Part of 2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport – in the Senedd at 2:35 pm on 9 November 2016.
The draft budget shows an extra £25 million for social services, and that was in respect and in understanding of the severe pressures that the social services sector are under at the moment. Pressures include, for example, the national living wage coming in next year, which will impact on local authorities and providers themselves. But it’s very important to respect the fact that it’s great news that low-paid workers will receive an increase in pay, but also to understand that it’s going to put some pressure on the sector, which is why we’ve allocated an extra £25 million for that. We also allocated more than £4 million extra in order to be able to take the first step in achieving our manifesto commitment of doubling the capital limit that people can keep before paying for care. So, we’ve allocated more than £4 million for that, and, also, money to enable us to put in place the full disregard of the war disablement pension from April of next year.