News story

13th November 2001

MP Welcomes Government Concessions Over Care Home Regulations

Northavon MP Steve Webb has welcomed Government indications that it will modify proposed care standards that could threaten the future of dozens of care homes for young adults. The hints of compromise were offered by Health Minister Jacqui Smith MP, responding last night in the House of Commons to a debate initiated by Steve Webb. In opening the debate, the Lib Dem MP said that while he shared the Government’s objective of raising standards, he was concerned that the sudden imposition of new standards with little new funding could make some homes unviable. In the debate, he quoted a moving letter from grandparents of a resident at the Manor House at Frenchay, describing how happy their granddaughter was there and how anxious they were that this security might be taken away. He said that costly and unnecessary requirements for additional toilets and bathrooms, and restrictions on numbers of residents could put many homes at risk. In response, Jacqui Smith said that the Government would be publishing its final recommendations in a couple of weeks’ time, but added that the consultation process “had been a genuine one”. The Minister hinted that some of the requirements would now be made less severe and that homes would be given extra time to comply.

Speaking after the debate, Steve Webb said:

“Although we have yet to see the detail, I am delighted that the Government seems to have listened to the many criticisms of its proposed care standards. It would have been a tragedy if, in a desire to raise standards, the result was to close existing high quality provision. The indications from the minister are that the final recommendations will represent a real step forward.”

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