Social Care: Legislation

Baroness Hollis of Heigham Excerpts

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.