Social Services

Mr. Lansley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department will set a direction of travel for the social care strategy referred to in paragraph 4.9 of her Department’s 2007-08 business plan, published on 30 March; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Ivan Lewis
Social care is currently facing a number of major challenges, particularly around demographic change and rising public expectations. As a result, the Chancellor announced in the pre-Budget report 2006 that the Treasury would be assessing proposals for the future of social care put forward by Derek Wanless for the King’s Fund, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and others. The criteria for assessing these proposals are whether they are affordable, whether they are consistent with progressive universalism and whether they promote independence, dignity, well-being and control. The Treasury is currently assessing the proposals and the Department will continue to work with them to take this work forward and consider the strategic direction of social care.