PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has called on the Government to stop dithering and bring forward a policy on long-term care for the elderly.

A Royal Commission on the issue reported in March and the Pendle Labour backbencher wants Ministers to act on it.

There was a split among the Commission about how much care should be provided for free by the state.

Mr Prentice said:"The previous government left long-term care in a long-term mess.

"The system encouraged local authorities to place people in independent sector residential care rather than supporting them to live independently in their own homes. "And even worse, people were pressurised to sell their homes immediately on entering care rather than encouraging a period of rehabilitation to enable them to return home.

"The Government set up a Royal Commission to look into a better way of doing things.

"We've really got to get moving on this.

"The means test for residential care hits hardest those who only have modest amounts of capital, usually their family home, and lower retirement incomes.

"It leads to a widespread fear that people will be forced to sell their homes in order to fund their long-term care requirements. That's not on."

The Government intends to publish a Long-Term Care Charter setting out national standards and principles for the first time.

Free personal care for all elderly people as advocated by some on the Commission would cost the taxpayer an extra £1 billion a year today rising to £6 billion a year by 2051.

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