The majority of English councils are short-changing providers of personal care, reports have suggested.

According to figures obtained using Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, a mere four out of 101 local authorities are paying the industry's recommended minimum charge of £15.19 an hour.

The survey conducted by BBC Radio 4's File on 4 programme revealed the average lowest local authority rate was £12.26 per hour.

Colin Angel of the UK Homecare Association (UKHCA) said: ‘Many councils exploit their dominant purchasing power in local markets to reduce prices'.

He called on councils to work with providers to ensure the sustainability of the care sector.

President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, Sandie Keene, said the situation needed to be seen in the context of wider cuts to local government budgets.

‘We're strongly recommending that people use the UKHCA model to work through with providers alongside looking at all local conditions that would then determine what is a reasonable price for care,' Ms Keene said.

She said the UKHCA's £15.19 figure seemed a little high but acknowledged the value of care should be higher.

Care minister, Norman Lamb said: ‘Local authorities must consider how they can do things differently to deliver better outcomes and quality care for people who need it.

‘We know there are plenty of good examples of commissioning by councils, but we want this to be the reality everywhere,' Mr Lamb added.