Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Adult Social Care

Tuesday 15 October 2024 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Greg Smith questioned the Minister about steps to reform adult social care, citing staffing shortages and decreased coverage.
  • The Minister acknowledged the challenges in adult social care, noting a decrease in long-term care recipients and 130,000 staff vacancies.
  • Jenny Riddell-Carpenter inquired about the commitment to deliver a dementia strategy in the current Parliament, highlighting the pressure on hospital beds due to dementia patients.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Social Care
Context

The number of people receiving long-term care decreased between 2015 and 2023, and there were a staggering 130,000 staff vacancies in the system.

Question

What steps he plans to take to reform adult social care. I note that after 14 years of Tory neglect and incompetence, adult social care is on its knees with significant staffing shortages and decreased coverage. Can you outline specific reforms?

Answer from Stephen Kinnock

After 14 years of Tory neglect and incompetence, adult social care is on its knees, with the number of people receiving long-term care decreasing between 2015 and 2023, and there were a staggering 130,000 staff vacancies in the system. Last Thursday, recognising the central role of our amazing care workforce, we took a critical first step by introducing groundbreaking legislation that will establish the first ever fair pay agreement for care professionals.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to reform adult social care were not detailed beyond acknowledging the introduction of legislation.

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Q2 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Social Care Taxation Local Government
Context

The proposed national care service, the new negotiating body's aim to establish a minimum pay floor, and the expensive top-down reorganisation of the care system.

Question

Given unfunded schemes such as the proposed national care service, given the new negotiating body's aim of establishing a minimum pay floor, and given what clearly amounts to an expensive top-down reorganisation of the care system, can the Minister explain how he will maintain and enhance the role of local authorities in targeting and delivering care, and how he plans to maintain day-to-day spending alongside this grand plan for reform without raising taxes?

Answer from Stephen Kinnock

It beggars belief that Opposition Members should lecture us on fiscal discipline when there is a £22 billion in-year black hole. We are committed to consulting widely on the design of a fair pay agreement, and we will engage with all who may be affected. We are keen to ensure that all voices are heard so that the financial impacts on the adult social care market, local government and self-funders can be considered.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Details on maintaining and enhancing the role of local authorities were not provided.

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Q3 Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Lab Suffolk Coastal
NHS Social Care
Context

One in four hospital beds are occupied by patients with dementia.

Question

Adult social care is under extreme pressure, and one in four hospital beds are occupied by patients with dementia. Will the Minister commit himself to the delivery of a dementia strategy in the current Parliament?

Answer from Stephen Kinnock

That is an extremely important question. I recognise that dementia is a huge issue impacting on the entire country and, indeed, many Members on both sides of the House. We are absolutely committed to research fundamental to addressing the problem, and our fair pay agreement is about not just pay but training and terms and conditions. We will be ramping up dementia training for our adult social care workforce.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to a dementia strategy was vague without specific details or timeline.

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Q4 John Whittingdale Con Maldon
NHS Social Care
Context

Health and Social Care questions in July saw the promise of future announcements.

Question

The Labour manifesto spoke of the need for a consensus on social care, and the Secretary of State has said that he wants to reach out across the political divide—although the message does not seem quite to have reached the Minister yet. During Health and Social Care questions in July, the Minister said there would be announcements in the near future, but since then we have heard nothing. We are ready to talk; when will the Government be ready?

Answer from Stephen Kinnock

I am not sure if the right hon. Gentleman was listening to my previous answer. We have just set out groundbreaking legislation to settle the issue of adult social care pay, which is more than the last lot did in 14 years. We are absolutely committed to building cross-party consensus and will engage with all hon. Members on this issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific timeline was given for reaching out across political divides.

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