Tuesday 10 June 2025
As the government prepares to unveil its Comprehensive Spending Review tomorrow, early signals suggest that once again, adult social care is being left behind. According to The Times, the NHS budget is set to rise by over £30 billion from £178 billion at the start of Labour’s term to more than £230 billion by the next election. This increase is more than double the overall growth in public spending and comes at the expense of other vital services, including local councils and police forces.
Despite repeated warnings from ARC England, think tanks, councils and care providers, social care continues to receive only a fraction of the attention and funding granted to the NHS. In 2022/23, total council spending on adult social care stood at just £26.9 billion, a figure dwarfed by health spending and left largely unchanged in the current projections.
The only confirmed additional funding for social care so far is a modest £103 million, stemming from a 3.9% rise in the social care allocation of the Better Care Fund. This does little to address the long standing financial pressures on members’ services which are already at breaking point.
As the Chancellor prepares to champion £113 billion in capital investment across housing, transport and energy, the government must not forget the growing financial hole in learning disability and autism services. Without meaningful, sustainable investment, the sector risks collapse leaving individuals in our communities without the support they need and putting even greater pressure on the NHS.
Victoria Buyer, ARC England’s Policy Lead, says, “We await tomorrow’s announcement with concern and urgency. Now is the moment to show that social care, including learning disability and autism services, is not just a political afterthought, but a fundamental pillar of a fair and functioning society”.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
ARC England:
ARC England (Association for Real Change) supports knowledge development, improves practice and influences policy in health and social care for the benefit of people with learning disabilities or other support needs such as autism, mental health problems, sensory and physical disabilities. ARC England is the only membership organisation specifically for learning disability and autism providers.
For more information and interview enquiries, contact Liz Collins at the ARC England Press Office on 01246 555043 or email liz.collins@arcuk.org.uk