Top Priority

by JOSEPH WATTS, Political editor Saturday, September 22, 2012
6:30 AM

Health minister and Norfolk MP Norman Lamb was left in a difficult position yesterday when his predecessor accused the Treasury of blocking reforms to the funding of elderly care.

The government is currently considering how it and individuals should pay for the burgeoning cost of care for the elderly in the future.

They are yet to accept the recommendations of the Dilnot Commission which concluded an individual should pay for the first £35,000 of care, with the state picking up the bill after that.

Paul Burstow was the Liberal Democrat health minister responsible for seeing through the reform until he was sacked in the reshuffle and replaced by North Norfolk Lib Dem MP Mr Lamb.

Yesterday, on the eve of the Lib Dem annual conference, Mr Burstow wrote an article in a national newspaper claiming that George Osborne’s Treasury was blocking attempts to bring in the reform, as they believed it was too expensive.

But Mr Lamb would not repeat the claim of his party colleague. Speaking to the EDP he said: “As far as I’m concerned the government is committed to the conclusions of the Dilnot report.

“I’m doing this job with the intention of seeing that reform through.”

He added: “I’ve spoken to Nick Clegg on this and I know he sees it as a top priority.”

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/