Julie Morgan MS, Deputy Minister for Social Services
On 21 February, I informed Members about the establishment of an expert group, which would produce a report and recommendations about the steps towards creating a National Care Service. This is a commitment in the Co-operation Agreement with Plaid Cymru.
Together with the Plaid Cymru Designated Member Cefin Campbell, myself and the Health Minister Eluned Morgan agreed the terms of reference for the expert group. Its membership included individuals with backgrounds in social care, local government, finance and economics, the trade union movement, academia and those with experience of caring and the interface between social care and the NHS.
We have now received the expert group’s final report.
I would like to express our thanks to the joint co-chairs and all the members of the expert group for their contributions to this crucial and challenging work.
The expert group has produced a thorough and detailed report with far-ranging recommendations about how a national care service could be developed. These recommendations will now be properly considered and discussed, particularly in the context of the very difficult financial situation, which has arisen since this work began.
I will make a further statement outlining the next steps once the Plaid Cymru Designated Member and I have had an opportunity to consider the report and recommendations.