Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Care Quality Commission makes an assessment of whether social care providers are compliant with the national living and minimum wages as part of its Market Oversight responsibilities to assess the sustainability of social care providers.

The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC’s) Market Oversight function does not assess whether social care providers are compliant with the national living and minimum wages. Market Oversight’s purpose is to help local authorities to protect people using care services, and their families and carers, from the anxiety and distress that may be caused by the failure of a major care provider. By monitoring the performance and finances of the most significant social care providers in England, Care are required to notify local authorities if a provider is likely to experience business failure and that services will cease as a result. Local authorities can then ensure continuity of care for those affected.

CQC’s role includes understanding providers’ financial and operational strategies to manage their businesses and to meet a range of external challenges, including but not limited to the impact of the national living wage and other cost and regulatory changes. CQC’s Market Oversight function typically monitors the 50 most significant providers that local authorities would find difficult to replace should they fail.

Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs have responsibility for investigating and enforcing compliance with the national minimum wage and the national living wage.