HC Deb 18 December 1997 vol 303 cc319-20W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the number of people who act as carers for others; and what is her estimate of the numbers in each of the next three years. [20673]

Mr. Denham

The 1990 General Household Survey indicates that around 6.8 million people in Great Britain provide some care informally for elderly or disabled relatives or friends. No assessment has been made of future numbers.