HC Deb 17 June 1996 vol 279 cc350-1W
Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the United Kingdom are in residential homes in the most recent year for which figures are available in the(a) 16 to 64, (b) 65 to 74, (c) 75 to 84 and (d) 85 years and over age groups; and in each of those categories if he will list the numbers funded by (i) the local authority on a means tested basis, (ii) the individuals themselves and (iii) the Department of Social Security through preserved rights; and if he will make a statement. [33056]

Mr. Bowis

Centrally available information for England is provided in the table. Questions relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, and for Scotland, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

We estimate that around 25 per cent. of elderly people in residential care currently meet their own costs in full. It is not possible to obtain the number of self-funders by subtracting local authority supported residents and people with preserved rights from the number of residents, since some people receive funding from both Department of Social Security through preserved rights and a local authority.

Residents in residential care and source of funding, by age
England, 31 March 19951 Numbers
Age Residents in staffed residential care Local authority supported residents People funded by DSS through preserved rights to income support1
18–64 49,600 36,200 34,100
65–74 24,700 13,600 10,300
75–84 76,800 39,000 20,200
85 or over 118,900 50,900 33,700

Note:

1DSS figures relate to February 1995.

Source:

DH annual returns RAC5. SR1 and DSS QSE.

Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the United Kingdom are in nursing homes in the most recent year for which figures are available in the(a) 16 to 64, (b) 65 to 74, (c) 75 to 84 and (d) 85 years and over age groups; if he will list in each of those categories the numbers funded by (i) the local authority on a means tested basis, (ii) the individuals themselves, (iii) the Department of Social Security through preserved rights and (iv) NHS contract; and if he will make a statement. [33055]

Mr. Bowis

Centrally available information for England is provided in the table. Question relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

We estimate that around 25 per cent. of elderly people in nursing care currently meet their own costs in full. It is not possible to obtain the number of self-funders by subtracting local authority supported residents and people with preserved rights from the number of residents, since some people receive funding from both Department of Social Security through preserved rights and a local authority.

Information on people funded by the NHS is not centrally available.

Residents in nursing care and source of funding, by age
England, 31 March 19951
Numbers
Age People in nursing care Local authority supported residents People funded by DSS through preserved rights to Income Support1
18–64 11,800 3,400 7,600
65–74 19,900 5,900 7,800
75–84 51,100 16,400 20,800
85 or over 64,500 17,500 28,900

Note:

1 DSS figures relate to February 1995.

Source:

DH annual returns K036, SR1 and DSS QSE.

Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the United Kingdom were living in(a) residential homes and (b) nursing homes for the most recent year for which figures are available for (i) less than six months, (ii) between six months and a year, (iii) between one and two years, (iv) between two and three years and (v) three years and more; and if he will make a statement. [33057]

Mr. Bowis

Latest centrally available information on length of stay in residential care in England is published in table 3 of "Survey of age, sex and length of stay characteristics of residents of homes for elderly people and younger people who are physically handicapped in England at 31 March 1988", copies of which are available in the Library. Information on length of stay in nursing homes is not centrally available.

Questions relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.