§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has on the number of(a) women, (b) men and (c) families engaged in full-time unpaid work caring for physically or mentally handicapped elderly persons in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottThe information is not available in the form requested. In September 1990 there were approximately 130,000 people receiving invalid care allowance, of whore 82 per cent. were women. A recipient of this benefit must provide at least 35 hours care per week to a severely disabled person who receives attendance allowance or constant attendance allowance.
The 1985 general household survey identified 1.4 million people who devoted at least 20 hours each week to caring.