Social Care Reform
Debate between Baroness Merron and Lord Forsyth of Drumlean(2 weeks, 2 days ago)
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Baroness Merron (Lab)
My noble friend makes very strong points, which I absolutely concur with. This is an issue that needs to be able to stand the test of time and changes, whether they be in leadership or of Government. That is why we are taking the approach that we are. My noble friend will have seen the terms of reference that have been published. They are deliberately broad because we are tasking the noble Baroness, Lady Casey, to lead the work fully independently, which is particularly important in seeking cross-party consensus. Indeed, the noble Baroness’s review is very much about having the conversations cross-party and seeking to bring people together across parties and across sectors and the many individuals who have an interest in this.
Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)
My Lords, is not the truth of the matter that there is a consensus between the parties? The Economic Affairs Committee of this House published a report some five years ago. There was unanimity across the House. There has since been another report. This setting up of commissions and so on is just to appease the Treasury, which refuses to provide the money that is needed for social care and is the key to cutting waiting lists and moving forward in the health service. Should not the Government just have the courage to commit to the resource that is necessary instead of kicking this into the long grass for another three years while elderly people and young people suffer from inadequate services and clog up beds in the health service?
Baroness Merron (Lab)
I understand the noble Lord’s impatience—I am sure we share it—and I hear what he says, but I have to remind your Lordships’ House that the previous Government did not commit funding to their plans, and I am glad the noble Lord agreed with that. I do not accept the characterisation of this. As my noble friend Lady Pitkeathley said, it has to stand the test of time. We are not waiting to take action; we have already put a number of pieces of work in place to lay the groundwork, including additional funding for social care authorities, increasing the carer’s allowance weekly earnings limit and an extra £172 million for home adaptations. We are not just waiting for this report. By the way, I do not recognise the three-year characterisation because the first phase will report in 2026 and then there will be a further report back by 2028. I feel this is the right way forward.
Hospice Funding
Debate between Baroness Merron and Lord Forsyth of Drumlean(5 months ago)
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Baroness Merron (Lab)
I understand the point the noble Baroness is making, because planning ahead and certainty are key. I can confirm that my ministerial colleague, Minister Kinnock, will soon meet all major stakeholders to discuss long-term sustainability of funding. We are very aware of the difficulties that have been caused thus far and seeking a way forward.
Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)
My Lords, I commend to the Minister a scheme that I introduced when I was Secretary of State for Scotland, at the suggestion of the broadcaster Martyn Lewis, who wrote a book on the hospice movement in tribute to Dame Cicely Saunders. That scheme introduced pound-for-pound funding: every pound raised was matched by the Government, which had the effect of greatly increasing funding and the incentive for people to support the hospice movement. Will she consider introducing such a scheme, which, alas, did not survive the introduction of the Scottish Parliament?
Baroness Merron (Lab)
The noble Lord makes a very interesting point. Of course, the introduction of gift aid supported charitable funding, including to hospices, and I know was very warmly welcomed. These are all important ways of looking at funding and we will consider the best way forward, but I note from discussions with the hospice movement that hospices very much value their autonomy in terms of funding; the more linked it is to government funding, the less autonomy they have. We want dignified and appropriate care for patients and families, and to find the best way to deliver that.
Northern Ireland Dentists: Amalgam Fillings
Debate between Baroness Merron and Lord Forsyth of Drumlean(10 months, 2 weeks ago)
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Baroness Merron (Lab)
Yes, I can confirm that amalgam is safe. The reason for this phase-down of the use of mercury, which is in amalgam fillings, is related to the environment. When mercury is released into the environment—for example, through emissions from crematoria—it can get into the food chain, where it accumulates mainly in fish such as shark and tuna. That can affect those who have a fish-rich diet, in countries such as Greenland, Brazil, Japan and China. However, there is no evidence whatsoever that amalgam is unsafe, and it is with that in mind that we have sought this arrangement for Northern Ireland.
Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)
Further to the noble Lord’s rather ungracious question, can the Minister confirm that if we had not left the EU, it would not have been possible to continue with the use of amalgam?
Baroness Merron (Lab)
I am sure that there are many opinions in your Lordships’ House about what would have happened if we had not left the EU, and I think it is probably appropriate that I leave it there.