Committee publication · Report · 3 July 2026 · HC 420
2nd Report – Independent Commission on Adult Social Care
From: Health and Social Care Committee
Inquiry: The Casey Commission
Government response deadline: 3 September 2026
Summary
The Health and Social Care Committee reports on the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care (chaired by Baroness Casey), launched in April 2025. The Commission has two phases: phase one (recommendations by end of 2026 for implementation by 2036) and phase two (long-term transformation recommendations by 2028). The Committee examines whether the timeline can be accelerated given the urgent crisis in social care, citing evidence that 2 million older people and 1.5 million working-age adults lack necessary care.
Key findings
- Multiple organisations including Care England and the Royal College of Nursing have warned that the 2028 deadline for phase two recommendations risks delaying vital action in a sector already at breaking point.
- Minister Kinnock disclosed that he disagreed with the Chancellor and Prime Minister's 2028 target date, believing the Treasury wanted to delay to use reform as a 2029 election manifesto pledge, which he argued would undermine consensus-building.
- Baroness Casey confirmed she can expedite publication if given political will, emphasising her terms of reference allow reporting 'by 2028' rather than requiring it, and noting DHSC ministers have been 'incredibly supportive' of acceleration.
- The Committee found that adult social care demand will increase due to an ageing population, rising dementia rates, and projected increases in adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs, or physical disabilities.
- Following Prime Minister Starmer's resignation on 22 June 2026, Andy Burnham MP—likely next Prime Minister—has called for urgent social care reform with phase two recommendations by end of 2026.
Recommendations
- The new Prime Minister should make a clear and unequivocal statement confirming that Baroness Casey will be free to publish both phases of her report as soon as they are ready and that departments will be instructed to facilitate this as a matter of expediency.
- The next Prime Minister should commit to bringing forward proposals for reform well before the end of Parliament.
- The Commission should be mindful of the 2027 spending review period; if unable to conclude before this time, it should seek to feed heavily into the spending review process to maximise chances of recommendations being enacted as soon as possible.
Tone
CriticalTopics
Key actors
Baroness Louise Casey, Stephen Kinnock MP, Layla Moran, Sir Keir Starmer MP, Andy Burnham MP, Care England, Royal College of Nursing
Notable line
“Social care is one of the most challenging and pressing issues facing the country. We urgently need a solution which has broad political and public support to fix the current broken system and ensure that individuals get access to the essential care and support they …”
Key Quotes
“I will tell you quite clearly that I did not agree with the position that the Chancellor and the Prime Minister took in terms of the timeframe that was given to Louise Casey. It needs to be brought forward.”
“… ministers in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) had been "incredibly supportive" of the prospect of the Commission reporting early.”
“We believe this process should not be bound by political convenience, including the publication of phase two of Baroness Casey's report.”
“… the closer proposals were to the date of a general election, the more "politically fraught" the debate would become, making consensus harder to reach …”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