Recommendation 21

Given how fundamentally social care policies made by DHSC affect local authorities’ capacity, budgets, and residents, it is vital that DHSC and DLUHC work together closely on developing and delivering such policies. We were struck by the discrete division of answers to questions by Ministers, who rarely supplemented one another’s answers, and the separate follow-up letters that we received. The Government’s 10- year plan should be developed jointly between DHSC and DLUHC, with relevant input from the Department for Work and Pensions. We expect the Government response to our report to show clear evidence of joint working from the departments, rather than discrete sections according to the departments’ separate remits. (Paragraph 87) Long-term funding of adult social care 77 Housing and Planning