Social Care: Legislation

Lord Skelmersdale Excerpts

Monday 11th June 2012 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

I shall make sure that the noble Baroness’s suggestion is fed in to the discussions currently in train on that subject.

[Lord Skelmersdale]

My Lords, recent press reports—in fact, they are not that recent—have concerned the quality of care, not least the care given by care assistants. In their consideration of this matter will my noble friend and his department consider the registration and suitability of care assistants?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, as my noble friend will recall, we debated this subject extensively during the passage of the Health and Social Care Act. The Government’s position is that voluntary assured registration is the way forward for the time being. However, we have not closed our minds to statutory regulation in this area.