§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the administration costs to(a) primary care trusts and (b) local authorities were of operating systems for (A) establishing eligibility for free nursing care and (B) means testing for personal care in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will estimate what savings could be made in these costs if personal care was made free for the elderly. [156290]
§ Dr. LadymanThis information is not available centrally. Administrative cost savings resulting from the introduction of a system of free personal care for the elderly would be marginal, as primary care trusts and local councils would still need to assess the needs of 727W individuals and make payments to care providers. Where accommodation is provided, residents of care homes would still require a test of their means.