CARE HOME FEES

Early day motion 1613, tabled 11 July 2002 by Lord McCabe (Labour). Signed by 41 members.

That this House expresses its concern that many local authorities pay substantially less for residential places in independent care homes for the elderly than for those in their own local authority homes; notes that it is 100 per cent. less in the case of Birmingham Social Services; further notes that this practice is threatening to put good quality independent care homes out of business leaving vulnerable elderly people homeless or blocking hospital beds because they cannot be discharged; and calls upon the Government to bring an end to this iniquitous two-tier system by imposing funding parity between local authority and independent care homes operating within the same area and providing similar facilities.

Signatures by party: Labour 26, Liberal Democrat 7, Labour/Co-operative 3, Plaid Cymru 2, UUP 2, Conservative 1.