The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
2.17 Deputy K.C. Lewis of the Minister for Social Security regarding introduction of insurance for long-term residential care:
Would the Minister inform Members what progress, if any, has been made regarding the introduction of insurance for long-term residential care?
Senator P.F. Routier:
The States' Strategic Plans and Business Plans approved by the States require that a review of the benefits provided by the Social Security Insurance System be carried out. This review will be commenced when the implementation of the Income Support System is complete. This policy initiative will build upon previous consultations and will include further research and public consultation to seek the views on a range of various options including a long term funding scheme to provide people with the means to pay for long term care in old age.
- Deputy K.C. Lewis :
Supplementary, Sir? I thank the Minister for his reply, Sir, but as the Minister is aware I, and many of my colleagues, have considerable correspondence from people in their senior years who have worked hard all their lives to buy their own homes, are absolutely terrified that if one of the partners is taken ill and has to go into long term residential care the homes have to be sold to pay for this. Will the Minister undertake to treat this as a priority?
Senator P.F. Routier:
It is my next priority, there is no doubt about it. There is certainly a big piece of work to be carried out and I recognise it is something we must be getting on with as soon as we possibly can. As soon as income support is implemented that is my next priority.
- Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:
I wonder if the Minister could tell us when he expects the report to be completed?
Senator P.F. Routier:
I should imagine it will not be a quick job because it will be something that will require a lot of consultation with the public. We will have to have government actuary reviews on the social security system, existing system, and to see what can be achieved with that. Obviously, the consultation has to be wide-ranging. I mean, it really does. I mean, it is not something we can -- the policy principle, I think, I understand that there is a desire and there is experience held in Guernsey which will obviously help us on our way. But certainly to introduce any change to a social security system is not something that happens overnight and it is something we have to have the buy-in of the public to ensure that they are prepared and willing for this to happen.
- Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:
Given the apparently complex bureaucratic situation or possible situation which the Minister has outlined, would he be prepared to put his shoulder, if this thing started sinking into the bog of bureaucracy, behind a private scheme which had the general approval of his department and enable the scheme to get off the ground a lot more quickly than the one he seems to be involved in?
Senator P.F. Routier:
I have no fundamental problem with private schemes. It is a matter of the detail of that. I think it
would need to be considered in the round with other proposals.