Speaking in the Commons today, the deputy prime minister responded to former care minister MP Paul Burstow. He had asked whether government would commit to introducing the cap through the draft Care and Support Bill during the current Parliamentary session.

Clegg replied: “I can confirm that in the coming weeks we will publish our detailed response, which will address the issue of how to avoid individuals and households having to face catastrophic costs in funding their care.

He added: “We have said all along that we believe in the principles and the basic model set out by Andrew Dilnot. Of course there is an issue about how to pay for this in the future, but as my right hon. Friend has rightly identified, the first step is to enshrine that approach in legislation, which we will seek to do during this Parliament.”

This statement comes amid reports the chancellor had made an agreement with the department of health to implement a cap of £75,000.

There had been some confusion, as government did not confirm the timescale or level of the cap in the Mid Term Review, as expected.

However, in yesterday’s accompanying press conference, prime minister David Cameron had said: “We’ll set out big new steps on some of the hardest and most important long-term issues that will shape the future for generations to come. On social care, capping the potentially huge costs of long-term care faced by many families today, so that people can have the certainty to plan for their long-term needs.”

Janet Davies, joint founder and managing director for care fee adviser body Symponia said nothing has really changed for advisers and clients.

“[Politicians] need to put some commitment behind the rhetoric and say it will be in legislation [on] this date. The local authority can then work out how they’re going to use the care cap, self -funders can work out what they still have to fund when the cap is in place and providers of immediate care plans can bring in some creativity and innovation.”