‘Raise tax to avoid social care collapse’

INCREASING INCOME tax or national insurance contributions should be considered by the Government to avoid the collapse of adult social care, councils have warned.

The Local Government Authority (LGA) said that the current system was at “breaking point” after decades of underfunding by successive administrations, and needed a massive cash injection.

Ahead of the National Children and Adult Services Conference, which starts in Manchester today, it released a survey which suggested 56 per cent of people would back an NI increase to fund better care. The LGA says that despite recent cash injections by the Government, adult social care services still face a funding gap of £3.5bn by 2025.

Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said finding a long-term solution has been “kicked into the long grass by successive governments for the past two decades”.

“The Government must use its upcoming green paper to make a serious case for national tax rises including either increases to income tax and/or national insurance to provide long term sustainability for the vital social care services that are central to helping people to live fulfilling, independent lives,” he added.

“The Government needs to be bold in the solutions it puts forward, but it is incumbent upon politicians of all colours to co-operate and be part of a wider movement for change in the national interest.”