Minister does not rule out means tests for services to the elderly - review under way

The Social Policy Minister did not rule out the introduction of means tests for services to the elderly when replying to a parliamentary question yesterday. Nationalist MP Mario Galea asked the minister  to confirm whether there were plans for services such as Home Help, Meals on Wheels and Telecare to be provided after means testing, as the parliamentary secretary for the elderly had reportedly said. The minister, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, said the government was revising all such services. It wanted to ensure that their provision in the long term was sustainable. "The government's aim is to ensure that there is a fair society, and we want to ensure  that such services can help the weakest members of society," the minister said.