Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the impact of the rise in the cost of living on the cost of care homes and residential homes.

No formal assessment has been made. However, we are working with the sector to understand the impact of emerging challenges and ensure continuity of care. We have made an additional £3.7 billion available for councils in 2022/23, which includes £1 billion for social care. Councils also have access to additional funding, including from un-ringfenced grants and council tax and should work with care providers to determine fee rates based on local market conditions. Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are required to shape their local markets. Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the care needs of their populations, and to develop and build local market capacity.