Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to fill adult social care vacancies in England; and what steps she is taking to improve (a) pay and (b) contractual terms and conditions in that sector.

Local authorities are responsible for ensuring there is sufficient workforce capacity to meet the care needs of the local population.

The majority of care workers are employed by private sector providers which set their pay and terms and conditions, independently of central Government. Local authorities work with care providers to determine fee rates, which should take account of wage costs, based on local market conditions.