The Rt Hon George Osborne MP
Chancellor of the Exchequer
HM Treasury
1 Horseguards Road
London SW1A 2HQ

Date: 14^th March 2013

Dear George,

I am writing to you regarding the funding of social care. I am sure you will agree that we need a system that is fit for purpose and can be properly funded to ensure its sustainability. However, I am concerned that the Social Care White Paper does not tackle these fundamental funding issues. I would urge you to address the problem now. 

Currently, there is increasing pressure on council spending coming from social care. The ADASS 2012 Budget Survey showed that adult social care is a large and increasing proportion of overall council spend, up to 34.3% in 2012. This will only increase as councils respond to a 3% increase in demographic pressure, a point reinforced by the Lords Committee on Public Service and Demographic Change who just this week reported that, as a country, we are ‘woefully underprepared’ for an aging population.

The pressures on councils to pay for adult social care are further compounded by the 28% reduction to the funding settlement for councils, and council tax freezes across most councils.

There will also be effects felt by everyone, not just those in need of care or in a caring role. The LGA have highlighted that in order to cover the costs of essential social care, local councils will see huge cuts to funds available for council services across England and Wales. Money available by 2020 for road maintenance, libraries and leisure services will have shrunk by 90 per cent in cash terms.

I am further concerned that under the proposed timetable, elderly people, disabled people, and their carers could face at least five years of uncertainty as to how any future system is going to be funded, and therefore its sustainability.

The need to reform our social care services to ensure their sustainability is not in doubt. However, it is vital that the Government acts now to decide the future funding of a sustainable system. I urge you to address this funding issue as a matter of urgency to guarantee that our social care system is properly funded, and that people can plan their lives with the surety that there will be the care in place to support them.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas MP, Brighton Pavilion

Cc Norman Lamb MP, Minister of State – Care Services

Read the ministerial responses here and here.