The Department stated that, while government’s access to data from the social care system has greatly improved during the pandemic, it is likely that this access will be somewhat scaled down as the emergency subsides. It told us that this is because providing 31 Qq 12–27 32 Q 24; letter from the Department of Health & Social Care, 27 January 2022 33 Committee of Public Accounts, Challenges in using data across government, 118th Report of Session 2017–19, HC 2492, 25 September 2019; and Committee of Public Accounts, Challenges in implementing digital change, 30th Report of Session 2021–22, HC 637, 10 December 2021 34 C&AG’s Report, The government’s approach to test and trace in England – interim report, Session 2019–20, HC 1070, 11 December 2020, para. 23 35 International Longevity Centre UK (Ev TRE0002) 36 Qq 103–106 Government preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons for government on risk 15 data to government comes at a significant cost to the small- and medium-scale private businesses that make up a large part of the social care system, and a balance should be sought between sector resilience and the burden on businesses.37 37 Q 109 16 Government preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons for government on risk