Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of increases in service charges on care home residents, in the context of increases in the cost of energy.

We recognise the pressures faced by the adult social care sector, including inflation and energy costs, and have made available up to £8.1 billion in additional funding over this year and next to support adult social care and discharge.

There continues to be specific energy support for those on non-domestic contracts, including businesses, charities and public sector organisations such as care homes. Through the Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) eligible non-domestic consumers will receive a per-unit discount to their energy bills from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, subject to a maximum discount.

The Government has not assessed the potential impact of increases in service charges on care home residents. Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the care needs of their populations.