§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if, pursuant to her answer of 30 November,Official Report, column 82, what is her Department's latest estimate of the annual shortfall between benefits and charges for residential or nursing care; and what account was taken of this in the announcement she made on 2 October concerning the funding of community care with effect from April 1993.
§ Mr. YeoAs I said in my reply to the hon. Member on 30 November at column82, the £140 million additional finance for community care above the £399 million transfer from social security will ensure that all authorities will be able to purchase appropriate care for people under their new responsibilities. Any difference that exists 686W currently between the level of benefits and charges should be substantially reduced after April 1993 when authorities negotiate fee levels with care homes or provide non-residential services for people who could be better cared for at home.