Sir, I will re-enter the debate on GDC fees for the retired. Increasing the fee for those already fully retired, retrospectively, from £40 to £388 at a stroke is nothing but the manipulation of a thousand or so registrants from the register.
Those council members who voted for this should be ashamed. This unconstitutional, retrospective, un-British action against those of us who would eventually depart, yet never be replaced by the fallacy of coupling 'lifelong' learning with the necessary image improving CPD.
To make a point; if a Chancellor of the Exchequer was stupid enough to reduce the state pension by nearly 900% Parliament would throw it out. Also I question the President's letter to us that we are subsidised by all other registrants.
The Council's own 'pie' diagram in their winter gazette shows only 20% of the expenditure is down to 'registration' and at 18% an 'education' expenditure.
The same 'pie' diagram reveals that 55% is partially dealing with fraud by a few. I cannot see how CPD will affect this substantially. The increasing compensation culture may even put it up. I wonder if the GDC consulted a professional actuary? I know, at the age of 79, what my expectancy is. How long will it be before the ARF is doubled?
I do not need assurance, but I would have liked some common sense from the GDC. It might have been easier, if the pejorative 'lifelong' had never been used.
