Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to ensure (a) transparent monitoring of Care Act Easements so that there is a comprehensive record of all reduced or withdrawn packages of care and support during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Department is working with the Care Quality Commission and Think Local, Act Personal (TLAP) to understand the impact of the Care Act easements introduced by the Coronavirus Act 2020, which allow local authorities to prioritise care and support so that the most urgent and acute needs are met. This work includes conversations with local authorities. Recording by local authorities remains a priority and will help them to ensure accountability and provide evidence for the thought processes behind their decisions. This is stated in the Care Act easements guidance published on GOV.UK at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-changes-to-the-care-act-2014

There is no requirement to share these internal records with the Department.