Oral Answers to Questions

Clive Betts Excerpts

Monday 4th December 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Indeed.

[Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield South East) (Lab)]

3. What steps he is taking to ensure that adult social care services are adequately funded.

[Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab)]

18. What steps he is taking to ensure that adult social care is adequately funded.

[The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Sajid Javid)]

The Government recognise the pressures faced by local authorities and have provided additional dedicated funding for adult social care, including the £2 billion announced in the spring Budget.

[Mr Betts]

In the Budget statement, the words “social care” did not pass the Chancellor’s lips. Indeed, in response to a written question, he said that he really did not give any consideration to the funding needs for social care for the next financial year, although the Local Government Association estimates that there is a shortfall of about £3 billion. Does the Secretary of State agree with the Chancellor that no more money is needed for social care, or will he press the Chancellor for a rethink?

[Sajid Javid]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for the work that the Select Committee, under his leadership, does on social care. I listen carefully to the issues that he brings up, and I am sure he will recognise that this £2 billion over the next three years will make a huge difference, and means that £9.25 billion will be dedicated to this over the next three years. There are longer-term issues and some real challenges, and that is why we will bring forward a Green Paper on social care next year.