WELSH Labour is challenging Tory Shadow Minister for Wales and Clwyd West MP David Jones to clarify his remarks that Parliamentary scrutiny of a Legislative Competence Order on fairer charging for non-domiciliary Social Care was "tedious".
Writing on his blog, David Jones MP states that he would rather have been
"outside enjoying the sun in St James’s Park, rather than indoors debating a particularly tedious draft Order in Council."
The charging for home care and other non-residential social services is currently at the discretion of individual local authorities. This has resulted in significant variations in charging policies for similar services across Wales.
Commenting on the remarks, Welsh Labour's Deputy Minister for Social Services GWENDA THOMAS said:
"I’m deeply concerned that a Conservative front bench spokesperson on Welsh Affairs is saying that the parliamentary scrutiny process of a vitally important piece of legislation is ‘tedious’.
"The aim of this LCO is to devolve the relevant powers to the National Assembly for Wales, which will allow the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government to legislate to achieve a fairer and more consistent approach to charging for all adult recipients of non-residential social services across Wales.
The Audit Commission’s report 'Charging with Care’, published in 2000, highlighted the scale of variation in charging by local authorities at the time.
The Labour-controlled Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s maximum weekly charge is £16.20, while in Tory-controlled Monmouthshire the maximum weekly charge is £150.
Gwenda Thomas added:
"As an Assembly Government, we want to end the postcode lottery that currently exists in Wales.
"Local authority maximum weekly charge rates for home care services range from £16.20 per week to £185 per week.
"David Jones’ remarks are typical of the Conservatives, who opposed devolution in the first place, and are now continuing their anti-devolution stance by undermining and opposing the further devolution of power to the Assembly.
"It’s about time David Cameron's Tories come clean with the people of Wales and admit that they are an anti-devolution party that are stuck in the past.
