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On 11 February the UK Government announced that it intended to act on the recommendations of the Commission on Funding of Care and Support in England, chaired by Andrew Dilnot.


This was a long\-awaited announcement and I welcome it to the extent that it gives some clarity about the UK Government’s intentions to introduce new arrangements for England.  The announcement was updated this week by the Chancellor of the Exchequer so that the key features of the proposals for England are:


 


* A cap on an individual’s lifetime care costs of £72,000 (with the costs associated with accommodation in residential care standardised at a maximum of £12,000 per year, across England);
* A lower rate of cap for people who develop care and support needs prior to reaching retirement age, with a zero rate for young people who have care and support needs by the time they turn 18; and,
* An uplift of the capital limits for the means test in residential care from £23,250 to £118,000, with the UK Government paying a proportion of these individuals’ residential care costs on a sliding scale (on a similar basis to the current “tariff” system in operation in England).


 


I understand that the UK Government intends that these arrangements for England should be implemented from April 2016, with a new universal scheme to offer people in England deferred payments coming into operation from 2015\. These reforms will be included in its draft Care and Support Bill when introduced in to Parliament and will be subject, therefore, to the passage of this legislation and the subsequent development of detailed proposals over the intervening years.


I recently had a positive and productive discussion with the Care and Support Minister for England, Norman Lamb MP, and I welcome his subsequent letter to me.  This confirms that the budget setting process, and any effect on Barnett consequentials, will be determined in a future Spending Review.


Although there will not be a change in charging arrangements for quite some time in England, I do now want to turn my attention to considering in earnest how best to build on the reforms we have already introduced to charging for care and support in Wales.  I want to make real headway with this and to develop proposals for Wales over the course of the next year.


I have already included within the Social Services and Well\-being Bill, which is currently going through scrutiny in the National Assembly, provisions which will enable us to introduce a strengthened deferred payments scheme. I have also sought to “future proof” the Bill by including within it provisions which will allow us the flexibility to introduce one of a number of models of reformed charging arrangements, if we decide to do so.  My intention is to ensure that there will be no delay to reform here due to a requirement to seek new primary legislative powers.


I have previously gone on record to support the principle of a cap in the funding of care and support.  After all, we have led the way in introducing this concept here in Wales, with our £50 maximum weekly charge for non\-residential care since 2011\.  In fact, I was able to explain this system to Andrew Dilnot when he visited us in that year and to tell him about the advantages I believe it gives people here in terms of paying a fair, transparent and equitable amount for their care, regardless of where in Wales they live.  We have invested over £20 million a year in this maximum charge and our earlier “Fairer Charging” financial protections introduced in 2007 and I believe that people across Wales are seeing the benefits of that investment.  If the new arrangements that have been announced by the UK Government do come into force in England in 2016, people here in Wales will have benefitted from our own cap for five years ahead of people across the border. Even then the cap introduced in England in 2016 will not be retrospective so it will be some time after that those in England will begin to benefit from this.


Despite the general merits of a cap on charging, I have some reservations about whether I would want to introduce here the particular form of cap which the UK Government intends to introduce in England.  Because the proposed system relies on a “taxi meter” style record of individuals’ lifetime contributions, there is the potential for a rather complex system to grow up, making life complicated for people with care and support needs and for the local authorities which will be tasked with keeping track of their (notional) contributions.


Furthermore, I understand that the new English system will rely on a broadened mechanism of personal budgets, which is not being replicated here.  I believe it would therefore be prudent to consider carefully the detailed implementation arrangements that UK Ministers intend to publish later this year, to ensure that we understand how their model will work in practice and its costs, before we make final decisions on what is the right way forward for Wales.


In particular, I would want to be clear about the costs and benefits of raising the capital limits, of introducing a “tariff” taper, and of extending capping arrangements in some way to residential care costs, before considering the desirability of replicating some or any of those measures in Wales.  I note that when the UK Government initially announced its proposed reforms in February it stated that up to 16% of older people paying for care might be expected to face costs of the then proposed cap of £75,000 and would therefore be helped by that cap. There has been quite a bit of debate about whether that is a sufficiently large proportion of people to benefit and I would want to ensure that any new system that we introduced here would bring maximum benefit to the people who really need it.


For this reason, I will want to develop proposals for Wales that not only build on our existing cap on care costs, but that are built on the results of research and other evidence, and on consultation and dialogue both with stakeholders and with the other political parties here in Wales.  My Stakeholder Advisory Group on paying for care has already done sterling work to help towards this goal and I want to thank them for their ongoing contribution to this work. I am publishing their advice to me on the extent to which they see the Dilnot Commission’s recommendations as applicable or beneficial in a Welsh context.


Our proposals for reform will need to be tailored to circumstances and preferences here in Wales – for instance taking account of different patterns in terms of personal wealth and property values and ownership, and recognising the distinctive values and principles that we hold dear in Wales.  They will need to support our vision for a sustainable system of care and support, built around the central importance of prevention, independence and well\-being for people of all ages, as set out in the Social Services and Well\-being Bill.


