Independent Commission on Adult Social Care
Debate between Baroness Blake of Leeds and Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
I thank the noble Lord for making reference to the work of our noble friend Lord Lipsey, who will be greatly missed on all sides. I cannot pre-empt what the noble Baroness, Lady Casey, will say—I have made that point repeatedly; it is absolutely right. The noble Lord raised an interesting point of view. I am sure he will take every opportunity to feed that into the work that is ongoing.
Lord Macpherson of Earl’s Court (CB)
My Lords, one of the most sensible measures introduced by Mr Sunak when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer was a health and social care levy. Sadly, its abolition is the one measure which survived from the Kwasi Kwarteng Budget of 2022. The benefit of a health and social care levy is that it is possible to square it with the Labour Party’s manifesto. I therefore encourage the Minister to suggest that the noble Baroness, Lady Casey, also considers the funding of social care.
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
I have a feeling that the noble Lord will make sure that the noble Baroness, Lady Casey, is well aware of the issues he raises. I look forward to the outcome of those conversations.