Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the High Court Judgement in the case of SH v Norfolk Council, what steps he is taking to ensure that local authority social care charging policies are compliant with equality law.

Local authorities have discretion to implement charging policies which best meet the needs of the local populations they serve, whilst adhering to legislation and statutory guidance. Responsibility for ensuring that charging policies are compliant with equality laws rests with local authorities, who take their own legal advice on such matters. Following engagement with local authority representative groups, the Government is confident that local authorities understand their obligations.