PERSONAL CARE CHARGES

That this House notes that an estimated half a million older people are not having their care needs met; expresses concern that every year at least 50,000 elderly people are forced to sell their homes in order to fund long-term care; supports Brent Council's decision to listen to people in Brent by not introducing large increases for personal care charges this year; believes the current funding system for personal care for the elderly in England is unfair, ineffective and unsustainable; and calls on the Government to implement urgent radical reform, including an extra £2 billion investment, to help fund a care guarantee which would entitle all older people to a personal care payment, based on need and not ability to pay.