NPC Comments and Press Releases
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no party political allegance and any responses are reproduced verbatim.
Conservative Party Response to the Pensioners Charter
The following response to the Charter has been received from Nigel Waterson, Shadow Pensions Minister:-
“The Charter contains a number of proposals which deserve detailed consideration as we go forward in developing policy. I do hope that you understand that it is too early to make specific policy commitments, especially now that the Turner Report has been published.”
1. A basic state pension set above the official poverty line and linked to male average earnings.
We are deeply concerned about the spread of means testing in our pensions system and agree with the NPC that it is unacceptable. Pension Credit subjects pensioners to an unnecessarily detailed examination of their personal and financial circumstances, which is both intrusive and extraordinarily complicated. It is not surprising that Pensions Credit fails to reach one and one half million pensioners who are entitled to it.
At the General Election we campaigned to give pensioners a bigger income as of right by increasing the value of the Basic State Pension in line with earnings rather than prices.
We are particularly concerned about the disparity between male and female pension entitlement. We have identified a number of ways in which the pensions system could be made faire to women, low earners and carers, including the abolition of the rule which says that people have to make ten years of National Insurance Contributions before they can claim any pension from the state.
2. A warm and comfortable home.
We strongly agree that more must be done to tackle fuel poverty and encourage greater energy efficiency. Increasing the state pension in line with earnings would give pensioners more money to spend on important essentials such as heating bills.
We should offer incentives to homeowners to improve the insulation of their property. At the Election we put forward proposals that would have allowed householders to get cash payments for the improvements they make to their homes.
3. Free health care treatment based on clinical need and an annual comprehensive health check.
We are absolutely committed to a National Health Service that provides free treatment at the point of delivery for all. We want to give all patients more choice so that their needs can be best met. For example, at the election we said we would give every patient the right to treatment in the NHS hospital of their choice. This would have allowed pensioners to receive treatment at a hospital near to where their family lives.
4. Free community care and services to assist living at home.
We recognise the vital role played by informal carers. We want to expand the provision of respite care so more carers can continue to support loved-ones in their own homes.
5. Free long term care.
Older people have a right to expect high standards of care, dignity and security in their latter years. We are very concerned that 40,000 people a year have to sell their homes to meet the cost of long time care.
There are no easy answers to the funding of long term care. The proportion of the population in need of long term care continues to grow so we need to find a sustainable long term solution.
At the last Election, we put forward an innovative solution to these problems by proposing a three-year partnership scheme. Under this approach, anyone funding the first three years of their residential care in a care home would have received the entirety of funding for their long-term care needs thereafter. In this Parliament, we shall continue to refine our policy and press the Government to address the shortcomings of its policies.
6. Free nationwide travel on all public and local transport.
We agree with he NPC that good public transport networks are essential for pensioner’s social inclusion and independence. Individual local authorities in England are able to provide more generous discounted schemes than the mandatory requirements if they wish. We will continue to encourage local authorities to provide older people with accessible, affordable and reliable services. Responding to the needs of pensioners, particularly in isolated and rural areas, is particularly crucial.
7. Free education, access to and participation in leisure and cultural activities.