Last week's National Children and Adult Services conference in Bournemouth was notable not just for its speakers – all experts across children's, adult and health services – but for the absence of speakers, namely the secretaries of state for health and for education. It is the first time in over 20 years that the event has not attracted a cabinet minister. Last year with an election looming, the event garnered three, Jeremy Hunt, Nicky Morgan and Eric Pickles. This year – zilch.

Unsurprisingly this absence was noticed immediately by delegates and commented on unfavourably. Ray James, the president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, in his opening speech expressed his ‘disappointment' at the ministers ‘missing out on a great programme at arguably the biggest social care event of the year'. Delegates' general conclusion was that considering how vital the future of care services are for the Treasury you would think a Cabinet minister could bother to spare the two-hour train journey from Waterloo.