Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received from care home operators in West Sussex about their future financial viability.

Alistair Burt, Minister of State for Community and Social Care: The Government continues to engage with the care sector, including care providers, to understand their concerns about their financial viability and the sustainability of services.

The trade bodies Care England and the United Kingdom Home Care Association have convened a provider Taskforce, with membership from the larger care home and home care operators and representatives from the Care Providers Alliance. Officials from the Department of Health, and other Government departments attend the taskforce meetings as observers. The most recent meeting was held on 9 May 2016, where discussions were held about risks to financial viability, local authority commissioning and the impact of the introduction of the National Living Wage.

The Department is working closely with the Local Government Association to consider targeted action to address the issues.

The Department is not aware of any specific representations from care home providers in West Sussex about their future financial viability.