Community Care

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 12 Chwefror 1991.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Tom Clarke Tom Clarke Shadow Minister (Disability) 12:00, 12 Chwefror 1991

To ask the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's present policy towards Sir Roy Griffiths's recommendation that local authorities should perform the lead role in the provision of community care.

Photo of Mr John Major Mr John Major , Huntingdon

The Government's policy on community care remains as set out in the White Paper "Caring For People" and the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990. Local authorities begin implementation of those policies in April this year.

Photo of Tom Clarke Tom Clarke Shadow Minister (Disability)

What steps does the Prime Minister intend to take to deal with the increasing problems of many elderly people in residential care who have witnessed a growing number of closures of private and voluntary sector homes as a result of the care gap and inadequate income support? Will he absolutely insist that elderly people do not suffer, in spite of the need for social service and social work departments to reduce their expenditure in order to avoid poll tax capping, even though the real anxiety is to respond to elderly people's needs, which they recognise in their own communities?

Photo of Mr John Major Mr John Major , Huntingdon

The concerns for elderly people that the hon. Gentleman sets out and which local authorities have are well understood and appreciated. He weakens his case by his remarks about community charge capping, not least because a large number of those authorities that face capping do so because of a flagrant and wilful abuse of their expenditure in many aspects.

Photo of Nicholas Winterton Nicholas Winterton , Macclesfield

Does my right hon. Friend accept that there is considerable anxiety in local government, not least among the staff of part III residential homes and also, of course, the residents of those homes, that many local authorities feel obliged to put such homes into the private or charitable sector, thus creating considerable instability? Will my right hon. Friend take account of the anxiety, particularly among elderly people and their families, who are deeply upset by the instability that is being created?

Photo of Mr John Major Mr John Major , Huntingdon

What we are seeking to do is to ensure the maximum availability of the appropriate sort of accommodation and to ensure that it is provided in the most cost-effective manner. That accommodation may, on occasion, be in the public or the private sector, but it is the quantum of assistance with which I know my hon. Friend is most concerned.