DAVID Ward, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Bradford East, was today given first hand views on the cost of social care in the district by care providers.

He spoke to private care providers which form the Bradford Care Association at Czajka Care Group in Shipley yesterday on what Bradford Council is paying care companies for providing care.

The association claims it is forcing firms out of the market and calling into question the future supply of quality care in Bradford.

Bradford Council charges £12.50 per hour for an hour's care but pays its own care teams over to £25 per hour.

Out of the £12.50, private care providers have to pay above the minimum wage, travel costs and such things as training and uniforms.

Bradford Care Association has warned that firms could face being forced out of business as a result of the hourly rate the authority pays, which has remained frozen for the last three years.

Mr Ward said: "The danger is the smaller care providers go out of business and then the Council are at the mercy of the big companies and what they may charge.

"This issue needs to be dealt with by the Council."

The other candidates in Bradford East are: Iftikhar Ahmed (Con), Imran Hussain (Lab), James Lewthwaite (British Democrats), Owais Rajput (Ukip) and Dave Stevens (Green).