Bury South MP Christian Wakeford is calling on the government to deliver a social care plan after Census data released today, Tuesday, shows how Bury's population has aged in the space of a decade.

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that Bury’s population is ageing with there being an increase of almost 20 per cent of people aged 65 and over in the borough since the last Census in 2011.

Labour MP Mr Wakeford believes the government needs to put plans into place to support people as they get older. 

He said: “It has been clear for some time that we have an ageing population and an inadequate social care system which is creaking at the seams.

“Three years ago last week, Boris Johnson became Prime Minister and stood on the steps of Downing Street declaring that he would 'fix the crisis in social care once and for all with a clear plan we have prepared'.

“Three years on we are still waiting for that pre-prepared plan.

"Let’s hope it is more prepared than his lukewarm 'oven-ready' Brexit deal.”

The Census took place across the country last year with the statistics from it published today.

The government has previously said spending in 2020-21 for health and social care increased by £52.5bn to £193bn.

It added that the The Spring Statement 2022 repeats the government’s commitment from autumn 2021 to raise day-to-day health spending to £177bn in 2024/25.

Extra expenditure of more than £1bn has been made available for the social care sector in England, according to the final local government finance settlement for 2022-23.