Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on people with physical impairments and learning disabilities of the proposals by third sector providers to close residential care homes available to them.

The Department has not made an assessment of the effect on people with physical impairments and learning disabilities of the proposals by third sector providers to close residential care homes available to them.

The Department is aware that some providers of residential care for disabled people are reviewing their services and consulting with people who use services and their families.

The Department appreciates that some people who use services and their families may be concerned and encourages them to engage fully with the consultation process to ensure their views are taken into account.

The Government believes that people who wish, and who are able to live in their communities should be given the support they need to do so. People who use services whose care is provided or arranged by their local council should be supported to exercise choice regarding where they receive services.

The Care Act 2014, which will come into force in 2015, will give local authorities a core duty to promote their local market in care provision, with a particular focus on ensuring diversity, quality and sustainability which, importantly, will mean there should be sufficient high quality services available to meet the needs of individuals in their local area.