Queen's Speech resurrects 2017 promise to reform social care

From the throne of the House of Lords, Her Majesty the Queen announced her government will bring forward proposals to reform adult social care in England.

As Prime Minister Boris Johnson looked on, the Queen announced a package of 26 proposed bills for the year ahead but no bill for social care.

Instead, the nation heard a promise to deliver proposals to reform social care, repeating a similar pledge made in the Queen's Speech two years ago.

The Queen said: “My government will bring forward proposals to reform adult social care in England to ensure dignity in old age.”

She also announced: “My ministers will continue work to reform the Mental Health Act to improve respect for and care of those receiving treatment.” The Queen said "Measures will also be brought forward to support and strengthen the NHS, its workforce and resources enabling it to deliver the highest quality care”.

But with no working majority in the House of Commons to enable the government to drive forward legislation, the Prime Minister's social care proposals were dismissed in the House of Commons as pure electioneering.

MPs who were debating the Queen's Speech in the House of Commons, heard no detail on what the adult social care proposals would contain.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused Boris Johnston of “setting out a legislative agenda they know cannot be delivered in this parliament”.

'Fool's gold'

Jeremy Corbyn said: “The 2017 Queen’s Speech promised and I quote 'My ministers will work to improve social care and will bring forward proposals'.

“Today we have the same promise, after two years of inaction and failure. With 87 people dying every day while they wait for social care that is not provided. “The PM promised that this Queen’s Speech would dazzle us on closer inspection, Mr Speaker it is nothing more than fool’s gold.”

While making no specific reference to social care, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs: "Let's get on with the proposals, with the measures announced in this Queen's Speech."

Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, which represents independent care home providers, said: “The sector has been waiting a very long time for legislation.

"It is essential that it covers all the issues that governments of all colours have thrown into the long grass for decades not least funding”.

'Show us how' government plan to fix social care

With the Queen’s speech highlighting social care reform for people in “old age”, Genevieve Edwards, director of external affairs at the MS Society, said: "Social care for working-age disabled people has been dismissed yet again.

“The critical care needs of thousands of people under the age of 65 continue to be overlooked. “Everybody – elderly and working age – deserves dignity.

“The UK government first claimed it would set out social care proposals 949 days ago, but we’re still waiting."

Deborah Alsina, chief executive of Independent Age, added: “The sector has been waiting for more than 20 years to see reform to social care in England. “Independent Age believes that free personal care for older people must be part of that solution.”

In its Labour party annual conference, Labour promised free personal care for over 65s in England, if it won a general election.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of cowardice after pulling out of an appearance before senior MPs on the Commons Liaison Committee and, as a result, dodged answering their questions about social care for the third time.

Richard Murray, chief executive of The King’s Fund said: ‘‘The adult social care system is failing the people who rely on it, with high levels of unmet need and providers struggling to deliver the quality of care that vulnerable people have a right to expect."