Davey: social care review should be "done and dusted within a year"

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Commenting on the Health Secretary's announcement of an independent social care commission and cross-party talks on social care reform, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said:

“We welcome cross-party talks to build a consensus to fix our broken social care system, but we can’t afford to wait three more years for a new plan. 

“We’re really worried that what’s been announced looks like an excuse to kick the can down the road for another decade. That would be unforgivable for both the care of our elderly and disabled and our NHS.

"I'd like to see this review done and dusted within a year at the most. Then we can finally move on with implementing much-needed reforms after too many years of inaction.

"Of course Liberal Democrats will engage constructively in any talks, but we will press the Government to move far more swiftly and decisively, and to make sure the voices of unpaid family carers are not lost in this process as they have been too often in the past."

ENDS