§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the advantages of enabling pensioners who go into permanent care to hand over their homes to their children free from charges from local authorities relating to their parents' care; and if he will make a statement. [32753]
§ Mr. BowisWe recognise that elderly people want independence, choice and dignity. They do not want to be a burden on their families or the state, and many want to help their children by passing on some of their savings or other assets. The proposals in the Government's consultation paper "A New Partnership for Care in Old Age" are intended to help people make better provision for their own long-term care, so that they can both meet their own care costs and bequeath assets to their children.