To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has conducted into the housing needs of older people; and if he will commission research on overall assessment of community care housing needs at a national level.
The Department has commissioned Ernst and Young management consultants to carry out an independent study of the housing needs of elderly and disabled people. The study has been completed and a series of reports covering different elements of the programme of research are being prepared, slightly later than was originally expected. Due to the amount of data collected and the complexity of the analysis, it is now proposed to publish a single report later this year which summarises the findings from the individual reports, which will then be made available on request.The study undertaken by Ernst and Young was an assessment of the overall housing needs of eldely people and did not look separately at needs arising from community care policies. The Government are, nevertheless, keeping a close watch on the way in which community care is being implemented and will consider the need for detailed research at an appropriate time.