§ Mr. FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the date of publication for the White Paper on Long-term Care. [28217]
§ Mr. BoatengThere is no White Paper on long-term care in preparation. A Royal Commission on the funding of long-term care for elderly people was announced on 4 December 1997 and has been asked to report within 12 months. As regards a long-term care charter, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) on 28 November 1997,Official Report, columns 686–87.