Expert Warns Burnham's Social Care Plan Could Cost Far More Than Claimed

A leading social care expert has warned that plans to reform social care in England could cost significantly more than claimed and take many decades to implement, according to a report by The Guardian.

Statistician Andrew Dilnot told the BBC's Today programme he was "puzzled" by aspects of what had been said a day earlier about the plans, and suggested he was unconvinced by the proposals as outlined. Dilnot said putting social care funding on the same footing as health care would cost "well in excess of £18bn."

According to the report, the plans had been described as making social care free, appearing to suggest a goal of completely free provision. Dilnot noted that this is not the case even in Scotland, where a policy of "free personal care" still leaves people needing residential care facing substantial bills.

Dilnot said further details of the plans were expected in a forthcoming prime ministerial speech at the party conference, but predicted the details would likely remain vague. He said it appeared change was "further away than had been implied," and suggested any move toward the policy could take years or even decades to be fully realized.

The report also referenced broader questions about government funding commitments, including a previously identified shortfall of £4.7bn in the defence investment plan, as part of wider scrutiny of the government's fiscal commitments.