Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance he has issued to local authorities on awarding social care contracts; and if he will make a statement.

Commissioning social care is a matter for local authorities who are best placed to understand the needs of local people and communities, and how to meet them

The Department supports local authorities to commission social care by funding a number of sector-led improvement activities. These are delivered in partnership with the Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and offer all local areas support in meeting the challenges of adult social care delivery

We also fund the Social Care Institute for Excellence and Think Local, Act Personal to create best practice digital guidance about commissioning and to promote the principles of co-production and personalisation within social care commissioning.