Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to amend rules on the deliberate deprivation of capital used in the means test for social care funding as a consequence of the planned changes to pensions from 2015.

This measure fundamentally changes the way that people can access their retirement savings, and so depending on the decisions they make, people may increase or decrease their chances of being eligible for means tested services at some point in their retirement. We will ensure that the relevant guidance, including where necessary the guidance on deliberate deprivation of capital, is updated before the new flexibilities are implemented in April 2015.