Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to bring forward a third round of the Infection Control Fund to help social care providers protect residents during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Infection Control Fund has provided over £1.1 billion of ring-fenced for infection prevention and control in the care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial support is being provided to the sector in other key areas through the £149 million Rapid Testing Fund and the £120 million Workforce Capacity Fund. Additionally, £4.6 billion has been provided to support local authorities to address pressures on public services, including adult social care.

In 2021/22, we expect to provide local authorities with estimated funding of around £3 billion to help manage the impact of COVID-19 across their services, including in adult social care and to compensate for income losses. The Government will continue to monitor pressures on the sector and will keep future funding under review.