Joseph Rowntree Foundation response to the white paper Building the National Care Service

JRF Co-Director of Policy and Research, Emma Stone, said: "The JRF has consistently reiterated the need for a care system that is fair, simple to understand, socially and financially sustainable and one that is based on equity - including equity across generations. Today's White Paper proposals set out a clear vision for a national service and funding system that has the potential to meet these criteria, and this must be commended.

Much work needs to be done in the next parliament about exactly how people will pay for this system. Ideas allowing each generation to pay for the costs of its own care in later life are already on the table". (See JRF's recent Hirsch & Spiers Viewpoint for a new Care Levy).

"At a time when tough decisions need to be made to reduce the public deficit there is a huge risk of a loss of momentum on this debate. We urge all the major parties to work together and build public consensus to ensure we have a fair and equitable system in place to deal with one of the biggest challenges of our time.

JRF continues to prioritise this major area of concern and will work with the next government to drive through the changes needed to ensure we have a social care system that is fit for purpose for decades to come."