Government has failed carers, says Gidley

Lib Dem Health Spokesperson Sandra Gidley supports motion for greater support for carers at start of carers' week. Speaking during an opposition day debate on carers, Sandra Gidley MP voiced Lib Dem support for a motion which proposes new legislation and measures to help out carers in the UK. Ms Gidley suggested at the start of the debate that society has not done enough to recognize carers' efforts.

Ms Gidley reasoned that carers often were financially worse off because they were forced to give up work in order to fulfill their caring responsibilities. The Lib Dem MP called on the government to review the National Strategy for Carers and to reduce the bureaucracy of social care provisions.

The Lib Dem Health Spokesperson called for the government to review carers' benefit system and also the provisions for retired carers. She said: "According to estimates, carers actually save the economy £57 billion each year, but carer's allowance is still very low at £48.65 a week. Rates of unclaimed benefit also remain high. Although in theory, part of the problem is being tackled, in practice, carers are not getting the little to which they are entitled. I agree that there must be a wholesale review of the carers benefit system, including the provision that is available to retired carers. That is another anomaly that must be reviewed, and I am sure that during the review, it will be brought to the Minister's attention time and again."

Highlighting the fate of young carers Ms Gidley said: "The anomaly for young carers is that they cannot claim benefits if they take part in education for 21 hours a week or more. By young carers, I mean young adults who may wish to take part in some education. The anomaly is a disincentive to young carers, because they do not have the resources to carry on furthering their education or training, and if they do not take the opportunity when most of their peers do so, they could be locked into a lifetime of social exclusion."

The motion was defeated by the government, by 291 to 198 votes. The government amendment to the motion was passed without a vote.