The government should introduce a universal care service free at the point of use as part of a radical transformation of the British economy, according to the Women’s Budget Group (WBG).
In its ‘Creating a Caring Economy: A Call to Action’ report, WBG recommends such a service should be on an equal footing to, and closely connected with, the NHS, financed by the public purse, providing both residential and domiciliary care.
The thinktank, which scrutinises UK policy from a gender perspective, said the service would have publicly guaranteed high standards, and seek to make use of the best of local non-profit organisations’ innovation and expertise.
WBG also wants the government to ensure that local authorities are properly funded to deliver the range of care services required, in line with their legislative and human rights obligations.
In addition, the thinktank called for the government work to bring back large financialised care providers into public ownership.
Furthermore, WBG wants to ensure that any Covid-19 relief funding for care providers is subject to conditions such as social and financial responsibility, and “not being headquartered in tax havens”.
The report found strong public support for a universal care service, with three-quarters of people polled saying they would pay more tax to support investment in free social care for all adults over the age of 65 and disabled people.
"The polling results send out a clear message. We are the economy and it is time the economy worked for us,” said WBG director Mary-Ann Stephenson (pictured).
“Our report sets out how we can build an economy that works for everyone. We call on the UK government and devolved government to engage with the findings of this report,” she added.
The thinktank has previously said an investment of 2.5 per cent of UK GDP in a universal social and childcare service would create over 2m jobs.
