In yesterday's spending review it was a relief to hear that universal benefits for older people such as the bus pass, winter fuel payment and TV licence, are being retained. But while the extra £2bn for social care funding is also welcome, most is likely to be used to plug the holes left by huge cuts in other council funding. It is disappointing that the chancellor spent as much time discussing the A11 to Norwich as he did social care spending – we will have to wait until next year for clear proposals on how the long-term funding crisis in social care will be resolved.