Liz Kendall MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Care and Older People, responding to reports that most councils in England are paying less than the industry recommended minimum for personal home care, said:

“We will never get the quality of care we all want for our loved ones if this race to the bottom continues. 

"Around 200,000 care workers don’t even get the minimum wage, let alone a living wage, and thousands of staff are on zero hours contracts too.

"Councils are facing a desperate struggle to cope as care budgets are cut to the bone, at the same time as demand is increasing. 

"The Government is making matters even worse by removing the Care Quality Commission's role in assessing how councils commission services in the Care Bill, which is currently going through Parliament. 

"Labour will continue to press Ministers to change their minds, so we know precisely how the quality of care is being affected across the country and the action that’s needed to tackle this growing problem.”