Reform of Social Care

Dennis Skinner Excerpts

Monday 4th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lansley]

My hon. Friend will be pleased to know that the statement I have made is the product of collective discussion, which of course fully involved the Treasury.

[Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) (Lab)]

Does the Secretary of State agree that it would be a big mistake to miss this opportunity for root-and-branch change of the present system? Would it not be handy if local authorities played a bigger role than the billionaires who run Southern Cross, Winterbourne and the rest? Would it not also be nice for him to acknowledge that when he blurted out about the death tax he got it all wrong?

[Mr Lansley]

On the hon. Gentleman’s point about local government, he should remember that the overwhelming majority of the residents in Southern Cross care homes are funded by local authorities, and that is precisely why we are working with local authorities to ensure that those residents’ interests will be protected. I recognise the problems that we have seen with Southern Cross, although I do not know of any other companies in a similar position. None the less, it is one of the reasons why we seek the powers in the Health and Social Care Bill to regulate social care provision in the same way as health care provision.