trusts.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyFurther guidance to local authorities planning to transfer their residential care homes to trusts or other agencies will be issued soon.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each local authority or health authority which has a policy of not sponsoring elderly persons resident in care or nursing homes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyReturns submitted by local authorities to the Department indicate that all local authorities sponsor elderly people in independent sector residential care homes.
We are not aware of any health authority which has a policy of not sponsoring elderly persons resident in nursing homes.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his latest estimate of the average unit cost of bed spaces in(a) local authority residential homes, (b) private care homes, (c) private nursing homes and (d) voluntary homes for elderly persons.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe information requested is not available. The gross cost per place filled (excluding capital charges) for local authorities' own residential care homes for elderly people is given in table F17 of "Key Indicators of Local Authority Social Services" publication. The latest available information is for 1988–89; a copy of which is in the Library.