Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Government’s announcement of family being able to begin visiting care home residents and guidance to homes on testing visitors for covid-19, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the level of funding provided to care providers through the Infection Control Fund.

The Government has committed to providing tests for up to two visitors per resident to be tested twice a week in all care homes. This has been supported by releasing testing guidance on 8 December for care homes and visitors.

Through the Infection Control Fund, the Government has provided over £1.1 billion to the care sector to implement infection prevention measures. In addition, the Government has provided access to £4.6 billion to address pressures on local services, such as adult social care, throughout the pandemic. The Government will continue to monitor pressures, including through the reports local authorities are submitting specifying how the grant has been spent and will keep future funding under review.