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Social Services: Northern Ireland

Asked by Jim ShannonDemocratic Unionist PartyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 20 July 2026UIN 18601

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to social care services for the elderly.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock

In England, under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a duty to meet the eligible needs of the people in their area including the elderly.

Local authorities in England are also tasked with the duty to shape their care markets to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes commissioning a diverse range of care and support services that enable people to access quality care.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is assessing how well local authorities in England are delivering adult social care, specifically how local authorities are performing against their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014. All reports and ratings are published on the CQC’s website.

The Government is making over £4.6 billion of additional funding available in England for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements.

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