To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the reasons for changes in the fees charged by local authorities for care services in the last 12 months. (128619)

I have been asked to reply.

Charges for residential care are governed by Regulations, the “National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992”, and statutory guidance issued by the Department, the “Charges for Residential Accommodation Guide”. Councils must follow these Regulations and have limited scope to make discretionary changes to what is charged for.

Councils have discretion to set the level of charges for non-residential social services, within the framework of the Department’s statutory guidance, “Fairer Charging Policies for Home Care and other non-residential Social Services, Guidance for Councils with Social Services Responsibilities”.

Copies of the Regulations and guidance are available in the Library. The Department does not collect information on the reasons for changes in the fees charged by councils.