HC Deb 30 March 1973 vol 853 cc422-3W
Mrs. Lena Jeger

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will consider introducing a weekly social insurance benefit equal in amount to the standard rate for unemployment benefit as of right for single persons who have been obliged to give up employment to care for elderly or infirm relatives at home on production of medical evidence of such dependency, and providing for a Class 1 insurance credit to be awarded to such single persons; and what is his estimate of the cost of such concessions, bearing in mind the saving to public funds when the elderly and infirm are cared for at home by their own relatives.

Mr. Woodhouse

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, with a view to legislation, he will estimate the number of single persons who have been obliged to give up employment in order to care for elderly or infirm relatives at home;

(2) if he will introduce legislation to provide a weekly social security benefit, equal in amount to the standard rate of unemployment benefit, for single persons who have been obliged to give up employment to care for elderly or infirm relatives at home, on production of medical evidence of the relative's dependency, to be awarded for as long as he or she is caring for the relative at home;

(3) if he will introduce legislation to provide for a Class 1 insurance credit to be awarded to single persons who have been obliged to give up employment to care for elderly or infirm relatives at home, on production of medical evidence of the relative's dependency, to be awarded for as long as he or she is caring for the relative at home.

Sir K. Joseph

I have no proposals on these points. Under existing arrangements, the attendant may of course qualify for supplementary benefit, and in the case of a single woman this can cover the cost of her (non-employed) contribution for retirement pension purposes. Attendance allowance may be payable to the handicapped person, and extension of the allowance will benefit an increasing number of families. The number of people who have had to give up work to act as attendants is uncertain, and no reliable estimate can be made of the cost of the changes suggested.