§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether she will amend existing guidance on charges for residential accommodation to allow spouses without an occupational pension of their own, to retain 50 per cent. of their partner's occupational pensions when he or she enters long-term care in a residential or nursing home;
(2) what steps she is taking to ensure that social services departments increase the personal expenses allowance of people in residential or nursing homes where this is necessary to support their spouse at home;
(3) what provision her Department has made for the continued financial well-being of carers when their relative or spouse with dementia enters long-term care in a residential nursing home.
§ Mr. BowisGuidance was sent to local authorities last month in LAC(94)1 reminding them that they have discretion to vary the personal expenses allowance to allow the resident to retain sufficient money to enable him or her to support his or her partner remaining at home where the partner has little or no income or capital of his or her own. This discretion could be extended to allow the resident to support a carer. Additionally, local authorities have discretion to ignore the value of property where a third party—such as someone who was caring for the resident at home—continues to live there. Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.