Free personal care hailed a success

8.51.41am GMT Mon 29th Nov 2004

Jo Swinson welcomes the success of the Lib Dem policy to introduce free personal care for the elderly

Jo Swinson has welcomed figures that show the success of the Liberal Democrat policy of introducing free personal care for the elderly in Scotland.

Figures have been released showing the success of the introduction of free personal and nursing care in Scotland. As of June 2004, 48,677 people were receiving free personal care, mostly in their own home.

Jo Swinson said: "I am delighted to see that, since the introduction of this Liberal Democrat policy two years ago, nearly 50,000 pensioners have benefited from free personal and nursing care. The fact that the Labour government at Westminster has refused to introduce free personal care for pensioners in England and Wales demonstrates clearly that this is a Liberal Democrat success story."