Low pay for care workers is one of the key problems beleaguering the social care sector. There is a strong case for putting this right, but no national policy to improve wages.

But the move towards reform is under way, with the Labour Government's announcement in the King's Speech of an Employment Rights Bill. This will include a commitment to setting up a Fair Pay Agreement in the adult social care sector, and will, following review, assess how and to what extent such agreements could benefit other sectors.