News

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

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

And the likelihood of government funding the proposal is remote. One source at the Wales Office in Westminster commented: "We do not think this is a spending priority and this decision by 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.

In December 2001 free nursing care was introduced for older people in Wales but assembly members acknowledge that the new proposals are beyond the present powers of the administration in Wales which has no tax raising powers.

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