Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will support local authorities insourcing domiciliary and residential social care.

The Care Act 2014 places a duty on local authorities to develop a diverse market in care and support services that meets the needs of their local communities and promotes the efficient and effective operation of the market for adult care and support as a whole.

We support local authorities to manage their local markets effectively. This includes funding the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services to deliver the Care and Health Improvement Programme, an annual programme of support to local authorities. In addition, the Department has worked with sector partners to produce guidance and support about market shaping, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-social-care-market-shaping/adult-social-care-market-shaping