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Home Care Services: Elderly

Volume 462: debated on Thursday 12 July 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to review the current arrangements for home care for pensioners. (148715)

No. The provision of social care is based on the National Assistance Act 1948. Sections 21 and 29 of the Act relate to the duties and powers of local authorities to provide social care services. Following the Local Authorities Social Services Act 1970, local council social services departments were set up to provide services to a wide range of people, including children in need, people with mental health problems and learning difficulties and older people.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing the care needs of their populations and providing or arranging care services to meet those needs, including home care for pensioners.