HC Deb 16 July 2003 vol 409 cc407-8W
Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are waiting, in hospitals in(a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire for placements in care homes. [123906]

Ms Rosie Winterton

The information requested is not collected centrally at that level. However, at the fourth quarter of 2002–03, there were 47 people occupying an acute hospital bed and waiting for placement in a care home in the Thames Valley Health Authority area.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with local authority social services departments regarding the funding of care homes. [126094]

Dr. Ladyman

I have not yet had discussions with particular local authorities regarding the funding of care homes. I am, however, aware that the care home sector has been experiencing financial difficulties. That is why we are giving local councils record levels of funding.

Resources for social services have increased by 20 per cent. in real terms between 1996–97 and 2002–03, an average of over 3 per cent. per annum and will continue to increase over the next three years by an average of 6 per cent. per annum in real terms. Local councils will be able to use these substantial extra resources to increase local provision or to rebalance the care home market and increase fee levels if that is what is needed.

Mr. Dawson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has issued to care home proprietors faced with(a) the need to appoint staff to meet statutory requirements and (b) delays in processing Criminal Records Bureau clearances. [125813]

Dr. Ladyman

[holding answer 15 July 2003]: The Department has not issued formal guidance to care home providers about what to do when the processing application of the application for a criminal record disclosure takes longer than normal. Under the Care Standards Act all care homes in England are regulated by the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC). It is for the NCSC to satisfy itself that care homes conform to statutory requirements and the commission provides appropriate guidance to providers on meeting the requirements.

The performance of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has now greatly improved. In the week ending 5 July, the CRB issued 95 per cent. of standard disclosures within two weeks and 94 per cent. of enhanced disclosures within four weeks, against a service standard of 90 per cent. in each case.

However, for those occasions when, for whatever reason, the issue of a disclosure may take longer than normal the NCSC has published guidance for care provider. This is available on its website at www.carestandards. org.uk.