(Urgent Question): To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government are taking in respect of the Crisis in Southern Cross.

In opposing the proposed sell-off of care homes by Nottinghamshire county council, I have been warning the council for 18 months about the Crisis in Southern Cross, but that is not the only big care home provider with problems.

The Southern Cross Crisis is causing extreme anxiety to the people who live in the homes, including the one at Hopton Mews in Armley, in my constituency.

The Minister will understand that that is now urgent, given the Southern Cross Crisis.

Working with local government and the care sector, we successfully handled the consequences of the Southern Cross Crisis, but we also learnt lessons.

Working with local government and the care sector, we successfully handled the consequences of the Southern Cross Crisis, but we also learned lessons, so we will consult on how we can anticipate and act to ensure continuity of care if a provider goes out of business.