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Theresa May pledges to seek long-term solution to social care squeeze Theresa May pledges to seek long-term solution to social care squeeze
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May has pledged to seek a “long-term solution” to the challenge of funding social care for older people, as she confirmed that local authorities would be allowed to bring forward increases in council tax to meet a short-term funding squeeze.Theresa May has pledged to seek a “long-term solution” to the challenge of funding social care for older people, as she confirmed that local authorities would be allowed to bring forward increases in council tax to meet a short-term funding squeeze.
Challenged by Jeremy Corbyn on what he called the crisis in social care, May said her government would give councils more flexibility to raise more money in the short term – but would also seek a sustainable funding model.Challenged by Jeremy Corbyn on what he called the crisis in social care, May said her government would give councils more flexibility to raise more money in the short term – but would also seek a sustainable funding model.
“You cannot look as this question as simply being about money in the short term. If we’re going to give people the reassurance they need in the long term, it’s about finding a way forward that will give a sustainable solution for the future,” she said.“You cannot look as this question as simply being about money in the short term. If we’re going to give people the reassurance they need in the long term, it’s about finding a way forward that will give a sustainable solution for the future,” she said.
Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, is expected to announce on Thursday that local authorities will be allowed to increase council tax by up to 3% next year and the year after, with the money ring-fenced to pay for social care. Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, is expected to announce on Thursday that local authorities will be allowed to increase council tax by up to 3% next year and the year after, with the money ringfenced to pay for social care.
The maximum increase was 2% over each of the next three years; but councils will now be able to make upfront rises of 3% in each of the next two years. The maximum increase had been 2% over each of the next three years, but councils will now be able to make upfront rises of 3% in each of the next two years.
But government sources were keen to stress that local authorities will not be allowed to make any rises in the third year, so the total increase in council tax over the three-year period remains the same – at 6%. Government sources were keen to stress that local authorities would not be allowed to make any rises in the third year, so the total increase in council tax over the three-year period would remain the same, at 6%.
Pressure has been mounting on the government to tackle a looming winter crisis in social care since the chancellor, Philip Hammond, failed to make more funding available at his autumn statement last month.Pressure has been mounting on the government to tackle a looming winter crisis in social care since the chancellor, Philip Hammond, failed to make more funding available at his autumn statement last month.
In a spirited performance at the final PMQs of 2016, Corbyn said older people were being left to live a “horrible, isolated life, when they should be cared for by all of us, through a properly funded social care system”.In a spirited performance at the final PMQs of 2016, Corbyn said older people were being left to live a “horrible, isolated life, when they should be cared for by all of us, through a properly funded social care system”.
He urged the prime minister to cancel planned cuts to corporation tax, which were confirmed by Hammond at last month’s budget, and ring-fence the money to fund social care. He urged the prime minister to cancel planned cuts to corporation tax, which were confirmed by Hammond at last month’s budget, and ringfence the money to fund social care.
Corbyn also pointed out that increases in council tax raise more in wealthy parts of the country. “Raising council tax has a different outcome in different parts of the country,” he said, adding: “Is she saying that older people – frail, elderly, vulnerable older people – are less valuable in our cities than in other parts of the country?” Corbyn pointed out that increases in council tax raised more in wealthy parts of the country. “Raising council tax has a different outcome in different parts of the country,” he said, adding: “Is she saying that older people – frail, elderly, vulnerable older people – are less valuable in our cities than in other parts of the country?”
May insisted funding was not the only answer to the problem, pointing to what she said were poor-performing councils, singling out Ealing council as an example of poor practice for failing to integrate social care with the wider NHS. May insisted funding was not the only answer to the problem, pointing to what she said were poorly performing councils, singling out Ealing council as an example of poor practice for failing to integrate social care with the wider NHS.
“There are also some councils across the country – some Labour councils – who have not taken that opportunity, and where we see a worse performance,” she said, pointing to a “twentyfold” difference in delayed discharges, where hospitals cannot send a patient home because there is no social care in place.“There are also some councils across the country – some Labour councils – who have not taken that opportunity, and where we see a worse performance,” she said, pointing to a “twentyfold” difference in delayed discharges, where hospitals cannot send a patient home because there is no social care in place.
“We recognise that there are indeed pressures on social care, but we also recognise that this is not just about money; it is about delivery,” she said.“We recognise that there are indeed pressures on social care, but we also recognise that this is not just about money; it is about delivery,” she said.
Local authorities, which are responsible for social care, have repeatedly warned that cuts to their funding from central government have put provision at risk. Local authorities, which are responsible for social care, have repeatedly said cuts to their funding from central government have put provision at risk.
Sarah Wollaston, the Totnes MP and chair of the health select committee, called for cross-party talks to come up with a long-term solution to the problem.Sarah Wollaston, the Totnes MP and chair of the health select committee, called for cross-party talks to come up with a long-term solution to the problem.