Local Politics in Hammersmith & Fulham
Conservative and Labour responses to HAFCAC's questions in the run-up to the Council elections, May 2010
HAFCAC wrote to local political parties about some of the key issues facing disabled and older people.
See the responses below. We also suggest you look at different parties' national policies.
HAFCAC has campaigned against any political party that has failed to address and deliver on key issues that affect the quality of life and human rights of disabled and older people.
We would urge you if you were thinking of not voting to think about the responses of local politicians and change your mind and vote.
Q What is your party’s policy on charging disabled people and older people for essential community care services?
A (Labour) We have been able to identify savings that will allow us to abolish home care charges. If we win the Council elections on May 6th we will abolish them. Home care charges are a tax on old age, disability and sickness and therefore wrong. This is a definite commitment that has been written into our manifesto.
A (Conservative) We plan no changes in our policy for the second term. The previous Labour Administration first introduced home care charges and pledged to abolish in the run up to the council election in 2006. Home care charges were initially held at £10.50 and increased to £10.70 in 2010/11 (maximum charge could have been set at £12.57 which is cost to the council well below average charge for London (£13.50).
Only 1 council in London and 4 in the country do not charge for home care. Out of 78000 households around 1750 to 1800 people receive home care and only 340 people have been invoiced for home care who can afford to make this modest contribution to the cost of their care (they must have income 25% above income support levels).
Q What is your party’s position on the current eligibility criteria Fair access to care services (FACS)?
A (Labour) We believe the measures carried out locally by the Conservative Council restricting access to services in 2007 were a cynical ploy that was used to deny people the care services they need. We would order an immediate review. This review will have the aspiration to widen availability of services.
A (Conservative) No response.
Q Would you be willing to return Hammersmith & Fulham access to pre 2007 levels providing support to anyone who falls under the whole moderate banding?
A (Labour) We want to reinstate services back to the eligibility criteria levels they were under Labour in 2006. However, this is an aspiration and not yet a commitment as we will need to undertake a detailed review of the Council’s financial projections should we win control of the Council on May 6th. We would work with HAFCAC and other groups to carry the review out and look at how this aspiration can be achieved.
A (Conservative) No response.
Q What is your party’s position on raising charges for services that older and disabled people use, for example home care, meals on wheels?
A (Labour) We will abolish home care charges and cut meals on wheels charges to 2006 levels plus inflation. This would save the users of the meals on wheels service almost £600 per year. We believe the local Tories stealth taxes directed at the elderly, sick and disabled are wrong.
A (Conservative) See above.
Q What is your party’s position on using debt recovery agencies as the Council currently does to obtain unpaid home care charges from local disabled and older people?
A (Labour) It’s a disgrace that debt collectors are threatening elderly, sick and disabled people. The Council should hang its head in shame. We would end this.
A (Conservative) No response.
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