Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions, if any, they have had with Derbyshire County Council regarding the council’s proposals to close care homes in the county.

We have had no such discussions. The commissioning of care and support services is a matter for local authorities, who are best placed to understand and plan for the care needs of their local populations. Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are required to shape their local markets and ensure that people have a range of high-quality, sustainable, and person-centred care and support options available to them.

Providers entering and exiting, including changes to local authority provided services, is a normal part of a functioning market and local authorities should have appropriate plans in place to minimise any impacts.