Statement on social care costs cap vote
November 23, 2021
Last night I withheld my support from the government in the vote on its amendment New Clause 49 to the Health and Care Bill, proposing to exclude local authority support payments from counting towards the £86,000 lifetime limit on personal care costs.
Although I am glad the government is proceeding with much-needed reform of social care, as in the September vote on the National Insurance rise to fund this, I was not able to back them as I have yet to see the clearer impact assessment we need to properly judge the effect of the new system.
I expect the government’s amendment will be rejected by the Lords and returned to MPs for reconsideration, and I am putting the government on notice that I am likely to vote against it then, if measures to fully assess impacts and mitigate regional income differences are not forthcoming.
Given the differences in house prices across regions, I think it could be worth exploring an alternative solution of a care costs cap based on a percentage of assets, rather than a cash cap and floor.
As the social care reform develops, I will of course continue my efforts to ensure it works best for residents of our city
