Barbara and other MPs and Peers are working on a cross party basis to demand action from the Government on the funding of social care. Barbara chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Care. This group met recently with All-Party groups associated with disability, older age and long-term conditions to hear from Andrew Dilnot about the finding of his commission on the future funding of social care.

Now Barbara and the MPs and Peers from the All-Party groups have written to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the Secretaries of State for Health and Local Government to ask for urgent action to bring vitally-needed reform to the social care system.

The Groups are asking the Prime Minister to accept the need for reform and to commit to the following actions:

• Publish a White Paper by 2 April 2012 and include legislation on the Dilnot Commission’s recommendations in the 2012 Queen’s Speech
• Deliver a financial settlement that is enough to ensure that local authorities can deliver a fairer system of charging for care
• Make available resources to support meetings being held across England to promote the debate, facilitated by the Care and Support Alliance
• Continue to use the expertise of Andrew Dilnot and the other commissioners in the run-up to a White Paper on social care

Barbara said:

“The costs of failing to act are too high. We want action by the end of this parliament to bring in a better system that can deliver dignity and independence to disabled and older people and their families.”