Foundations laid for dropping ‘dementia tax’

The Queen’s Speech has laid the foundations for the scrapping of the contentious ‘dementia tax’ in England, set out in the Conservative election manifesto.

Under the plans, the value of an individual’s home was to be taken into account for all types of elderly care.

The government programme set out by the Queen, which will last two years, promised reform but failed to go into the details. It said completed plans would be published and consulted on at a later date.

Critics of the tax said it was unfair as it meant that those in need of the most care could face tragic costs.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK, said: “The proposals set out in the Conservative Party manifesto were insufficiently thought through and involved a major shift of financial liability on to older people and their families, and there was a lack of clarity as to what they might receive in return which might make such policies fair and worthwhile from their point of view.”