Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure adequate pay levels for health and social care staff.

The independent Pay Review Bodies (PRBs) will make a recommendation on pay for National Health Service staff in the spring. In reaching their recommendations the PRBs will take into account the cost of living and inflation, recruitment and retention, morale and motivation, affordability and value for the taxpayer.  The Department works closely with HM Treasury when submitting evidence to the PRBs.

Social care pay is set by care providers. We expect local authorities to pay providers a fair rate for care to enable fair levels of workforce pay.