Minister criticised over ‘austerity the mother of invention’ quote in Commons

A health minister has sidestepped calls to apologise for repeating a claim that “austerity has been the mother of invention”.

Jackie Doyle-Price faced criticism in the Commons after she noted the comment had been made to her by a council leader, as she defended the Government’s investment in social care.

Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth used Twitter to describe the remark as “jaw dropping” before shadow communities secretary Andrew Gwynne added in the Commons: “I’m astounded that a minister of the Crown thinks that austerity is the mother of invention.”

Ms Doyle-Price tried to intervene, prompting Mr Gwynne to add: “Let me finish and I’ll let her in if she wants to apologise.

“It’s a play on words of the old English proverb that necessity is the mother of invention.

“Now, let me tell the minister – she might be quoting a councillor but she didn’t deny it was her view too – there’s nothing necessary about austerity, it’s a political choice and a choice that’s driving up inequality and unfairness.”

Ms Doyle-Price, allowed to intervene, said: “Firstly I think I need to remind you that the only money we can spend is that what we collect from taxpayers.

“I pay tribute to the innovation shown by local authority leaders that deliver better outcomes with less money. That’s good value for money. That should be celebrated by that side of the House too.”

Ms Doyle-Price (pictured) raised the austerity remark during her opening speech after shadow care minister Barbara Keeley pressed her over funding.

Ms Keeley said: “The funding gap was not £1 billion, it was £1.9 billion, so there’s £900 million left not covered, and that’s what councils are struggling with up and down the country.

“But she makes the point about extra funding being raised, because it falls now onto local authorities, does she accept that there’s still this gap, which means that people can’t be paid the national living wage and that we’re going to struggle all the way through winter, unless there’s an acceptance that there is that gap, and will her party work to close it?”

In reply, Ms Doyle-Price said: “I don’t accept that, actually.

“Let’s recognise, it has been hard in the past, we’ve made money available in the recent years, we know that local authorities had to face challenges, but as one local authority leader put it to me, austerity has been the mother of invention.

“And I would congratulate local authorities on the very efforts that they’ve made.

“As for the point about national minimum wage, it is enforceable, so again I don’t accept that point at all.”

As she was heckled by Labour MPs, Ms Doyle-Price went on: “That’s come from a local authority leader.

“I agree that local authorities have shown considerable initiative by implementing savings.”

In the debate Ms Doyle-Price also confirmed primary legislation would be needed in Parliament to lift a £72,500 cap on social care costs that is due to come into effect in four years.

The cap on an individual’s care costs was brought in following the recommendations of the Dilnot commission in 2011.

That cap had already been put into an Act of Parliament, but the Government has since announced a fresh consultation on the future system of social care.

Tory former minister Sir Desmond Swayne asked Ms Doyle-Price: “Am I right in thinking that under current statute law, from the financial year 2021/22 a cap of £72,500 will apply?

“And if that settlement is to be altered, it will require primary legislation in this Parliament?”

Ms Doyle-Price replied: “He is indeed correct.”

It comes after the controversial “dementia tax” in the Tory general election manifesto was scrapped.

The policy proposed people paying for the costs of their care until they had no more than £100,000 of assets left, rather than an upper cap on the amount they would have to pay.

Labour is leading an opposition day debate on social care with a motion calling on the Government to confirm the policy has been dropped.

It also raises concern over what it dubs “fines” for local authorities who do not improve their performance on delayed transfers of care.

Ms Doyle-Price denied it was a fine, saying the measures were about ensuring public money delivers what it is intended to.

“It is right that there should be consequences for those who fail to improve,” she said.

“If their performance does not improve, Government may direct spending – it is not a fine – we will direct spending for the poorest performers, and we will reserve the right to review allocations in the future.”

Labour’s non-binding motion was carried without a vote, as Tory MPs abstained.

The Government has come under fire in recent weeks for abstaining on opposition motions, which do not require a change in policy.

Ms Keeley said: “Again we see them abstaining, refusing to vote on an issue on a motion brought by the opposition, this time on the vital issue we’ve been debating on the funding crisis in social care and whether it will confirm its intention not to proceed with the policy on funding social care that they put forward, frightening people during the general election.

“My honourable friend has just, rightly, described this Government as the most weak and divided Government in many years.”

Turning to Commons Deputy Speaker Eleanor Laing, Ms Keeley asked: “Is it in order for this weak and divided Government now to pick and choose when it will vote on matters that come forward in this House?”

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