Independent Commission on Adult Social Care

Lord Sikka Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

One of the real differences in the work that the noble Baroness, Lady Casey, is embarking on is that she is committed to working with unpaid carers. The noble Baroness, Lady Tyler, raises a critical point. We know how much this country relies on unpaid carers. I am pleased that we have raised the earnings limit by the highest amount since it was introduced, but the figures are staggering. The significant number of people who are carers has to be taken into account. I am delighted that the noble Baroness, Lady Casey, will work with vested interests, and unpaid carers come very high up that list.

[Lord Sikka (Lab)]

My Lords, between 2011 and 2023, 804 out of the 816 adult care homes that were forcibly closed by the Care Quality Commission in England were run for profit. Corporations running such homes have had profit margins of 35% to 40%, removing billions from front-line services, as is the case with many privatised essential services. Can the Minister say when the Government will end profiteering in the adult care sector?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

My noble friend raises an important point. I would stretch that out to talk about the care market’s sustainability. The whole system is in real difficulty, not least because of the funding taken away from local authorities over the past 14 years. Local authorities have had difficulties in sustaining provision. Of course, the whole market needs to be looked at so that we can find the most cost-effective and efficient ways forward which benefit the most people from the most vulnerable cohort in our society.