HC Deb 04 July 1995 vol 263 c105W
Mr. Sykes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the economic impact on the independent nursing sector of referrals by North Yorkshire county council to nursing homes owned by that council; [31674]

(2) what percentage of referrals by North Yorkshire county council are to council-owned nursing homes; [31676]

(3) what representations she has received from the independent nursing sector on referrals by North Yorkshire county council to homes owned by that council. [31666]

Mr. Bowis

Local authorities may own residential care homes but not nursing homes. I have received representations from my hon. Friend about this matter.

Mr. Sykes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the number of nursing homes providing specialist care in North Yorkshire owned(a) privately and (b) by the county council. [31673]

Mr. Bowis

Centrally held data on nursing home provision relates to health authority and not local authority areas. In 1993–94 there were 138 registered homes within the North Yorkshire health district. The table gives number of beds by specialisation.

Number
Mental illness 453
People with learning disabilities
Maternity
Physically disabled 360
Alcohol and drug misuse 7
Other 3,850
Total number of beds 4,670

Local authorities do not own nursing homes.