§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money he estimates will be required by local authorities to meet the demand for residential care homes in the next 10 years. [47621]
§ Jacqui SmithI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Andrew Lidington) on 1 February 2002,Official Report, columns 626ߝ27W. Gross expenditure by councils in England on residential care for adults was £3,557 million in 2000ߝ01. Future expenditure will depend on changes in costs as well as in demand.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of elderly people in care are living in state-funded residential care homes. [47620]
§ Jacqui SmithAt 31 March 2001, there were 34,380 residents aged 65 and over supported by local authorities in local authority homes.
§ Mr. WoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to revise the guidelines used by local authorities to determine charges for residential care in order to make the charges more reflective of the services provided. [48553]
§ Jacqui SmithGovernment guidance on charges for residential accommodation is updated regularly. It is based on the principle that those people who are able to pay for their care should do so, while those who have limited income and assets contribute according to a fair financial assessment. Advice on the fees which local authorities should negotiate with care home owners is contained in "Building Capacity and Partnership in Care", an agreement between central government and the statutory and independent social and health care and housing sectors. The agreement states that fee setting1184W should take into account the legitimate current and future costs faced by providers, the factors that affect these costs and the potential for improving performance and more effective ways of working.