§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to introduce a carers charter to ensure the mutual financial independence of carers and disabled people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottWe have no such plans. However, by the end of the year the Benefits Agency plans to publish its own customer charter which will take account of the needs of all its customers. An independent income for carers is provided in the form of invalid care allowance—ICA. More carers are now able to benefit following recent extensions in the provision of attendance allowance, the introduction of a carer premium into the income-related benefits and increases in the ICA earnings limit, from £12 per week prior to April 1990, to £40 from April 1992.