Adult Social Care

Debate between Paul Burstow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Monday 16th July 2012 Commons Chamber

[Paul Burstow]

We know from the surveys that although last year there was a cash freeze in the increases that local authorities paid to provider organisations, this year across the country the average was a 1.4% increase. Again, that does not quite tally with the picture that some hon. Members want to paint.

It is also worth saying that the picture of local authorities grappling with tough budget settlements is complex. Different councils are responding to the pressures on budgets in different ways. Some are acting in a very smart way, as the Demos report, “Coping with the Cuts”, revealed. Such councils are protecting access by focusing on reablement services, helping more people to get back on their feet without the need for long-term support, which is better for the individual and more cost-effective. Indeed, the latest figures from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services reveal that councils are protecting front-line care.

[Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

Would the Minister agree to look closely at the report of the all-party local government group on social care, published today? It makes it very clear that a funding gap still exists and recommends that NHS money should be used to plug that gap. Will the Minister commit to continuing to do that and to considering the other recommendations in the report?

[Paul Burstow]

Obviously, I will happily look at the report and I look forward to meeting the all-party group to discuss its findings and recommendations later.

I want to report to the House the findings of the ADASS survey, which was published recently. Last year’s survey found that for every pound saved by local authorities in social care, 69p came through greater efficiency. This year, it found that that had risen to 77p in every pound. Yes, some councils are cutting services, and last year 23p in every pound that councils saved came from service reductions, but this year that figure is just 13p in every pound. Local authorities are getting smarter in organising their services, so I want to pay tribute to those councils and councillors who have worked hard with service users, carers and providers to protect services to make the best possible use of the extra money the Government have provided. As a result, between last year and this year, council budget spend on social services has gone down by just 1%.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Paul Burstow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Tuesday 12th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

15. What assessment he has made of the conclusions and recommendations of the recent report by the Commission on Funding of Care and Support.

[The Minister of State, Department of Health (Paul Burstow)]

As the Secretary of State said in his statement to the House last week, the Government welcome the report of the Commission on Funding of Care and Support and will consider its recommendations carefully.

--- Later in debate ---

[Paul Burstow]

Cross-government discussions take place about any matter that requires legislation and funding—and of course the Treasury plays its part in those discussions.

[Roberta Blackman-Woods]

Does the Minister agree that the Government need to act quickly on the commission’s report, not least because the Southern Cross situation, which is affecting many people in my constituency, has shown that the current model, which involves relying largely on private care, is simply not sustainable?

[Paul Burstow]

We will return to that important matter later, with the urgent question. However, we must examine the position of Southern Cross and the business model that underpinned it very carefully, in order to understand how such a model was agreed to under the arrangements for regulating care providers that existed before the establishment of the Care Quality Commission.

Southern Cross Care Homes

Debate between Paul Burstow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Tuesday 12th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Paul Burstow]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has already made statements and commitments about looking at the business model and at why it was thought to be appropriate for this sector.

[Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

I met my local authority a few weeks ago to discuss the Southern Cross situation and it was obvious that it was not totally prepared for the complete withdrawal of Southern Cross from the social care market. Will the Minister tell the House whether he has issued or intends to issue guidance to local authorities on how to deal with this situation?

[Paul Burstow]

It is not a question of trying to write guidance in Whitehall. This is about our engagement with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services about how directors discharge their statutory responsibilities. Writing guidance does not deal with the immediate changes. We need to ensure that local authorities’ existing legal obligations to ensure continuity of care are properly exercised.