§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many(a) reviews are being undertaken and (b) action plans are being developed to correct shortcomings reflected in the Better Care Higher Standards Charter, as set out on page 172 of the milestones of the National Service Framework for Older People; [78423]
(2) what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the Better Care Higher Standards charter is working, as set out on page 172 of the milestones of the National Service Framework for Older People. [78422]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 31 October 2002]: We plan to carry out a review of the effectiveness of the charter by March 2003. This will include an analysis of local charters for 2002–03.
§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimates his Department has made of the change in the number of the elderly in England over the next 30 years; and how this will affect the requirement for residential and nursing care. [77149]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 4 November 2002]: The personal social services research unit (PSSRU) long-term care model was developed by the PSSRU at the London School of Economics as part of its research programme funded by the Department. This model projects that the total number of number of people aged 65 and over will increase by 60 per cent. between 2000 and 2031.
In the recently published Improvement, Expansion and Reform: The next 3 years, we set the target of an increase of 6,000 in the number of people in care homes supported by councils over the three years to 2006. This is in acknowledgement of the increasing population of older people.