Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to protect self-funders from care home fee increases that exceed inflation.

Tax policy, including changes to National Insurance contributions, is a matter for HM Treasury and assessments of the wider economic impacts are considered in that context.

The Department of Health and Social Care does not have the power to set or recommend the fees charged by care homes. However, all businesses must comply with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 by using fair and transparent terms in their standard agreements with customers.

This emphasis on transparency is also reflected in Regulation 19 of the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009, which requires providers to give people who use services timely and accurate written information about the cost of their care and treatment.