Wales considers tax rises to pay for growing care costs

Tax rises to cover the cost of caring for elderly and disabled people are being considered by the Welsh Government. The money raised could be spent on abolishing care fees or on a pay rise for care workers. A consultation on possible reforms to social care is due to start this summer.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething is set to call for “honesty” and a “grown-up debate” about increasing care costs. But the idea of raising income tax is likely to prove contentious in the run-up to the Welsh elections next year. Social care is under pressure across the UK from a squeeze on funding, an ageing population and high staff turnover. The state spends about £1.2bn on adult social care every year in Wales.

But in a statement to AMs on Tuesday Mr Gething will say the cost is predicted to grow between £30m and £300m by 2023. If the government wants “to seriously improve the quality and the reach of care, then it will require more funding”, he told BBC Wales.

For more on this story visit the BBC Wales website