THERE has been much in the press recently about pensions, but there is another very disturbing personal care issue for older people.

If you fall ill with cancer you are, quite properly, looked after by the State.

If, however, in your advancing years, you are unfortunate enough to fall ill with Alzheimer's Disease, then you will find your savings being eaten away and even your house being sold off to pay for the costs of your care.

It is a totally anomalous situation and one which the Liberal Democrats are leading the campaign to reverse.

Over the coming weeks we will be campaigning for the implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on long-term care.

This was set up by the Labour Government in 1997 and recommended that personal care, that is help with everyday tasks like bathing, washing and feeding be made free of charge.

Sadly despite setting up the Royal Commission and despite Tony Blair's statements when in opposition that he did not want to live in a country where the elderly had to sell their homes to pay for care Labour has chosen to ignore its recommendations.

This change would make a huge difference to the lives and security of many elderly people.

It is not impossible to implement. Where the Liberal Democrats are in coalition government in Scotland we have forced Labour to agree to make personal care for elderly Scottish people free of charge.

Now it is time that people in England were treated in the same way.

JACK AINSLIE

President

Devizes Constituency Liberal

Democrats

Mildenhall

Marlborough