HC Deb 10 May 1991 vol 190 cc614-5W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the level of funding provided by way of the residential care allowance.

Miss Widdecombe

The estimated annual expenditure on income support for claimants in residential care at August 1990 was £772 million, excluding nursing homes.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the adequacy of residential care allowances.

Miss Widdecombe

A number of representations have been received recently both from individuals and representative bodies.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he takes to monitor the impact on rent levels and the number of tenancies in the private, housing association and local authority sectors of the residential care allowance.

Miss Widdecombe

The higher income support limits for people in residential care homes are based on costs of care, not on charges by the homes or on housing costs and occupancy rates prevailing in the community as a whole. Residents in local authority homes do not receive the higher income support levels of benefit.