Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reasons why some local authorities have proposed (1) no increase, or (2) an increase below the rate of inflation, to fees for adult social care services.

Local authorities negotiate fees individually with care providers to achieve a sustainable balance of quality, effectiveness, and value for money.

We recognise the importance of fee rates, which meet the costs of delivery of care, which is why the Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund has been provided to local authorities since 2023/24, which can be used based on their areas’ needs. Improving fee rates to providers is one of the three target areas local authorities can spend their allocation on.