Oral Answers to Questions

Mike Amesbury Excerpts

Tuesday 8th June 2021 Commons Chamber

[Dave Doogan (Angus) (SNP)]

What steps his Department is taking to bring forward proposals on social care reform.

[Mike Amesbury (Weaver Vale) (Lab)]

If he will publish a timetable for adult social care reforms.

[Dame Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)]

If he will publish a timetable for adult social care reforms.

--- Later in debate ---

[Helen Whately]

One of the great strengths of our United Kingdom is our ability to work together and learn from different parts of the UK. We also look at the best in England and, of course, in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The hon. Gentleman mentions the care workforce. We absolutely want to make sure that this important workforce are front and centre of our social care reform plans and that they receive the training, opportunities, recognition and reward that they deserve.

[Mike Amesbury]

The Government have had 11 years to reform social care, but with cuts of £8 billion over that period, it is fragmented and costly and does not value workers and employees. Is it not time that the Minister and the Government grab the bull by the horns and introduce a national health and social care service? When are reforms going to come into play—what day, what month, what year?

[Helen Whately]

It is not just over the period mentioned by the hon. Member that social care reforms have been talked about; this goes back at least 25 years, to when Tony Blair was the Labour leader and Prime Minister. He talked about reforms to social care, but he has also said that it is not simple; these are complex problems to address. When people talk about how social care needs fixing, different people mean different things. That is why, as part of our reforms, we are going to bring forward a long-term plan for reforming social care.