Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that major acquisitions in the care home sector do not reduce choice or increase costs for residents and local authorities.

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a duty to shape their care market to meet the diverse needs of all people, and to develop and build local market capacity. This includes commissioning a variety of different providers and specialist services that provide genuine choice to meet the needs of local people and that offer quality and value for money.

These duties are complemented by the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) role in monitoring the financial health of the largest and most difficult to replace adult social care providers in England through the Market Oversight Scheme. The CQC continues to monitor all providers in the scheme.

Furthermore, whilst fee rates are set by providers of adult social care, all businesses are required to comply with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 by ensuring that they use fair and clear terms in their standard agreements with customers.