Health: Local Healthwatch Funding

Debate between Earl Howe and Baroness Hollis of Heigham

Wednesday 19th March 2014 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

We do need to know if people are being sold short. I would say to my noble friend that that is one of the reasons why local Healthwatch has a seat at the table of the health and well-being board, where it is eminently able to make its voice heard if it feels that it does not have sufficient resources to do the job which local authorities are legally obliged to commission.

[Baroness Hollis of Heigham (Lab)]

My Lords, can we therefore have an assurance from the Minister that if local authorities do not spend all the money allocated on Healthwatch, they will not find their funding for Healthwatch proportionately reduced next year?

[Earl Howe]

I can give that assurance. We have allocated a fixed sum of £43.5 million for next year, and that will be paid.

Carers: In Sickness and in Health

Debate between Earl Howe and Baroness Hollis of Heigham

Wednesday 11th July 2012 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, when I come to make the Statement I shall have something to say about personal budgets, which will empower those who are being looked after and their carers in just the sort of circumstances to which my noble friend refers.

[Baroness Hollis of Heigham]

My Lords, the Minister will be aware that in Grand Committee we are currently discussing the Local Government Finance Bill, which will reduce council tax benefit for a wide range of people, including carers. Given that he is concerned about financial support for carers, will the Minister talk to his colleagues in the DCLG to ensure that the same support which we hope will be extended to disabled people will also be extended to their carers?

[Earl Howe]

Once again, this area is very much centre stage for us. Support for carers is an extremely important matter, and the noble Baroness will see that we are addressing it in the White Paper, about which I will talk shortly.

Social Care: Legislation

Debate between Earl Howe and Baroness Hollis of Heigham

Monday 11th June 2012 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, my noble friend raises an important issue, and I am sure that there will be an opportunity during the Bill’s passage to debate the subjects to which she referred. The draft Bill will be published after the Government publish their White Paper and the progress report on funding, and the Bill will set out the legislative framework for adult social care in the future. I have no doubt that noble Lords will wish to raise issues pertinent to that.

[Baroness Hollis of Heigham]

My Lords, the Minister has referred to drumming up finance for long-term care for older people. He will be aware that higher rate tax relief on pensions—as part of the total of £30 billion of tax relief—amounts to £7 billion a year. Were that money ring-fenced and redistributed within the same age group it could pay for Dilnot three times over. Will he consider looking at that as a source of funding for Dilnot?

[Earl Howe]

I shall make sure that the noble Baroness’s suggestion is fed in to the discussions currently in train on that subject.