Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2022 to Question 132351 on Social Services: Fees and Charges, what assessment he has made of the sufficiency of (a) guidance to local authorities in relation to the charging policy and (b) finances provided to local authorities to provide free personal care.

The ‘Care and support statutory guidance’ was reviewed following the findings of SH v Norfolk County Council and was found to be sufficient.

Individuals should be charged for their care and support costs based on how much they can afford to pay. From October 2023, the Government will introduce an £86,000 cap on the amount an individual will have to pay towards their care. This will be accompanied by a more generous means-testing system for those with low or no assets. An additional £3.6 billion will be provided to local authorities during the current Spending Review period to support these reforms.