Social Care Reform

Earl of Effingham Excerpts

Thursday 22nd May 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I can say to my noble friend that the adult social care workforce is growing. Skills for Care data tells us that there has been an increase of 70,000 filled posts since 2022-23, that staff turnover is reducing and that the overall vacancy rate decreased to 8.3% in 2023-24 from 9.9% the previous year. While the direction is good, there is certainly more to do. As regards international care workers, it has indeed been factored in that we need a workforce, and that is one of the many reasons why the new measures that require care providers to prioritise recruiting international care workers are focused on those who are already in the UK, have visas and require new employment. I am sure we will talk about this as we discuss the Employment Rights Bill and all the directions it is taking to support professionalisation of the workforce and encourage those in the UK to take on adult social care roles.

[The Earl of Effingham (Con)]

My Lords, in July last year His Majesty’s Government scrapped the social care cap and curbed winter fuel payments. Sir Andrew Dilnot, author of the landmark Dilnot commission report on social care, said this was a “tragedy” and that

“we have failed another generation of families”.

With all due respect, the Government are doing a U-turn on the winter fuel payment; can the Minister rule out a U-turn on social care?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

Again, I do not recognise the characterisation of a U-turn on social care. The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State have been extremely clear, as I outlined earlier in response to the noble Lord, Lord Forsyth, about why this commission is in place. When it was brought to this House previously, I recall that many noble Lords, although not all, were positive about it because they saw the opportunity—which the previous Government did not, not least because they did not fund its suggestions. This Government are absolutely committed to having a lasting, practical answer that involves everybody concerned and will be supported in the right way. I would have hoped that the noble Earl would welcome that.