Tories rule out Comprehensive social care model
The Conservatives have announced that a Tory government would not adopt the Comprehensive model to fund a new National Care Service, as MPs prepare to debate the care and support green paper in Parliament later today.
Shadow Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, made the announcement at the National Children and Adult Services Conference in Harrogate.
Mr Lansley explained that the Comprehensive model for social care - which would require everyone over retirement age with sufficient savings or assets to pay into a state insurance scheme - amounts to a new tax, and the Conservatives would not support it. Instead, the party favours an optional model similar to the Partnership and Insurance model in the Care and Support green paper.
This statement from the Conservatives follows their unveiling of plans for all those of retirement age to have the option to pay a one off amount of £8,000 to cover all costs of future care home fees.
Despite these two announcements, the Tories have still not clarified how they plan to fund future social care in the home.
Director of Policy and Communications at The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Alex Fox, warned: "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to reform social care. Millions of people are looking to the political parties to come up with detailed proposals that will make the improvements to social care, and ensure sufficient funding is invested that will provide a quality of life for disabled people and their families.
"Today's debate is crucial just months before a general election and we hope the key issues of service provision and funding options will receive constructive debate."
The Big Care Debate moves into Parliament today, with MPs debating the care and support green paper in the House of Commons. Meanwhile, the Health Select Committee begins its inquiry into social care.
The Care and Support green paper proposes three models for funding a new National Care Service: the Partnership model; the Partnership and Insurance model; and the Comprehensive model.
Read more about the Care and Support green paper
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Published: 29 October 2009