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The Welsh assembly has voted unanimously in favour of the principle of free personal care for older people, writes Alex Dobson.

There was all-party support for the move which if implemented would cost Wales an estimated £67 million a year, but the assembly does not have the power to put the measure into practice.

The likelihood of government funding for the proposal is remote. A source at the Wales office in Westminster said: "We do not think this is a spending priority, and this decision in the assembly will have no impact on government policy".

The official line from a spokesperson was that the decision had been taken by the assembly, and Welsh secretary Paul Murphy had nothing to say on the matter.

The vote follows a report that was commissioned by the assembly- ‘When I’m 64’- which advocated following policies similar to those adopted in Scotland, where older people are set to benefit from free personal care.

The report makes more than 100 recommendations for improving services for older people that include the appointment of a commissioner to look after their interests.

Health and social services minister Jane Hutt will now write to Murphy asking for support to persuade the government to fund the policy.