Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the Care Quality Commission on the introduction of specific metrics to tackle sexual misconduct.

The Department has not had any recent discussions with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) regarding the introduction of specific metrics to tackle sexual misconduct.

Nonetheless, the CQC monitors for concerns related to sexual misconduct as part of its regulatory responsibilities. This is in line with Regulation 13 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, which requires that service providers must have a zero tolerance approach to abuse, including sexual abuse and harassment. Failure to comply with Regulation 13 can have serious consequences, including regulatory action from the CQC, potentially leading to a provider being denied registration, or in some cases, prosecution.