Four tests for government's plans on social care - Barbara Keeley

Barbara Keeley MP, Labour’s Shadow Mental Health and Social Care Minister, will set out four tests of the Government’s plans on social care in a House of Commons Opposition Day Debate on social care this afternoon: 

“After a decade of cuts, our social care system is on its knees.

“For the people who rely on social care and their families, the reality is that things have got much worse under successive Conservative Governments.

…

“Labour is the only party with clear plans for the future of social care.

“Labour’s plan for social care would close the funding gap, it would cap care costs, introduce free personal care and improve pay and working conditions for care staff.

“In contrast, we have no action from the Government on social care. Councils are reliant on piecemeal funding announcements that leave them struggling to meet demand.

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“Labour’s message to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is clear. They need to:

·       Put in the extra investment needed to stabilise the care system. 

·       Introduce free personal care 

·       Bring back a cap on care costs 

·       And develop a plan to improve pay and working conditions for the care workforce.”