Citizens’ assembly to advise MPs on fixing social care crisis

POLITICIANS are to take evidence from a “citizens’ assembly” to give the public a role in a tackling one of Britain’s thorniest issues, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose.

Two Commons committees have convened a 50-strong group of voters to gauge public opinion on possible solutions for Britain’s social care funding crisis, including how much money in- dividuals may be willing to contribute toward their own care. The assembly meets for the first time next weekend.

MPs are looking for long-term fixes to the problem of social care funding that will “command broad consensus”. If successful, similar assemblies could be used for other controversial topics.

The move follows a public backlash over Tory manifesto proposals last year to factor the cost of people’s homes into a means test to determine whether they should pay for their own care. Objectors labelled the plan a “dementia tax”.

The Commons health and social care committee is conducting a joint inquiry on social care funding with the housing and local government committee.

“Despite agreement on the urgent need for reform, this has not translated into action or consensus on how it should be achieved,” the MPs said.

A representative group of 45 to 50 voters, selected randomly with the help of ICM, the polling firm, will meet in Birmingham over two weekends in April and May, with pay and expenses.

Their recommendations will be fed into the inquiry, which is expected to report in late May.

Last month the National Audit Office warned that councils were routinely raiding their “rainy day” funds to pay for social care.