Legislative scrutiny: Care Bill: eleventh report of session 2013-14: report, together with formal minutes

The Care Bill was introduced into the House of Lords on 9 May 2013, received its Third Reading on 29 October 2013 and then proceeded to the House of Commons where it received its Second Reading on 16 December 2013. Commons’ Committee stage began on 9 January 2014 and is due to end on 4 February. This Report examines the most significant human rights issues in the Bill. 

In this report, the Joint Committee on Human Rights examines the most significant human rights issues in the Care Bill, which must ensure that all providers of publicly arranged or paid-for social care services are bound by the Human Rights Act. The Bill provides an opportunity to fill the gaps in human rights protection for all those receiving publicly arranged or paid-for care, including in their own home and in residential care homes under arrangements made other than under the National Assistance Act 1948. The opportunity to legislate to this effect must not be missed by Parliament. The Committee recommends an amendment to the Bill which would close this significant gap in human rights protection for people receiving publicly arranged or paid-for care. Amendments should be made to either the Care Bill or the Children and Families Bill (debated in the House of Lords on 27 January 2014), to give parent carers of disabled children equivalent rights to a needs assessment for support.