Hancock in call for cross-party talks on social care

HEALTH SECRETARY Matt Hancock has written to MPs and peers across Westminster to initiate talks on social care.

Mr Hancock said he wanted to build a cross-party consensus as he asked colleagues for their views on how to “progress this crucial agenda”.

In the election, the Conservatives promised to “urgently seek a cross-party consensus” in order to “bring forward the necessary proposal and legislation for longterm reform”. But Labour has accused the Government of only offering an “open-ended invitation for comments”.

In a letter to MPs and peers, Mr Hancock said: “As we set out in our manifesto, we will seek to build cross-party consensus so that the reforms we progress will last long into the future, nobody is forced to sell their home to pay for care, and everybody accessing care has safety and security.

“Of course, any solution needs to consider the financial impact on taxpayers as a whole, the competing demands on taxpayers’ money from other public services, and how to fund reform on a sustainable basis.”

Shadow social care minister Barbara Keeley said: “The Prime Minister promised voters that he had a plan to fix the social care crisis but now all we see is an open-ended invitation for comments.

“As we have repeatedly said, cross-party talks can only be effective when the Government comes forward with its proposals for reform. It is clear that it does not have a plan to fix the crisis in social care.

“Labour has offered to engage in meaningful cross-party talks and we would be happy to do so, but the process outlined by Matt Hancock is another consultation that provides no help to a system in crisis.”

Age UK, a charity for older people, said it was “very disappointing” that the Government did not appear to be offering “any of their own” views on social care.