Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve the (1) pay, (2) conditions, and (3) recognition, for those working in the social care sector.

Our workforce reforms, which will invest £250 million over the next two years, will provide the workforce with more support to develop within their careers.

Most care workers are employed by private sector providers who set their pay and terms and conditions, independent 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.

The Government has made available up to £7.5 billion in additional funding over two years to support adult social care and discharge. This historic funding boost will put the adult social care system on a stronger financial footing and help Local Authorities address waiting lists, low fee rates and workforce pressures in the sector.