Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the increase in energy prices on care homes' running costs; and if he will take steps to provide support to care homes with their energy costs.

The recent Energy Bill Relief Scheme review assessed the impact of energy costs on non-domestic customers, including care homes. On 9 January the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the outcome of the review and future support for non-domestic customers in the form of a new Energy Bill Discount Scheme (EBDS). Under this scheme, eligible non-domestic consumers in Great Britain and Northern Ireland – including care homes – will receive a per-unit discount to their energy bills, subject to a maximum discount for twelve months from 1 April 2023.

Additionally, the Government will make available up to £2.8 billion this year and £4.7 billion next year to support adult social care and discharge, including with cost pressures – equivalent to 200,000 additional care packages and the biggest funding increase in history.