§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on what basis the Minister decided not to follow the recommendations of the Steering Group set up to look at the way free nursing care payments should be paid; [38057]
(2) what representations he has received since 1 October 2001 in favour of free nursing care payments being paid direct to nursing home owners; [38056]
(3) if he will offer care homes the option of clients being paid the free nursing care payments; [38227]
(4) if he will offer care homes the option of the free nursing care payments being paid directly to the clients as well as the nursing home; and if he will make a statement. [38058]
§ Jacqui SmithI have received no such representations since 1 October.
The stakeholder group set up to oversee implementation of free nursing care did not recommend that payments should be made to individuals rather than to care homes.
The national health service traditionally provides services to patients or arranges for others, in this case independent care providers, to provide services to them.