EDM 374: National insurance increase and the social care sector

That this House notes with concern the ongoing challenges faced by the social care sector, including chronic underfunding and workforce shortages; further notes that the recent increase in national insurance contributions announced in the Autumn Budget is set to place additional financial pressure on this already stretched sector; recognises that while the Government has made an allowance to reimburse public sector organisations for the cost of this increase, most social care providers are not public sector organisations and are therefore not covered by this provision; calls on the Government to urgently clarify the financial implications of the national insurance policy on the social care sector; and further calls for provisions to protect not-for-profit care providers from the national insurance increase to help the sustainability and stability of essential social care services.