Citizens’ Assembly to consider best way to fund social care

The newly formed Citizens' Assembly on Social Care, commissioned by Parliament, will work together to consider the best way to fund adult social care.

Part of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee and the Health and Social Care Committee inquiry into the long-term funding of adult social care, the Assembly will be made up of up to 50 people chosen to reflect the makeup of the wider population.

Members will hear from expert contributors with different views on how adult social care should be funded, before reaching a set of recommendations. The recommendations will then be considered by the committees.

Sarah Wollaston, chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, said: "Parliament has been reaching out and engaging with the public for many years. Using a citizens’ assembly takes this further In helping to gauge informed opinion on one of the key issues of the day. If this proves helpful I hope citizens’ assemblies could be rolled out as a way of helping Parliament to engage with the public ahead of other challenging and complex decisions."

Clive Betts, chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, added: "The adult social care system is under huge financial pressure and there is an urgent need to come up with a way of funding the system that will ensure it is sustainable. Many proposals have been put forward, from using national taxation as a new source of funding through to the introduction of a compulsory insurance scheme or extra revenue from inheritance tax, and our inquiry is focused on examining the options and informing the government's approach. A long-term solution is necessary if we are to ensure the right care is available for everyone who needs it. The Citizens’ Assembly has an opportunity to bring forward ideas that could command consensus."