But we are clear that this is only a starting point. It will not provide any improvement in access to care, which is urgently needed and would be improved through introducing free personal care as recommended by previous select committee reports from both the Lords and the Commons, which we continue to endorse as worthy of consideration. The full cost of adequately funding social care is therefore likely to be substantially higher than £7bn, potentially running to tens of billions of pounds. ...

But we are clear that this is only a starting point. It will not provide any improvement in access to care, which is urgently needed and would be improved through introducing free personal care as recommended by previous select committee reports from both the Lords and the Commons, which we continue to endorse as worthy of consideration. The full cost of adequately funding social care is therefore likely to be substantially higher than £7bn, potentially running to tens of billions of pounds. We recognise these are substantial increases at a time of severe financial pressure but the evidence we have heard both from those who use social care, a Type: conclusion | Number: 21 | Response status: under_consideration Government response: Details of the level of funding provided to the social care system during the COVID-19 pandemic and at the 2020 Spending Review can be found in the section; Preface: Adult Social Care Funding. 8.1 We are acutely aware of the long-term challenges to the soci