HC Deb 26 January 1994 vol 236 c301W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average number of beds of an independent sector home in each year since 1979.

Mr. Bowis

The information is shown in the table. Figures for 1981 and 1982 have not been provided for residential care homes as the information held for these years is not considered reliable. No figures are available for nursing homes before 1982.

Mean number of beds available per home in the independent sector at 31 March 1979 to 1992
Year Residential homes Nursing homes
1979 21 n/a
1980 21 n/a
1981 n/a n/a
1982 n/a 26
1983 19 27
1984 19 26
1985 18 26
1986 17 26
1987 17 1—
1988 17 26
1989 17 28
1990 17 29
1991 18 30
1992 18 31
1993 2— 32
1 The year of collection for data on nursing homes changed from calendar to financial between 31 December 1986 and 1 April 1988, consequently the figures for 1987 are included in the 1988 entry.
2 Figures are not yet available.

Sources: Nursing homes SBH212 (1982–1986), KO36 Returns (1987/88–1992/93).

Residential homes RA2-RA4 (1979–1986) RAC; Return (1987–1992).