The Department has not had any discussions with Welltower about their recent investment in the acquisitions of care homes.

The Government has not made a specific assessment of the impact of Welltower’s acquisition of Barchester Healthcare on the market concentration in London and the South East. Merger investigations on competition grounds are a matter for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which operates independently of Government. The CMA determines which transactions to review based on statutory thresholds and whether there is a realistic prospect of a substantial lessening of competition. The Government keeps the merger control regime under regular review to ensure it remains fit for purpose and works effectively within the current regulatory environment.

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a duty to shape their care market to meet the diverse needs of all people, and to develop and build local market capacity. This includes commissioning a variety of different providers and specialist services that provide genuine choice to meet the needs of local people and that offer quality and value for money.

Whilst fee rates are set by providers of adult social care, all businesses are required to comply with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 by ensuring that they use fair and clear terms in their standard agreements with customers.

Private providers also hold much of the responsibility for recruitment and retention as adult social care employers. However, English local authorities do also have responsibility under the Care Act 2014 to meet social care needs and statutory guidance directs them to ensure there is sufficient workforce in adult social care.

The Department has not had any discussions with Welltower about their recent investment in the acquisitions of care homes.

The Government has not made a specific assessment of the impact of Welltower’s acquisition of Barchester Healthcare on the market concentration in London and the South East. Merger investigations on competition grounds are a matter for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which operates independently of Government. The CMA determines which transactions to review based on statutory thresholds and whether there is a realistic prospect of a substantial lessening of competition. The Government keeps the merger control regime under regular review to ensure it remains fit for purpose and works effectively within the current regulatory environment.

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a duty to shape their care market to meet the diverse needs of all people, and to develop and build local market capacity. This includes commissioning a variety of different providers and specialist services that provide genuine choice to meet the needs of local people and that offer quality and value for money.

Whilst fee rates are set by providers of adult social care, all businesses are required to comply with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 by ensuring that they use fair and clear terms in their standard agreements with customers.

Private providers also hold much of the responsibility for recruitment and retention as adult social care employers. However, English local authorities do also have responsibility under the Care Act 2014 to meet social care needs and statutory guidance directs them to ensure there is sufficient workforce in adult social care.

Merger investigations by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are independent of Government. The CMA reviews mergers that meet certain criteria, for example the size of the company being acquired, and whether it believes the merger could result in a substantial lessening of competition.

Both myself and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Jackie Doyle-Price) have met with representatives of Four Seasons Healthcare, Terra Firma and H/2 Capital Partners to emphasise the importance of ensuring continuity of care for those in receipt of care from Four Seasons.

The Department has not received any specific representations on the potential sale of HC-One.

The social care market is a combination of independent and publicly funded services, and sales are a normal part of a functioning market.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has been closely monitoring the situation at both HC-One and Four Seasons, and will continue to do so. The CQC has been clear that service disruption is not likely at the current time.