Sense of urgency needed for new deal to fix Britain's social care systems, say Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron has used a Prime Minister's Questions session to call for the establishment of a new cross-party group to bring forward a new deal to fix Britain's social care system.

Speaking on the floor of the House of Commons, Tim said: "This logjammed and underworked Parliament could become one of the best if we chose to work across party to fix our broken social care system.

"Through free votes, good will and hard work, we could design and then enact a new deal for social care that could give millions hope for the future.

"As one of her final acts as Prime Minister, will she commit to meet me and establish a cross party group so that we can bring this social care new deal to fruition?"

In response, Theresa May said that it was important that Britain's social care system has a sustainable future and that she hopes that the Government will bring forward a social care green paper to Parliament soon which MPs of all parties would be able to contribute towards.

Councillor Dr Wendy Taylor, Chair of Newcastle Council's Health Scrutiny Committee said:-

"The Government's failure to tackle the crisis in social care funding is causing real hardship to many elderly and disabled people in Newcastle and throughout England. I fully support Tim Farron's suggestion that we use the Local Government Association's green paper on social care, which has already been put together by councillors from parties of all colours, as a good place to start.

"A sense of urgency is needed to resolve these problems soon. MPs should work together for a couple of months to design and bring forward a bill with cross-party support and give us a social care system we can be proud of. The current Parliament, which at the moment is so rightly derided, could then actually do one of the best things that's ever been done by any Parliament."