Social Care Reform

Baroness Pitkeathley Excerpts

Thursday 22nd May 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Pitkeathley]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in cross-party talks on the reform of social care.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Baroness Merron) (Lab)]

My Lords, the Government are facing up to the challenges of adult social care reform. The Prime Minister has tasked the noble Baroness, Lady Casey of Blackstock, to lead an independent commission into social care, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transcend party politics. The noble Baroness is tasked with building cross-party consensus on her recommendations and is starting a national conversation on what is expected from social care.

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[Baroness Pitkeathley (Lab)]

My Lords, history shows us that reform of social care is a contentious issue and political consensus has been notable by its absence—indeed, parties have used proposals as sticks to beat each other with—but there is agreement on two things: first, the system badly needs reform; and, secondly, this is a long-term project that cannot be solved in one Parliament but across several. In view of that, does my noble friend agree that achieving political consensus is a vital part of any reform of social care? Can she tell the House that this will be specifically included in the terms of reference for the review that the noble Baroness, Lady Casey, is carrying out?

[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.