News from Westminster Labour

Westminster Tories demand that elderly pay for Icelandic bank losses

Westminster Conservatives are increasing charges for meals on wheels by 10.6 percent and charges for home care for the elderly and vulnerable will increase by 6 percent in order to raise an extra £100,000 to plug the gap caused by the Council’s £17 million loss in now-failed Icelandic Banks. And similar increases are planned for the next two years as the Conservatives look for ways of squeezing more money from Westminster’s hard-pressed elderly residents.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group, said:

“There can be no justification for a 10.6 percent increase in charges for home helps and a 6 percent increase in home care charges. No improvements to these services are being offered. Prices will be going up by massive, inflation-busting amount for the next three years. It is simply a money-grabbing move at the expense of the elderly and vulnerable caused by the Conservatives’ financial incompetence.

“Elderly people are on fixed incomes and they have seen the interest rates on their savings plummet. Many elderly people will simply be unable to pay these increased charges and we are concerned about the impact that this will have on their quality of life.”

Other news from Westminster Labour

• Twelve questions for the next Leader of Westminster Council - 10 February 2012
• Westminster Council joint bottom of London league for Adult Social Care - 6 February 2012
• Westminster Labour calls for an 'outbreak of democracy' over election of new council Leader - 2 February 2012