§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total spending during each year since 1979–80 on income support and supplementary benefit payments towards the cost of residential or nursing care, including estimates for the current financial year; and if he will set out the percentage change since 1979–80 deflated by the change in numbers of (i) people of pensionable age and (ii) those over 75 years of age.
§ Mr. BurtSuch information as is available is in the table.
Income support expenditure Residential care and nursing homes year Annual equivalent expenditure Year£million December 1979 10 December 1980 18 December 1981 23 December 1982 39 December 1983 104 December 1984 200 December 1985 348 February 1986 459 May 1987 671 May 1988 878 May 1989 1,105 May 1990 1,270 May 1991 1,872 May 1992 2,460 Source: Quarterly Statistical Enquiries.
Reliable data on an age basis is not available.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the likely total expenditure on income support payments towards the costs of care in residential or nursing homes during the current financial year.