Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to immediately restore the full duties of the Care Act 2014.

Public safety throughout this period is the Government’s top priority, including for those who need care and support. The changes to the Care Act 2014 duties on local authorities are kept under regular review and the Secretary of State will suspend them based on expert clinical and social care advice, including findings of the Chief Social Workers, in accordance with the Coronavirus Act 2020. This review is reported to Parliament every two months and the latest review confirms that the changes will remain in place for the time being, in line with this advice.