Hansard

Long-Term Care Of The Elderly

Volume 610: debated on Wednesday 1 March 2000

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Lord Lipsey

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  • (a) when they plan to announce their response to the Royal Commission on long-term care of the elderly;
  • (b) whether they have received any representations on the Royal Commission's report; and, if so, how many; and
  • (c) whether any such representations opposed the regulation of long-term care insurance; and, if so, how many. [HL1213]

    • The Parliamentary Under-Secreatry of State, Department of Helath
    (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)

    The Secretary of State for Health announced in another place on 2 December that the Government were broadly accepting one of the Royal Commission's main recommendations by establishing a National Care Standards Commission. We are also implementing several of the Royal Commission's other recommendations—such as extending direct payments to people over 65. We are looking at more costly changes as part of the Year 2000 Spending Review, which will be completed this summer. We will then publish a White Paper.A large number of representations to the Government on a variety of issues refer to long-term care. Nine hundred and eighty letters to the Department of Health have specifically focused on the Royal Commission's report. Many of the representations have broadly supported the recommendations in the Royal Commission's majority report; others have been critical and some have put forward alternative proposals. The Government will be exploring with the financial industry how they could best design long-term care insurance products to make them attractive to a wider audience.