§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assumptions underlay the estimate of the number of new care packages which would be available; when these packages will be available; how much each package will cost; how many hours of contact will be provided; and if sufficient staff are available to support the extra packages. [141501]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 13 December 2000]: Figures provided by councils show that the number of people in England aged 65 and over per 1,000 population who were being helped to live at home increased by 2 per cent. between 1998–99 and 1999–2000. This amounts to an additional 15,000–20,000 people.
Information is not available centrally on the number of contact hours used for the full range of community-based home care services. Contact hours are recorded only on home help and home care services. Information on the number of staff is available only for those employed directly by social services departments. No figures are collected on staff who work in the independent sector.