HC Deb 29 October 2002 vol 391 cc735-6W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the(a) number of residential care homes that have closed and (b) number of residential care home beds lost in Portsmouth, South in each of the past five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [76489]

Jacqui Smith

Information is not available by constituency. The number of residential care homes and care home beds in Portsmouth unitary authority is shown in the table at 31 March for the years 1998 to 2001. Data for 2002 are not yet available.

Number of residential care homes and care home beds in Portsmouth unitary authority at 31 March, 1998 to 2001
As at 31 March Care homes Care home beds
1998 165 1,890
1999 165 1,850
2000 155 1,735
2001 140 1,595

Mrs. Brooke

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the closure of care homes. [75363]

Jacqui Smith

Department of Health figures show that between 1997 and 2001 the most recent figures available the number of care homes in England reduced by only 640 or 2 per cent. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced, on 23 July, an extra £ 1 billion for social services by 2006. Some of this money can be used to boost capacity in the care home sector.