Carer’s Allowance: Repayments
Debate between Baroness Blake of Leeds and Baroness Andrews
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Stedman-Scott, for her comments today and for the immense amount of work that she has done in this area over many years. The questions she asks are, of course, right at the heart of why the review is necessary. The fact that measures were brought in by the previous Government, I think in recognition that some carers had fallen through the net, is to be noted. We cannot pre-empt what the review will say, but we also have to be mindful that everything we do is in the spirit of fairness, sustainability and affordability, and that we have a culture which encourages everyone involved to be treated with respect and given the support that they need through what can be extremely difficult times in their lives.
Baroness Andrews (Lab)
My Lords, it is wonderful to see the noble Baroness at the Dispatch Box and to listen to the way in which she is responding to this wide range of questions. I entirely agree that there has to be a review of the carer’s allowance because of the pathetic level and rigidity of the allowance. We can do something in the interim. The failure to actually inform carers that they have fallen behind is in fact a human problem; it is caused by the technology, but it can be addressed. However, I also urge the Government to look immediately at the notion of flexibility, to get rid of the cliff edge. I see no reason why this should not be made a priority, because it will make a huge difference to those women and men who are so stressed that this is the last straw for them. The evidence suggests that many of them are actually walking away from caring, which is the last thing we want; we want to support and celebrate them, not punish them.
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
I thank my noble friend Lady Andrews for her sympathetic and direct comments on this issue. I know that she has been passionately involved in this area for many years. I was delighted to hear that the first meeting of officials and Ministers involves the carers themselves, which is important. We have to listen to the lived experience of people who are going through this whole change. For some people, it is dramatic and sudden—it is not something they anticipated—and we have to make sure that their voices are absolutely at the centre of the review, so that we can make informed decisions about where things have been failing and how we can improve them in the future.