This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38319342

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Social care: Ministers to set out funding plans Social care: Sajid Javid sets out new measures
(about 2 hours later)
Details of how councils in England will be able to raise hundreds of millions of pounds to spend on social care in the next two years are to be outlined. The government has set out new measures aimed at boosting funding for social care in England.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid is expected to sanction a rise in council tax bills to 2018-2019 to pay for more frail and elderly people and dementia patients to be cared for at home. Local authorities have been told they can bring forward council tax rises to cover costs over the next two years.
Theresa May says it will help relieve immediate pressures on the system. Communities Secretary Sajid Javid also told MPs £240m cut from the New Homes Bonus, which compensates councils for building new homes, would be spent on adult social care next year.
But Labour and councils say such a funding boost would be inadequate. Labour said no new money was being offered to tackle the "crisis".
Mr Javid unveiled the measures as he set out the local government finance settlement in the Commons.
Campaigners have been calling for investment to be brought forward to tackle what they say is a funding crisis in services for the elderly and disabled.Campaigners have been calling for investment to be brought forward to tackle what they say is a funding crisis in services for the elderly and disabled.
The government was criticised after the annual £20bn adult social care budget was not mentioned in last month's Autumn Statement, and local authorities have complained about cuts to the funding they receive from Whitehall.
On Wednesday, it emerged the government would offer councils an increase in the extra council tax they can impose to cover social care costs.On Wednesday, it emerged the government would offer councils an increase in the extra council tax they can impose to cover social care costs.
Mr Javid is expected to confirm in Thursday's local government funding settlement that the annual council tax care precept will no longer be limited to 2% but will rise to either 3% in each of the next two years or be increased to 4% next year. This was confirmed by Mr Javid, who said local authorities would be permitted to increase council tax by up to 6% over two years, ringfenced for social care, with a maximum of 3% each year.
A 1% increase would raise an estimated £200m. The 6% previously had to be spread over three years. A 1% increase would raise an estimated £200m.
Because the total increase over three years can be no more than 6%, there would be no precept in year three if the increases were brought forward. Mr Javid said the measure, when added to the £240m taken from the New Homes Bonus, would mean £900m extra for local authorities over the next two years to fund social care services.
The BBC's health editor, Hugh Pym, said he understood there would be some flexibility for councils. Responding to Mr Javid, shadow communities and local government minister Gareth Thomas said the local government settlement would "leave people paying high taxes for worse public services".
Labour has said transferring the financial burden to councils is a "con" and that funding for social care had been cut by £4.6bn during the last Parliament. He urged the government to reconsider a planned corporation tax cut to plug the social care funding gap.
Its leader Jeremy Corbyn said it was a crisis "made in Downing Street" and urged ministers to reverse corporation tax cuts to pay for the billions he says are needed to allow people to be cared for with dignity and relieve the pressure on hospitals. Labour has said increasing council tax for social care - which raised an extra £383m this year - is flawed because areas of high deprivation, among those with the greatest demand for social care, have lower property values and council tax incomes.
Labour has said the idea of the precept - which raised an extra £383m this year - is flawed because areas of high deprivation, among those with the greatest demand for social care, have lower property values and council tax incomes. But the government says it is investing in social care through its Better Care Fund, as well as taking steps to more closely integrate health and social care provision.
Mrs May has insisted the government is investing in social care through its Better Care Fund, as well as taking steps to more closely integrate health and social care provision.
She said Labour had done little to tackle the problem during its 13 years in power and many Labour councils had not used the extra powers available to them to raise funds.
Council tax accounts for only about half of local authority income - the rest coming from central grants, which are being cut, and business rates, which are volatile - so it is unclear by how much care budgets will rise.Council tax accounts for only about half of local authority income - the rest coming from central grants, which are being cut, and business rates, which are volatile - so it is unclear by how much care budgets will rise.
The Local Government Association says it is committed to reducing delays in discharging patients from hospitals and allowing people to be looked after at home but warned the system is at "breaking point" due to budget cuts.The Local Government Association says it is committed to reducing delays in discharging patients from hospitals and allowing people to be looked after at home but warned the system is at "breaking point" due to budget cuts.
The numbers of elderly people going without care, paying for it themselves or relying on family and friends currently outstrip those getting council help by four to one.The numbers of elderly people going without care, paying for it themselves or relying on family and friends currently outstrip those getting council help by four to one.
The head of the NHS in England has suggested free bus passes and pension benefits for older people may have to be reconsidered to address the problems facing social care.The head of the NHS in England has suggested free bus passes and pension benefits for older people may have to be reconsidered to address the problems facing social care.
Appearing before MPs on Thursday, Simon Stevens said a sweeping new "social contract" was needed setting out the "full range of services and needs that people have in retirement", predicated on the right for people to receive care in their homes.Appearing before MPs on Thursday, Simon Stevens said a sweeping new "social contract" was needed setting out the "full range of services and needs that people have in retirement", predicated on the right for people to receive care in their homes.
"There is no point in saying to our parents 'yes you've got a free bus pass if you're not able to leave the house because you don't have the availability of a home help," he said."There is no point in saying to our parents 'yes you've got a free bus pass if you're not able to leave the house because you don't have the availability of a home help," he said.