The solution to the social care funding crisis should emerge from general taxation and means-testing reforms instead of hypothecated taxes, Sir Andrew Dilnot has warned.

Speaking to the House of Lords' economic affairs committee today, Sir Andrew – author of a 2011 Government-commissioned review of social care - said there had been a ‘major market failure,' with neither the state nor private sphere providing a sustainable long-term solution to the demographic issues driving soaring care costs.