Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on local social care providers who are unable to fund historic back-pay liabilities for sleep-in shifts.

The Government recognises the pressure that sleep-in backpay liabilities are placing on social care providers and is exploring options to minimise any impact on the sector.

The Government has been working closely with representatives of the social care sector in order to ensure that we have a clear understanding of any impact the sector may face.

Any intervention to support the sector would need to be proportionate and necessary.