Health and Social Care Levy Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 2:10 pm on 14 September 2021.

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Photo of Steve Barclay Steve Barclay The Chief Secretary to the Treasury 2:10, 14 September 2021

I want to make some progress, and I have already given way once to Geraint Davies.

Let me remind the House why this levy is necessary. As the Prime Minister and the Chancellor have said, the levy will enable the Government to provide additional funding to the NHS so that it can recover from the pandemic. Senior NHS leaders have made it clear that, without additional financial support, we will not properly be able to address the significant backlog in the national health service. However, it is going to take time to get everyone the care they need. In addition, our social care plan will create a dramatically expanded safety net for people in their later life. This means that, instead of individuals having to bear the financial risk of catastrophic care costs themselves, we as a country are deciding to share more of that risk collectively.