Fears over £1.7bn bill reforming care costs for elderly

A landmark report calling for taxpayers to step in to cover costs of social care when they rise above £35,000 received a broad welcome yesterday.

Campaigners urged all parties to work together to find a way forward but expressed concerns change could be delayed over a price tag for taxpayers put at £1.7bn.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley pledged to pursue reforms but said they would need to be considered against other public spending priorities.

The proposals, drawn up by a commission led by economist Andrew Dilnot, said people should not have to pay for residential care unless they had assets of more than £100,000, up from £23,250.

He said there would be “disappointment” if the Government’s reform proposals were not published by next spring and said he would like to see them implemented “as soon as possible”, which could be by 2014.

Michelle Mitchell, of Age UK, said the recommendations were “a clear blueprint for long term sustainable reform of social care” and demanded urgent action.

“Delay beyond Easter would be indefensible,” she said. “The social care system has been neglected for too long and allowed to reach the brink of collapse. The time to act boldly is now to reassure today and tomorrow’s older people.”

Carers UK chief executive Imelda Redmond said: “Our care system is in crisis now and families will not forgive any delay which continues the current cycle of cuts and leaves them without the support they need.”

NHS Confederation chief executive Mike Farrar said: “Social care funding is broken already and the longer we wait for a solution the bigger the cost of sorting it out is going to get.

“We must not kick the needs of older people into the long grass. The consequences of inaction will cost the public much more than taking the review forward. ”

Mr Lansley told MPs the Government intended to legislate “as soon as possible” but he committed to publishing only a “progress report” on funding reform next spring.

He added: “In the current public spending environment we have to consider carefully the additional cost to the taxpayer of the commission’s proposals against other funding priorities.

“I remain fully committed to pursuing reform in this Parliament so people can get the care they deserve when they need it.”

Lib Dem Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said: “It’s right that we take the time to consider his solution and the trade-offs here, particularly in light of the current economic climate.”

Colleague Norman Lamb, chief political adviser and Commons aide to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, indicated the reforms might take years to secure.

He said: “We are looking at a reform for the long term here and we have to work on the basis of securing a reform within this parliament, if at all possible.”

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: “These reforms are too important to kick into the long grass. I am ready to sit down with David Cameron and Nick Clegg to find a way to make this work.”

Town hall chiefs called for the party leaders to work towards detailed plans by the end of the year, with legislation in 2012.

David Rogers, from the Local Government Association, said funding social care was a problem that could not be dodged forever. “Collectively, we all need to step up to the plate to tackle this.”

Call for tax rise on pensioners: Page 5; Comment: Page 10.