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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Social care reform plans | Social care reform plans |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| BBC Radio 4's Money Box Saturday, 18 July 2009 at 1204 BST On Radio 4 and Online | BBC Radio 4's Money Box Saturday, 18 July 2009 at 1204 BST On Radio 4 and Online |
| Twelve years ago, Tony Blair put ending the system where pensioners had to sell their homes to pay for long-term care high on the agenda. | Twelve years ago, Tony Blair put ending the system where pensioners had to sell their homes to pay for long-term care high on the agenda. |
| The government has now published yet another consultation paper on how to do it and wants us all to join in a debate on the options. | The government has now published yet another consultation paper on how to do it and wants us all to join in a debate on the options. |
| It proposes paying a share of the costs for everyone - as it does now - and then says a system of insurance could top up the rest. | It proposes paying a share of the costs for everyone - as it does now - and then says a system of insurance could top up the rest. |
| The insurance might be voluntary or it could be compulsory and cost up to £20,000 each at 65. | The insurance might be voluntary or it could be compulsory and cost up to £20,000 each at 65. |
| That would cover care costs but living costs such as food and rent in a care home would be dealt with much as they are now. | That would cover care costs but living costs such as food and rent in a care home would be dealt with much as they are now. |
| We discuss the proposals with Care Services Minister Phil Hope; lawyer Caroline Bielanska, chair of Solicitors for Elderly, and Mervyn Kohler of Age Concern and Help The Aged.Further information: Compulsory social care bill plan 'Giving up memories' to pay for care Options to pay for long-term care External links and helplines | We discuss the proposals with Care Services Minister Phil Hope; lawyer Caroline Bielanska, chair of Solicitors for Elderly, and Mervyn Kohler of Age Concern and Help The Aged.Further information: Compulsory social care bill plan 'Giving up memories' to pay for care Options to pay for long-term care External links and helplines |
| Comparison websites | Comparison websites |
| The sites are used by millions of consumers eager to find good deals | The sites are used by millions of consumers eager to find good deals |
| Millions of people use price comparison websites every month to get quotes or compare deals for financial products. | Millions of people use price comparison websites every month to get quotes or compare deals for financial products. |
| But there have been growing concerns about transparency and clarity and calls for greater regulation of this rapidly growing business. | But there have been growing concerns about transparency and clarity and calls for greater regulation of this rapidly growing business. |
| An industry body was recently set up with the aim of reassuring consumers and ensuring best practice. | An industry body was recently set up with the aim of reassuring consumers and ensuring best practice. |
| The Comparison Consortium is now urging sites to join its voluntary code of practice and conform to a common complaints procedure. | The Comparison Consortium is now urging sites to join its voluntary code of practice and conform to a common complaints procedure. |
| But how much will it really benefit consumers? We speak to Professor Catherine Waddams from the Centre for Competition Policy at the University of East Anglia and Richard Mason, co-founder of The Comparison Consortium. | But how much will it really benefit consumers? We speak to Professor Catherine Waddams from the Centre for Competition Policy at the University of East Anglia and Richard Mason, co-founder of The Comparison Consortium. |
| Have your say: Comparison websites | Have your say: Comparison websites |
| Further information: Price comparison sites: deal or no deal? 'Errors' in insurance price sites External links and helplines | Further information: Price comparison sites: deal or no deal? 'Errors' in insurance price sites External links and helplines |
| Child Trust Funds | Child Trust Funds |
| CTF money can be accessed by children when they reach 18 | CTF money can be accessed by children when they reach 18 |
| Child Trust Funds were much heralded by the government when they were introduced seven years ago, with the promise of £250 for every child born on or after 1 September 2002. | Child Trust Funds were much heralded by the government when they were introduced seven years ago, with the promise of £250 for every child born on or after 1 September 2002. |
| They are meant to be a basic sum which parents and relatives than regularly add to. | They are meant to be a basic sum which parents and relatives than regularly add to. |
| But some parents and relatives of children with severe disabilities are worried that this form of saving could have a negative impact if their children need certain forms of help from the state when they turn 18. | But some parents and relatives of children with severe disabilities are worried that this form of saving could have a negative impact if their children need certain forms of help from the state when they turn 18. |
| Bob Howard reports. | Bob Howard reports. |
| Further information: href="/2/hi/programmes/moneybox/8157245.stm">Call for Child Trust Fund change class="bodl" href="/2/hi/programmes/moneybox/8156864.stm">External links and helplines | |
| American Express pensions | American Express pensions |
| Amex would not be allowed to stop contributions when rules change in 2012 | Amex would not be allowed to stop contributions when rules change in 2012 |
| Staff at the UK office of American Express have been told it will stop making contributions to their pensions for the next 18 months. | Staff at the UK office of American Express have been told it will stop making contributions to their pensions for the next 18 months. |
| The decision is part of a cost-cutting package to help the firm cope with the effects of the recession. | The decision is part of a cost-cutting package to help the firm cope with the effects of the recession. |
| The Amex pension scheme makes no promises to its staff - it just puts in between 3% and 9% of pay for employees who join and make their own contributions. | The Amex pension scheme makes no promises to its staff - it just puts in between 3% and 9% of pay for employees who join and make their own contributions. |
| It is thought to be the first employer with such a scheme to stop making any contributions. | It is thought to be the first employer with such a scheme to stop making any contributions. |
| We ask Rash Bhabra, head of Corporate Consulting at Watson Wyatt, if others will follow suit. | We ask Rash Bhabra, head of Corporate Consulting at Watson Wyatt, if others will follow suit. |
| Further information: Amex axes pension contributions External links and helplines | Further information: Amex axes pension contributions External links and helplines |
| Forced retirement | Forced retirement |
| Currently people can request to continue working beyond 65 | Currently people can request to continue working beyond 65 |
| A legal challenge to the UK's enforceable retirement age is back at the High Court. | A legal challenge to the UK's enforceable retirement age is back at the High Court. |
| Age Concern & Help the Aged is arguing with the government about the legality of employers forcing workers to retire at the age of 65. | Age Concern & Help the Aged is arguing with the government about the legality of employers forcing workers to retire at the age of 65. |
| However ministers have announced they are bringing forward a review of the retirement age and have indicated they are likely to legislate to remove enforced retirement. | However ministers have announced they are bringing forward a review of the retirement age and have indicated they are likely to legislate to remove enforced retirement. |
| We speak to Mervyn Kohler of Age Concern and Help The Aged about the latest developments. | We speak to Mervyn Kohler of Age Concern and Help The Aged about the latest developments. |
| Further information: End of retirement age signalled Retirement age row back in court External links and helplines | Further information: End of retirement age signalled Retirement age row back in court External links and helplines |
| BBC Radio 4's Money Box was broadcast on Saturday, 18 July at 1204 BST. | BBC Radio 4's Money Box was broadcast on Saturday, 18 July at 1204 BST. |
| The programme will be repeated on Sunday, 19 July at 2102 BST. | The programme will be repeated on Sunday, 19 July at 2102 BST. |