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 







Translation:


 
Ar 11 Chwefror cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth y DU ei bod yn bwriadu gweithredu ar argymhellion y Comisiwn ar Ariannu Gofal a Chymorth yn Lloegr, a gadeiriwyd gan Andrew Dilnot.

Bu disgwyl hir am y cyhoeddiad hwn ac rwy'n ei groesawu i'r graddau ei fod yn egluro peth ar fwriadau Llywodraeth y DU i gyflwyno trefniadau newydd ar gyfer Lloegr. Rhoddodd Canghellor y Trysorlys ddiweddariad i’r cyhoeddiad yr wythnos hon, fel mai elfennau allweddol y cyhoeddiad ar gyfer Lloegr yw:

* Cap ar gostau gofal unigolyn am oes o £72,000 (gyda'r costau cysylltiedig â llety mewn gofal preswyl wedi'u safoni ar uchafswm o £12,000 y flwyddyn, ar draws Lloegr);
* Cap ar gyfradd is i bobl sy'n datblygu anghenion gofal a chymorth cyn cyrraedd oedran ymddeol, gyda chyfradd o ddim i bobl ifanc sydd ag anghenion gofal a chymorth erbyn iddynt gyrraedd 18 oed; a,
* Cynnydd yn y terfynau cyfalaf ar gyfer y prawf modd mewn gofal preswyl o £23,250 i £118,000, gyda Llywodraeth y DU yn talu cyfran o gostau gofal preswyl yr unigolion hyn ar raddfa symudol (ar sail debyg i'r system "dariff" sy'n gweithredu ar hyn o bryd yn Lloegr).

Deallaf mai bwriad Llywodraeth y DU yw y dylid rhoi'r trefniadau hyn ar gyfer Lloegr ar waith o fis Ebrill 2016, gyda chynllun cyffredinol newydd i gynnig taliadau gohiriedig i bobl yn Lloegr yn dod i rym o 2015\. Cynhwysir y diwygiadau hyn yn ei Bil Gofal a Chymorth drafft pan gyflwynir hwnnw i'r Senedd a bydd felly'n amodol ar basio'r ddeddfwriaeth honno a datblygu cynigion manwl wedi hynny dros y blynyddoedd sy'n dilyn.

Yn ddiweddar cefais drafodaeth gadarnhaol a ffrwythlon â'r Gweinidog Gofal a Chymorth dros Loegr, Norman Lamb AS, a chroesawaf y llythyr a gefais wedyn oddi wrtho. Mae hyn yn cadarnhau y bydd y broses o osod y gyllideb, ac unrhyw effaith ar symiau canlyniadol Barnett, yn cael eu penderfynu mewn Adolygiad o Wariant yn y dyfodol.

Er na fydd newid am gryn amser ar y trefniadau codi tâl yn Lloegr, rwyf yn awyddus bellach i droi fy sylw at ystyried o ddifrif y ffordd orau o adeiladu ar seiliau'r diwygiadau a gyflwynwyd gennym eisoes i'r ffordd y codir am ofal a chymorth yng Nghymru. Mae arnaf eisiau symud ymlaen o ddifrif gyda hyn, a datblygu cynigion i Gymru dros flwyddyn sydd i ddod.

Rwyf eisoes wedi cynnwys darpariaethau yn y Bil Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant sydd ar hyn o bryd yn mynd drwy broses graffu yn y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol, a fydd yn ein galluogi i gyflwyno cynllun taliadau gohiriedig cryfach. Rwyf hefyd wedi ceisio gwarchod y Bil "rhag y dyfodol” drwy gynnwys darpariaethau ynddo a fydd yn caniatáu hyblygrwydd inni gyflwyno un o nifer o fodelau o drefniadau codi tâl diwygiedig, os penderfynwn wneud hynny. Fy mwriad yw sicrhau na fydd oedi i ddiwygiadau yma o ganlyniad i orfod ceisio pwerau deddfwriaethol sylfaenol.

