Dilnot Commission proposals to be presented to Parliament

Prime Minister David Cameron has issued a statement in support of the Dilnot Commission’s proposals into elderly care funding, to be presented to Parliament today, while chairman Andrew Dilnot, has been speaking to the media on what he hopes the Independent Commission will achieve.

Mr Dilnot spoke against any suggestions that the Government might decide not to take up the review’s recommendations, claiming he is ‘confident changes will be made’ and that ministers would be embarrassed not to take up the recommendations after such a major review. Nevertheless, he expects attempts to reach a cross-party consensus on the issue could be lengthy, before a White Paper is produced after a period of reflection, although Labour leader Ed Milliband’s previous calls for talks on elderly care would suggest such solidarity is not an impossible task.

Although the review’s conclusions will result in a massive and complex restructuring of the care system, the national media seem to be primarily focused on the cap of £35,000 the Commission is recommending as the limit of an individual’s contribution to care, after which the state should take full responsibility. This, together with many other issues, will no doubt be the subject of much political and public debate, but the initial response from an anxious care sector has been a supportive one, with Oliver Thomas, the director of Bupa, praising the Commission’s suggestions for offering a ‘simpler’ outlook on care issues while appearing on Sky News, while Health Secretary Andrew Lansley promised a ‘positive response’ in the Commons to the Dilnot findings, despite rumours of discontent from the man controlling the funds, Chancellor George Osborne.

Estimates suggest that the £35,000 cap could cost the Government up to £1.7 billion, with rising costs caused by an ageing populace meaning this is likely to rise significantly in subsequent years. The success, therefore, in establishing appropriate funding mechanisms will prove key to winning over any doubts the Treasury keeps on the matter, not to mention the wider public. However, the Coalition’s first move is likely to be demonstrating the support of the care community itself, as indicated by MP Norman Lamb the Chief Parliamentary and Political Advisor to Nick Clegg, interviewed on the Daily Politics show this afternoon, who stated that ‘engag[ing] with organisations in the care sector’ is crucial in securing the support and enthusiasm of MPs before moving forwards.