Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support his Department has provided to (a) local authorities and (b) other providers to help them retrospectively fund sleep-in shifts at the national minimum wage rate.

The Government recognises the pressures that sleep-in liabilities are placing on local authorities and social care providers, and is exploring options to minimise any impact on the sector. Any intervention to support the sector would need to be proportionate and necessary.

In the interim the Government will continue to work closely with stakeholders to ensure that we have a clear understanding of any impact the sector may face.