Live webchat with David Cameron - this Thursday 19th, 1.45 pm

[JustineMumsnet]

Hello all - David Cameron is coming on to Mumsnet to answer your questions this Thursday at 1.45-2.45. Please post advance questions here if you can't make it on Thursday. (And please read our Webchat guidelines above before posting ie only one question each). Many thanks.

Caroline Lucas was great too, and a fast typist.

i heard one of Camerons ministers announcing the £8k thing for care homes on the radio a few weeks ago.

I could immediately see any number of problems. It is very badly thought out.

Foe example it is £8k per person and it has to be paid aged 65. So for a couple both retiring it is actually £16k they have to find.

It is an INSURANCE scheme too and his minister said it would stack up financially because only 1 in 10 (or some such figure) would only have a need to claim - that is the figure that currently needs care homes.

Well straight away, that is a problem as we all know , if you have an insurance policy for a care home, you are going to claim aren't you? Why wouldn't you?

Anyone with this insurance WILL NOT be able to access social services homes as SS, quite rightly, will say "claim on your insurance".

So it will quickly become 8 out of 10 claiming which will mean the whole scheme is completeley underfunded and MEANS testing will be introduced pretty sharpish so only those MOST in need (as defined by the insurance companies) can then claim.

Plus, over time, as the scheme becomes underfunded, the private care home providers will not make profit as readily and so the care homes providing this scheme will start cutting the care provided, food, buildings, staff etc will be really ropey after a short period of time.

Not to mention what then happens to those who can't afford £16k on retirement.

When questioned as to where people could get hold of 16K, the minister suggested retirees could use their lump sum from their pension provider to pay the £16k, which sounds fine in theory but is assuming they are all on nice pensions and getting nice lump sums aged 65.

You would have to pay it pretty quickly too as the point is that at 65 you are 20 years away from needing to claim and hopefully never would, from the insurance companies point of view. They don't want 70 year old joining the scheme as they are more likely to claim sooner.

I thought it was a pretty rubbish sounding scheme and I actually got the impression the minister did too as he was half hearted in his answers.

.

Ooh - we're allowed more!

You are spoiling us, YetMoreTech.

I have to say, I'm quite cheered by the negative press coverage of today's chat. I was thoroughly prepared for the media to be praising DC to the skies and comparing him positively to GB. Whereas this way, it looks as if GB has come out on top.

Arf at Sarah Vine

From WilfTowers, Wine&MN O'Clock

I liked that the Guardian claimed there were labour party activists on here asking questions.

Do you think that's code for "gosh they're asking him quite, er, hard questions you know!"

arf indeed [hic]

Oh fantastic "MrsNeilTweedie" is now quoted in The Times (Valentine Low article)!

What - we can only drink between 9 and 10pm?

so folk are surmising the publicity is good for mn then? all the name checks and mentions.

it raises profile,might encourage new posters to join

Dearie me, do you think the real MrsNeilTweedie will get huffy?

neil tweedie architect?

no sm, a journalist on the Telegraph who did a piece today saying that MN was a bunch bored city wives, and he knows because he wife says so.

I paraphrase, but you get the gist.

There are a couple of threads about it, with a link.

I mean his wife says so.

thanks! herd of architect not the hackneyed hack