To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to page 12 of his Department's Resource Accounts for 2007-08, HC (2007-08) 1042, for what reason his Department reported slippage against its target for increasing the proportion of older people being supported to live in their own home; to what extent the target was met in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement. (280974)

The Department reported slippage in the 2007-08 Department's Resource Accounts for the number of older people helped to live at home. The number of older people as at 31 March per 1,000 had decreased from 81 in 2005-06 to 80 in 2006-07 representing a decrease of 1.3 per cent. However, the data (when it became available in December 2008) showed that by 31 March in 2007-08 the number increased to 81 representing an increase of 1.4 per cent.

There are a range of reasons to account for the change, including the potential impact of increasing the level of local eligibility criteria being met locally; an increased local focus on shorter periods of rehabilitation; the increased use of support provided through the voluntary sector such as grant funded services; and the improved information and signposting to enable people to access appropriate and relevant local support thereby reducing the numbers of older people recorded as receiving “care managed” services.