From Roy Travert.
I AM greatly concerned to read the latest ideas from the Labour Party on how best to provide care for the elderly in the UK.

These ideas are unfortunately also being looked at by our own Jersey government. The idea to levy a 10% tax on the estate of someone on death is wholly unacceptable as is inheritance tax in my opinion.

This idea is wholly and totally unacceptable to someone who has saved all their lives, paid taxes (double taxed on social security) worked hard to leave something for their families only to see someone else who has lived the high life, spent every penny they earned and taken everything out of the system not having to pay for their elderly care.

So here’s the scenario. You have saved for a deposit and paid your mortgage for 25 years – all this from an income that is now heavily taxed, with further increases on the way. You didn’t go out and spend all your money but did the right thing and saved for a rainy day.

You then die. Your money and estate is then taken away to pay for the people who couldn’t be bothered to save, who didn’t save to buy a house, and who have taken from the same system that you have paid into all your life. The fact that people have to sell their property now to pay for elderly care is scandalous and something I wholly oppose.

There is no doubt in my mind that to continue to implement this type of social policy will create two types of society, one who will work hard, contribute to the social money pot, and one which is work shy and will take every penny they think they are entitled to while giving nothing back to society which has provided the care they presently enjoy.

There are two alternatives to solve this problem.  Set up a voluntary insurance scheme, combined with the introduction of a Jersey Development Company.

Its primary aim will be to develop property that will enable first-time buyers the chance to own a home. This will enable people on a lower income to afford home ownership at an affordable price.

Revenue generated from this (interest payments) can be used in two ways. It can be reinvested into more housing stock or used to supplement a new and diverse elderly care programme.

I believe Jersey can provide long-term care with this new stream of income. It is an innovative concept and one that could provide the housing and elderly care that Jersey desperately needs without resorting to the present policy of selling your home that you worked hard for during your entire life, only to see it robbed from you on your death bed.

Where is the fairness and justice in this present policy?