§ Mr. Edward DaveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the formal status is of the national minimum standards of the National Care Standards Commission. [139558]
§ Dr. LadymanWhereas regulations are mandatory and form a statement of the law, compliance with national minimum standards is not itself enforceable. However, in assessing whether a care establishment conforms with the relevant regulations the National Care Standards Commission must take the national minimum standards into account.