Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to introduce tax relief on care and nursing home fees.

There are a wide range of factors to consider when introducing new tax reliefs as they can add significant complexity to the tax system. Tax reliefs are also difficult to target effectively; for example, they do not benefit individuals with income below the income tax Personal Allowance at all.

The current care system already provides support to those who need it most. People with assets under £23,250 are eligible for state financial support towards their care costs. Additionally, where someone is drawing on care in their own home - or is in a residential home but has a qualifying relative such as a partner or child still living at home - their house is not taken into account at all when working out how much they need to pay. Where that doesn’t apply, people can often take out a deferred payment agreement, so they don’t need to sell their home in their lifetime.

The Government keeps all taxes under review.