Lord Forsyth, Chair @LordsEconCom, is thanked by Health and Social Care Committee Chair @Jeremy_hunt for his evidence on #socialcare this morning. We will now hear from Sir Andrew Dilnot and Yasuhisa Shiozaki @yasu_shio.

Watch here: https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/556195a6-e0c2-431e-b2f4-f4dacf64f74f

@yasu_shio outlines Japan's 2000 #socialcare reforms, expanding affordable and accessible care services, and giving people a choice. Individuals pay 10% of care costs and the Government covers the rest. Tax and premiums raise the funds, and all citizens over 40 pay the premium.

@yasu_shio says that the care burden on families has decreased significantly in Japan, with more efficiency and choice in the market. Every three years the fee schedule is reviewed, adding flexibility. Financial sustainability remains a challenge, as does a shortage of carers.

In order to tackle the #socialcare workforce shortage in Japan more carers are being recruited from outside Japan, says @yasu_shio.

Sir Andrew Dilnot tells the Committee that we just don't spend enough on care. We want to be a society that looks after people, but the current means-tested system – staffed by wonderful people doing great work - is so underfunded that it is a stain on our country.

Sir Andrew Dilnot sets out that the first essential step is to put more money into the means-tested system. Then we need to reform the means-tested system, which currently leaves people facing a huge cliff edge.

A cap on #socialcare costs protects those who are the unluckiest with the highest care needs, says Sir Andrew Dilnot. Beyond the level of the cap, the state steps in and is able to cover catastrophic costs. A cap takes away fear.

Free personal care would be a bit like saying let’s make GP services free, but leaving those who have cancer exposed to risk, says Sir Andrew. Those facing very substantial costs would still be very exposed. The people we want to help most are those who face the highest needs.

£45,000 would be an appropriate level for a cap on #socialcare costs, and would cost the state £3.1bn a year, says Sir Andrew Dilnot.

The care market is like being in a shop with no prices. That makes it very hard as a provider to innovate, adds Sir Andrew Dilnot. The funding model creates unfairness and anxiety for individuals, but also makes it difficult for #socialcare providers and contributes to low wages.

Sir Andrew Dilnot calls for a change in society's attitudes towards old age, towards disability, and towards those who are caring for these people. We need to celebrate ageing and celebrate caring.

Sir Andrew Dilnot says he would now set ‘hotel costs’ at the rate of the state pension – about £8,000 per year #socialcare

Sir Andrew Dilnot ends by recalling the experiences of Pamela, Deborah, and Kevin - you could multiply those thousands, hundreds of thousands of times. There's an opportunity here to do something really good... let's just do it. #socialcare