Government spending on social care ‘unsustainable’, claims free market think tank

Commenting on yesterday’s Health and Care Bill vote, Professor Philip Booth, Senior Academic Fellow at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:

“Last night the government’s scaled-back plans for more spending on social care were passed. The only opposition was from MPs wanting more money to be spent. However, these proposals will increase the role of the state and government spending on social care.

“This is an approach which has been rejected by previous governments – including Labour governments – for good reason. The coming demographic pressures on government finances will lead future generations to regret this move as the taxpayer financing of health, pensions and social care becomes unsustainable.”

MPs will consider amendments to the Bill this evening.