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| Talks back levy for care funding | Talks back levy for care funding |
| (1 day later) | |
| The government has been advised to back a compulsory fee to pay for social care at the end of a day of talks. | The government has been advised to back a compulsory fee to pay for social care at the end of a day of talks. |
| The meeting with charities, council chiefs and care providers agreed a levy payable on death was the best option. | The meeting with charities, council chiefs and care providers agreed a levy payable on death was the best option. |
| But the government refused to commit to the charge - dubbed a death tax by the Tories - saying it would publish its plans soon in a White Paper. | But the government refused to commit to the charge - dubbed a death tax by the Tories - saying it would publish its plans soon in a White Paper. |
| The Tories said it was time for ministers to come up with a plan. They want to see a voluntary scheme instead. | The Tories said it was time for ministers to come up with a plan. They want to see a voluntary scheme instead. |
| Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have said they are open to the idea of a compulsory charge. | Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have said they are open to the idea of a compulsory charge. |
| The meeting, which was boycotted by the Tories, came after a fortnight of rows between the parties over the best way to reform the means-tested service. | The meeting, which was boycotted by the Tories, came after a fortnight of rows between the parties over the best way to reform the means-tested service. |
| We need to keep up the momentum for reform David Rogers, of the Local Government Association Q&A: Social care class="" href="/2/hi/health/8524509.stm">"Death tax": Your reaction | |
| Last year, Labour set out a range of options in a Green Paper on how the system could be overhauled. | Last year, Labour set out a range of options in a Green Paper on how the system could be overhauled. |
| One of the suggestions was a compulsory fee, possibly up to £20,000, which could be taken from an individual's estate after death. | One of the suggestions was a compulsory fee, possibly up to £20,000, which could be taken from an individual's estate after death. |
| The Conservatives vehemently oppose this idea, claiming it would penalise families who want to look after elderly relatives themselves. | The Conservatives vehemently oppose this idea, claiming it would penalise families who want to look after elderly relatives themselves. |
| While there was a consensus in favour of the compulsory levy, ministers still refused to say whether they favoured it. | While there was a consensus in favour of the compulsory levy, ministers still refused to say whether they favoured it. |
| It is understood Health Secretary Andy Burnham is now considering whether it would be feasible to introduce the comprehensive system through a staged process. | It is understood Health Secretary Andy Burnham is now considering whether it would be feasible to introduce the comprehensive system through a staged process. |
| This could involve a voluntary scheme to start with before a compulsory one was introduced once or if it had gained popular support. | This could involve a voluntary scheme to start with before a compulsory one was introduced once or if it had gained popular support. |
| A source involved in the talks said: "This would allow him to sell what is a controversial policy to the cabinet and then the electorate." | A source involved in the talks said: "This would allow him to sell what is a controversial policy to the cabinet and then the electorate." |
| 'Success' | 'Success' |
| In a statement after the talks, Mr Burnham said the day had been a success. | In a statement after the talks, Mr Burnham said the day had been a success. |
| "What people may not realise is that, for all the sound and fury of recent days, there is a good degree more consensus across political parties and the care world than people may realise. | "What people may not realise is that, for all the sound and fury of recent days, there is a good degree more consensus across political parties and the care world than people may realise. |
| "We now need to build on the points of agreement, and the recognition that leaving things as they are is not an option, to bring forward firm proposals for change." | "We now need to build on the points of agreement, and the recognition that leaving things as they are is not an option, to bring forward firm proposals for change." |
| Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "We have been clear about our choices. | Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "We have been clear about our choices. |
| "But what are the Labour Party proposing? They plan a death tax in private but put up a smokescreen in public. The public have a right to a clear choice." | "But what are the Labour Party proposing? They plan a death tax in private but put up a smokescreen in public. The public have a right to a clear choice." |
| The newly-merged Age Concern and Help the Aged charity will now host another meeting in the next few weeks which the Tories have said they will attend. | The newly-merged Age Concern and Help the Aged charity will now host another meeting in the next few weeks which the Tories have said they will attend. |
| David Rogers, of the Local Government Association, said: "We need to keep up the momentum for reform." | David Rogers, of the Local Government Association, said: "We need to keep up the momentum for reform." |