Clause 34 - Deferred payment agreements and loans

Part of Care Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee am 4:45 pm ar 16 Ionawr 2014.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Liz Kendall Liz Kendall Shadow Minister (Health) (Care and Older People) 4:45, 16 Ionawr 2014

That is rich—excuse the pun, if it is one—coming from a party that cut the top rate of tax to benefit millionaires at a time when many others were suffering. I will come on to that point in a minute, though.

On qualified financial advice, we will keep returning to the subject, because it is important. I take the Minister’s point: has anyone seen an example of a person who was told about the deferred payment scheme and has anyone ever complained about it later? It is more complicated now, however, because the loan, the cap and the means test together are all complicated. The three are interrelated and that proper financial advice is required. I have no intention of setting up a system that predominantly benefits millionaires. As I think I said, Lord Lipsey said in the other place that if someone had £20,000 of savings in the bank and is living off the interest of those savings, it is not very much a month or a week. He was deeply concerned about that, and we are reflecting that issue today.

There is much more to be debated, and the Opposition will be thinking about this and many other issues and the implications for Report stage. I am aware of the time and of Members’ commitments. Although I am prepared to withdraw the amendment, more thinking must be done—