WHITEHALL

Another week, another warning

Will politicians, civil servants and policy-makers show the insight and bravery to think in generational terms or will short-termism continue to triumph, asks Paul O'Brien.

Another week, another warning. If we don't address the funding pressure building in the system around adults and childrens' social care services then local government's ability to fulfil its more general responsibilities to its communities, will implode.

So will Government address this impending catastrophe through new fiscal raising proposals in the autumn's social care green paper or deal with it in next year's comprehensive Spending Review? Or will we remain like mindless zombies on a relentless march to fulfil the predictions contained within various versions of the Graph of Doom? That money will run out for anything other than statutory services and even then such protection will be tested.

Paul O'Brien

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