No need for Social Care dept, says MHK

A candidate standing for re-election in East Douglas believes the Department of Social Care should be scrapped.

Chris Robertshaw, a sitting member who was first elected in a by-election in May last year, believes moving many of the department's core responsibilities elsewhere would make sense.

He says benefits could be handled by Treasury, mental and physical health should come under the same department, housing could be handled by a housing association and issues concerning children and families could go to the Department of Education and Children.

Mr Robertshaw says it was right to split the Department of Health and Social Security, but adds doing away with the Department of Social Care would also have another significant benefit.