Lib Dems accuse Government of abandoning plans to cap care costs

By The Press Association13th October 2015News EnglandCare Costs, Government / Politics, News England

Liberal Democrats fear a cap on care costs has been “abandoned” by the Government.

Health minister Alistair Burt confirmed the introduction of the cap has been pushed back.

And Lib Dems believe that means the policy, brought forward under the coalition government and earmarked for implementation in 2016, is “gone for good”.

Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb (pictured) said: “Be in no doubt, the Tories have abandoned the cap on care costs. It’s gone for good.

“We must not let them get away with this betrayal of all those people struggling with care costs for a loved one suffering with dementia or motor neurone disease.

“The Government must apologise for abandoning this vital move and explain how it will help thousands of families deal with spiralling care costs.”

Greg Mulholland, Liberal Democrat MP for Leeds North West, questioned Mr Burt about the future of the policy today in the Commons.

The health minister said: “There was consultation on the coalition proposals, which began at the beginning of this year and ran through the election period.

“The consultation, including a very strong representation from the Local Government Association, said that they did not want to implement the care cap now, they wanted extra time.

“Therefore, the decision has been taken not to cancel, but to delay.

“It is of course a change from the position we set out.

“I fully accept that, but we listened to stakeholders and we are now going to use the extra time, at the request of the LGA and others, to find a way through to implement the policy and to use the time for extra financial products.”