HC Deb 04 February 2004 vol 417 c932W
Sandra Gidley

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of carers aged 65 years and over. [152757]

Ruth Kelly

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Sandra Gidley, dated 4 February 2004: As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the number of carers aged 65 years and over. (152757) Figures from the Census 2001 National Report for England and Wales indicate that there were 944,650 people aged 65 and over providing unpaid care. The table below shows the distribution of these carers according to the number of hours of care provided per week.

Number of people aged 65 and over providing unpaid care, 2001: England and Wales
Care provided per week Number
1 to 19 hours 501,318
20 to 49 hours 102,182
50 or more hours 341,150
Total number of carers 944,650

Source:

Table SO25 Census 2001 National Report for England and Wales