Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to make an assessment of the adequacy of (a) the allocation of resident funds and (b) other aspects of the regulatory framework governing financial accountability in retirement homes.

The Care Quality Commission has regulatory powers to compel providers to be financially viable when delivering regulated activities and to protect service users from financial misappropriation.

In addition, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman is the independent complaints lead for adult social care and investigates complaints from those receiving social care, including on financial issues.

Whilst there are no immediate plans to make an assessment of resident funds, the independent commission chaired by Baroness Louise Casey will have the scope to consider all aspects of adult social care, including financial matters, and will make recommendations on impactful reform as part of the first steps towards delivering a National Care Service.