§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the financial effect on voluntary organisations in Scotland of the level of income support for people in private homes.
§ Mr. Allan Stewart[holding answer 24 June 1992]: No such assessment has been made by my Department. The level of income support for people in voluntary and private sector residential care homes is a matter for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has responsibility. A study of costs in independent residential care homes which included homes in Scotland was undertaken in 1990 for the Department of Social Security. The results of this were taken into account in determining the increases in income support limits from April 1991. Increases in the limits from April 1992 were generally above the rate of inflation.