Long-delayed reforms to social care were included in the government’s proposed legislative agenda announced in yesterday’s Queen’s Speech.
Proposals for a green paper on social care were originally announced in the March 2017 Budget, but have been delayed numerous times since.
Yesterday’s announcement holds out the prospect of legislation in this session of Parliament, if the government – which is currently without a majority – is able to command the support of MPs for any proposals it brings forward.
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Responding, Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the Local Government Association’s (LGA’s) community wellbeing board, said his body “looks forward to seeing the details”.
He said: “The government’s proposals on the future of adult social care need to be substantive and must be brought forward as soon as possible.
“We know what the issues are, now is the time for answers.”
In July, the Financial Times reported that proposals in the green paper had been ditched and that a white paper would be published this autumn, because prime minister Boris Johnson wanted to “inject more urgency” into the process.
In September, The Guardian reported that Johnson had ruled out a system of voluntary insurance favoured by health secretary Matt Hancock.
Hancock, according to the paper, was told to undertake a fundamental rethink of the proposals.
Speaking after the Queen’s Speech, Julie Ogley, president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said: “Any reform would need to work for everyone who requires social care and support, regardless of whether they are working age or an older person.
“Successive governments have promised this, but ultimately it hasn’t happened. We urgently need the government to bring forward proposals that enable people to live the lives they want to lead.”
David Williams, chairman of the County Councils Network, said: “It is imperative that this administration consults on a wide-range of funding options to place social care on a sustainable financial footing and we welcome the commitment to a social care white paper.”
Last year, a survey by the LGA found that significantly more members of the public would support a national tax increase over council tax rises to bridge the adult social care funding gap, according to a new poll.
This week’s Queen’s Speech also announced plans for a white paper on devolution, a move trialed at the recent Conservative Party conference.
Responding to this announcement, James Jamieson, chairman of the LGA, said: “Taking decisions over how to run local services closer to where people live is key to improving them and saving money.
“There is clear and significant evidence that outcomes improve and the country gets better value for money when councils have the freedoms and funding to make local decisions.
“With no new devolution deals agreed in two years, councils will look to work with the government on how to reignite this process.”
However, Jonathan Carr-West, chief executive of the Local Government Information Unit, struck a sceptical note, saying he hoped that the announcements were not just empty words.
He said: “While we welcome the promises of further devolution to local government and a long awaited social care white paper in today’s Queen’s Speech, we will unfortunately have to add them to the long list of items that successive governments have promised and not delivered for councils.
“For too long, devolution, social care and local finance reform have continued to be pushed to the sidelines and given the back seat to Brexit.”
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