Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the latest information they have, by financial year, on (1) adult social care providers handing back contracts to local authorities, (2) the number of new residential and nursing home care providers being registered, (3) the rise or fall in the registration of new home care providers, and (4) the number of people waiting to be assessed for adult social care.

The commissioning of care and support services is a matter for local authorities. The Department does not have oversight of contract hand backs, with local authorities being used to manage entry and exit of care providers in the market and having appropriate plans in place to minimise any disruption to services.

The Care Quality Commission notes that from financial years 2017/18 to 2022/23, there was a net overall increase of 79,081 beds. 4,151 care homes were registered in this period, with 3,126 care homes unregistered, leading to a net increase of 1,025 care homes. 8,764 home care providers were registered in the same period, with 3,640 home care providers unregistered, meaning a net increase of 5,124 home care providers.

The Department does not hold adult social care assessment data centrally.