Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on increasing care staff pay and conditions to the level of those of NHS staff in comparable roles.

While we have had no specific discussions, the Department has regular engagement with stakeholders, including representatives of providers, local authorities, trade unions and people with lived experience, where pay and terms and conditions are discussed.

The vast majority of care workers are employed by private sector providers who set their pay and conditions, independent of central Government. It is the responsibility of local authorities to work with care providers to determine a fair rate of pay based on local market conditions.