§ 9. Dr. Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes, South-West)What steps he is taking to provide better support for carers. [137644]
§ The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. John Hutton)My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 27 September that the carers special grant will increase from £50 million this year to £100 million in 2003–04, providing extra respite breaks for more carers. The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 will come into force next year, giving local councils further duties and powers to help carers. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has announced a package of measures that will provide an extra £500 million of financial support for carers over three years, from which more than 300,000 carers will benefit financially.
§ Dr. StarkeyI know from the Milton Keynes carers project that the people whom it represents very much appreciate the recognition of carers' needs and the help that has been given so far by the Government. However, may I draw my hon. Friend's attention to the outstanding need for greater funding for respite care so that carers get some relief from their on-going responsibility, are able to recover themselves and guard their own health and sanity, and can continue to care for those people for whom they are responsible?
§ Mr. HuttonI agree strongly with my hon. Friend, and that is precisely the purpose of the carers special grant. The grant will double over the next three years, which will allow thousands more carers to receive the respite care breaks for which my hon. Friend called. As a society, we must continue to do more to support carers because they provide a fundamental service to hundreds of thousands of disabled people in our society.
§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield)Speaking as the patron of the Macclesfield and District Crossroads, may I ask the Minister to take a personal interest in a constituency case of mine in which a 77-year-old man is having to look after his wife, who is suffering from a 168 terminal illness, without any support from the health authority? Is that the care that a carer should receive for the job that he is doing?
§ Mr. HuttonNo, it certainly does not sound as if it is. I would be happy to consider the details of that case and speak to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre)May I draw my hon. Friend's attention to children who take on major caring responsibilities, often for disabled parents? Can he assure me that the Government are paying special attention to their situation and to the concern not only that their needs are met, but that they have a proper chance to have a childhood while they are carers?
§ Mr. HuttonAgain, my hon. Friend is entirely right. When we prepared the national strategy for carers, we were able roughly to estimate that there may be as many as 50,000 young people in England who have heavy caring responsibilities that might well compromise their ability to obtain a good education and enjoy the sort of safe and secure childhood to which my hon. Friend has referred. We have issued guidance to schools about their responsibilities towards young carers. I am sure that the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000, which my hon. Friend helped to introduce, and which did a great service to the House and to carers, will make a positive difference and a contribution to the issues to which he has drawn attention.