Select Committee seeks clarification of government’s ‘outright rejection’ of some of its key recommendations on the long-term funding of adult social care

Letter to Health and Social Care Minister raises concerns about failure to accept recommendations including to publish a 10-year-plan for how the government’s ‘vision’ in the People at the Heart of Care White Paper will be achieved

The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Select Committee Chair Clive Betts has written to Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) Minister Helen Whately to seek clarification of the government’s ‘outright rejection’ of some of the Committee’s key recommendations on the long-term funding of adult social care.

In the letter dated 12 June 2023, published today alongside the government’s response to the Committee’s August 2022 report Long-term funding of adult social care , Mr Betts says the Committee is pleased that the government has accepted some of the report’s recommendations in full relating to Housing and Planning, Local Government Finance and Covid-19 pressures.

However, he adds that the Committee has concerns regarding the government’s willingness to accept other key recommendations, saying that –

'A significant number of the Committee’s recommendations have only been accepted in part – and to varying degrees – whilst four of the report’s recommendations have been rejected outright. The four recommendations were:

• Conclusion 19: The government should publish a 10-year plan for how its vision in the People at the Heart of Care White Paper will be achieved …
• Conclusion 24: The government should consider introducing statutory requirements for local authorities to produce plans for housing for older and disabled people based on assessments of housing need …
• Conclusion 28: The government should monitor the impact of adding care workers to the Shortage Occupation List on vacancies and be prepared to extend the visa period beyond 12 months, to lower the salary threshold, or both.
• Conclusion 31: The government should carry out a review of carers assessments, including of the terminology, co-produced with carers …'

In addition, Mr Betts says that of the remaining recommendations, most have only been partially accepted and the government has not set out information relating to how or when the accepted elements of the report will be implemented or progressed.

As a result, Mr Betts concludes the letter saying that –

'It would therefore be helpful if the government could set out how they plan to implement the accepted and partially accepted recommendations, including key milestones and at which point the government thinks these changes will come into effect. If the government does not know, please say so plainly in your response.'

Commenting further on the government's response to the Committee report, Mr Betts said today –

'It is disappointing that the government has not taken this opportunity to set out in detail, with clear milestones, how its vision in the People at the Heart of Care White Paper will be achieved. Adult social care needs a long-term plan to help ensure people get the support they need to remain independent at home and that the social care workforce receive the recognition and career development they deserve.

Adult social care remains a key priority and it is of great concern that there continues to be a large funding gap which needs to be filled. Those in need of care, their loved ones, and care staff deserve better.'

For more information, see Funding for Adult Social Care – Levelling-Up Committee publishes Government response from parliament.uk