Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate the Government has made of the number of increased care bills issued by local authorities in England to disabled and mentally ill adults in the last 12 months; and what assessment he has made of the social impact of those additional charges.

The Government has made no such estimate and no assessment has been made.

In charging for care, local authorities must follow the Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) 2014 Regulations and have regard to the Care and Support statutory guidance. Where additional support is needed, the local authority can be asked to carry out a financial assessment review to ensure the right level of income is retained to meet needs that are not being met by the local authority.