PEOPLE in Oxford have questioned whether proposals to limit costs of care for the elderly go far enough.

Yesterday Oxford University pro vice Chancellor Andrew Dilnot recommended a cap on the amount individuals and their families pay for personal care in old age.

His commission proposed a cap of between £25,000 and £50,000, with Mr Dilnot suggesting £35,000 as the fairest number.

But pensioner spokesman Bill Jupp, 79, of Arlington Drive, Marston, thought the proposals did not go far enough and that no one should have to pay for care.

He said: “I think it’s disgraceful. When you consider we built this country up from 1945 and care was supposed to be free at the point of need. Now it seems we’ve got to pay twice.

“Things like the NHS had to be fought for and now they can’t wait to privatise it all.”

Doug Foreshew, 52, from Witney, has a 91-year-old mother and believes thought the cap was too high. He said: “I find it incredible really. How are people going to pay that?”

Another change recommended by the commission was raising the level at which people pay for their care.

Currently those with assets over £23,250 pay for all their care. The Dilnot Commission proposes raising this to £100,000.

Economist Mr Dilnot expects the proposals to cost £1.7bn a year at current prices out of a public spending bill of £700bn.

He added his changes would make it possible for insurers to offer cover for care bills.

Mr Dilnot, also principal of St Hugh’s College, said: “This problem will only get worse if left as it is, with the most vulnerable in our society being the ones to suffer.

“Putting a limit on the maximum lifetime costs people may face will allow them to plan ahead for how they wish to meet these costs.

“By protecting a larger amount of people’s assets, they need no longer fear losing everything.”

Paul Cann, chief executive of Age UK Oxfordshire, said: “Age UK Oxfordshire welcomes the Dilnot report on how to pay for our care needs.

“Out of two million older people with care needs, roughly 800,000 are not getting any support.

“People cannot rely on getting decent care where and when they need it. This must change.”