House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Care Sector Salaries

Tuesday 7 January 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

Minister acknowledges the social care crisis and steps taken to increase investment through the Budget.
Government aims to deliver the biggest expansion of carer's allowance since the 1970s.
Fair pay agreements will bring together government, public and private sector employers to negotiate benefits for care workers.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Martin Rhodes Lab Glasgow North

Social Care Employment

Context

The question arises from discussions about the impact of salary issues on social care workers and the government's response to these concerns.

Question

What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on staff salaries in the care sector. Does the Secretary of State agree that the SNP’s National Care Service (Scotland) Bill was a missed opportunity to improve pay and conditions for social care workers, particularly when compared with Labour’s Employment Rights Bill?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)

This Government recognise the crisis in social care that we inherited, which is why over the past six months we have taken steps through the Budget to increase investment in social care, deliver the biggest expansion of the carer’s allowance since the 1970s and invest in the disabled facilities grant. That is why I am proud that within our first 100 days, the care worker-turned-Deputy Prime Minister included fair pay agreements in her landmark Employment Rights Bill, so we can give our care staff not just the pay they deserve, but the professional status, recognising the hard work they do as care professionals. If the SNP does not utilise this legislation to improve pay and conditions for social care workers, it is a missed opportunity.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not directly address whether he agrees that the SNP's bill was a missed opportunity but instead focused on Labour's Employment Rights Bill.

How: Referenced Other Legislation, Did Not Directly Answer

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Q2 Martin Vickers Con Brigg and Immingham

NHS Social Care

Context

The question arises from discussions about salary increases for NHS staff not extending to social care workers, leading to dissatisfaction among those employed by Care Plus Group.

Question

What is the Secretary of State able to pass on to them? In north-east Lincolnshire, a social enterprise employs 800 staff providing health and social care. I have been approached by many staff who are unhappy that they have not benefited from the increases that NHS staff have gained. They have the support of the Royal College of Nursing and are looking for the Government to provide Care Plus Group with the resources to ensure that they are recompensed to the same level.

Answer from The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)

I am grateful to the hon. Member for that question. With our fair pay agreements, we will be bringing together government, public and private sector employers and staff trade unions to negotiate the future for fair pay agreements that will benefit care workers across the system and give them the professional status and career progression they deserve. The Chancellor, through the Budget, also took steps to ensure that we could invest in our social care services.