Rwyf yn y gorffennol wedi cefnogi ar goedd egwyddor cap ar ariannu gofal a chymorth. Wedi'r cyfan, rydym wedi arwain y ffordd yma yng Nghymru o ran cyflwyno'r cysyniad hwn, gyda'n huchafswm taliad wythnosol o £50 am ofal nad yw'n ofal preswyl er 2011\. Mewn gwirionedd, bu modd i mi egluro'r drefn hon i Andrew Dilnot pan ymwelodd â ni y flwyddyn honno, a dweud wrtho am y manteision y credaf y mae'n eu rhoi i bobl yma o ran talu swm teg, tryloyw a chyfiawn am eu gofal, lle bynnag yng Nghymru y bônt yn byw. Rydym wedi buddsoddi dros £20 miliwn y flwyddyn yn yr uchafswm tâl hwn ac yn y diogelu ariannol "Codi Tâl Tecach" a gyflwynwyd gennym yn 2007, a chredaf fod pobl ar draws Cymru yn elwa ar y buddsoddiad hwnnw. Os daw'r trefniadau newydd a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU i rym yn Lloegr erbyn 2016, bydd pobl yma yng Nghymru wedi elwa o'n cap ni am bum mlynedd cyn i bobl ar draws y ffin yn Lloegr ddechrau elwa. Hyd yn oed wedyn, ni fydd y cap a gyflwynir yn Lloegr yn 2016 yn ôl\-weithredol ac felly bydd peth amser yn mynd heibio wedi hynny cyn y bydd pobl yn Lloegr yn dechrau elwa.

Er gwaethaf rhinweddau cyffredinol cap ar godi tâl, mae gennyf rai amheuon ynghylch fy nymuniad i gyflwyno yma y math arbennig o gap y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn bwriadu ei gyflwyno yn Lloegr. Oherwydd bod y system arfaethedig yn dibynnu ar record yn null "mesurydd tacsi" o gyfraniadau oes unigolion, mae posibilrwydd y bydd cyfundrefn gymhleth braidd yn datblygu, gan wneud bywyd yn anodd i bobl sydd ag anghenion gofal a chymorth ac i'r awdurdodau lleol a fydd yn gyfrifol am gadw golwg ar eu cyfraniadau (tybiannol). At hynny, deallaf y bydd y drefn newydd yn Lloegr yn dibynnu ar fecanwaith ehangach o gyllidebau personol, nad yw'n cael ei ail\-greu yma. Credaf y byddai felly'n ddoeth ystyried yn ofalus y trefniadau gweithredu manwl y mae Gweinidogion y Deyrnas Unedig yn bwriadu eu cyhoeddi yn ddiweddarach eleni, i sicrhau ein bod yn deall sut y bydd eu model yn gweithio'n ymarferol, a beth fydd ei gostau, cyn inni wneud penderfyniadau terfynol ynghylch y ffordd gywir i symud ymlaen yng Nghymru.

Yn arbennig, byddai arnaf eisiau deall yn iawn beth fyddai costau a manteision codi'r terfynau cyfalaf, cyflwyno tapr "tariffau", ac estyn trefniadau capio mewn rhyw ffordd i gynnwys costau gofal preswyl, cyn ystyried a ddylid atgynhyrchu unrhyw rai o'r mesurau hynny yng Nghymru. Nodaf fod Llywodraeth y DU, pan gyhoeddodd ei diwygiadau arfaethedig gyntaf ym mis Chwefror, wedi datgan y gallai hyd at 16% o bobl hŷn sy'n talu am ofal ddisgwyl wynebu costau’r cap arfaethedig ar y pryd o £75,000, ac y byddai’r cap hwnnw felly'n eu helpu. Bu cryn dipyn o drafod ynghylch a yw hynny'n gyfran ddigon mawr o bobl i elwa, a byddwn i am sicrhau y byddai unrhyw gyfundrefn newydd y byddem yn ei chyflwyno yma yn dod â'r budd mwyaf i bobl y mae arnynt wir angen amdano.

Am y rheswm hwnnw, byddaf yn dymuno datblygu cynigion i Gymru sydd nid yn unig yn adeiladu ar seiliau ein cap presennol ar gostau gofal, ond sy’n seiliedig ar ganlyniadau ymchwil a thystiolaeth arall, ac ar ymgynghori a thrafod â rhanddeiliaid yn ogystal â'r pleidiau gwleidyddol eraill yma yng Nghymru. Mae fy Ngrŵp Cynghori o Randdeiliaid ar dalu am ofal eisoes wedi gwneud rhagorol tuag at gyrraedd y nod hwn a dymunaf ddiolch iddynt am eu cyfraniad parhaus i'r gwaith hwn. Rwy'n cyhoeddi'r cyngor a gefais ganddynt ar i ba raddau y credant fod argymhellion Comisiwn Dilnot yn berthnasol neu'n fanteisiol yng nghyd\-destun Cymru.

Bydd angen teilwra ein cynigion ar gyfer diwygiadau i weddu i amgylchiadau a dewisiadau yma yng Nghymru – er enghraifft, gan roi ystyriaeth i batrymau gwahanol o ran cyfoeth personol a gwerth eiddo a pherchnogaeth eiddo, a chan gydnabod y gwerthoedd a'r egwyddorion sy'n bwysig i ni yng Nghymru. Bydd angen iddynt gefnogi'r weledigaeth a goleddwn o gyfundrefn ofal a chymorth sy'n gynaliadwy, ac un y mae pwysigrwydd atal, annibyniaeth a lles i bobl o bob oed yn ganolog iddi, fel y nodir yn y Bil Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant.