Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to introduce a system of tax credits for people who have young children and wish to change careers to adult social care.

There are no current plans to introduce tax credits specifically for people looking to move into the care sector, but the Government is committed to working alongside employers and stakeholders in adult social care to grow and develop the workforce, with the values and skills to deliver high quality, compassionate care.

Through our continued funding of Skills for Care, the Government provides a range of resources and practical toolkits for social care providers to help them attract, train and retain staff. Over the past two years we have also run a national recruitment campaign, designed to reduce the turnover and vacancy rate in the sector by raising the profile of adult social care, encouraging potential applicants to apply for job vacancies, and highlighting opportunities for career development and progression.