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Liberal Democrat Party Responses.
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THE PENSIONERS’ CHARTER
The following is the Liberal Democrat response to the Charter as supplied by Norman Baker, Lib-Dem Member for the Lewes Constituency (shown in red italic)
1. A basic state pension set above the official poverty line and linked to male average earnings
We are arguing for the creation of a Citizen’s Pension, set at the level of the Guarantee Credit and increased in line with earnings. A Citizen’s Pension would be based on residency rather than NI contributions and will be of special benefit for women and carers.
2. A warm and comfortable home
It is enormously important that pensioners have warm and secure homes, and are not put off repairs because they simply can’t afford it. At the last election we proposed allowing pensioners to take their Winter Fuel Payment as a voucher redeemable against insulation and energy saving materials. A pensioner would have been able to save more than £100 per year from their energy bill by investing just one year’s Winter Fuel Payment. We would also put pressure on local authorities to speed up the rate at which necessary home adaptations are authorised and implemented. This would stop people waiting months for their local authorities to assess and fund improvements that enable people to maintain their independence.
3. Free health care treatment based on clinical need and an annual comprehensive health check
We want to give older people more control over their health care. We want to encourage regular health MOTs, tailored to individual patient needs, with wider access to screenings and tests. We want to give people with long-term care needs the right to a personal care plan they have agreed to. We want to see quicker diagnosis for serious conditions – so that treatment is not delayed and early identification of certain conditions. We ant more tests and scans available in GPs’ surgeries and pharmacies.
4. Free community care and services to assist living at home
We want to see the introduction of packages of intermediate care, where older people do not go straight into a long term care home after being discharged from hospital. We want are packages based around the needs of the patient, not of the system. We want to see more done on the prevention of ill health and we want innovations like Time Banks, which encourage volunteering within the community, to enable older people to maintain their independence for longer.
5. Free long-term care
The liberal Democrats have called for the extension of free personal care for the elderly – it has already been introduced in Scotland as the result of a Liberal Democrat initiative. This implemented the recommendations of the independent Royal Commission on Long – Term Care.
6. Free nationwide travel on all public and local transport
Prior to the Chancellor’s announcement, the Liberal Democrats were the first to make the case for giving all pensioners free of peak local bus travel, and have already done so in Scotland and Wales. We will also provide all pensioners with their rail discount cards free.
7. Free education, access to and participation in leisure and cultural activities
We want to encourage older people to take up education and training. It was a Liberal Democrat amendment to the Higher Education Bill (2004) that has made it financially possible for older people to access education, by opening up student loans to those aged over 55.
8. Goods, services and benefits without age discrimination
We want to see all arbitrary retirement ages scrapped and age discrimination legislation strengthened and rigorously enforced. We want to see a Single Equality Act, so that age alone is no barrier to working or training.
9. Active engagement and consultation on national and local issues affecting older citizens
We want to see more engagement from people of all ages in politics and government. Understanding the experiences and view of older citizens is crucial to good Government.
10. Advocacy, dignity, respect and fair treatment in all aspects of their lives
We support this wholeheartedly.
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