NHS: Primary and Community Services

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton Excerpts

Monday 7th November 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

The thrust of the Carers UK report is that 5.5 million carers take huge responsibility for their loved ones and that the primary responsibility often falls—I think, rightly—on carers and families rather than on the Government.

[Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton (Lab)]

My Lords, would the Minister care to join me in condemning Members of Parliament who have voted nationally to force local authorities to reduce services but have then attacked the local authorities because they wanted the libraries kept open, the bus services run and the care packages maintained—all of those things—while washing their hands of any responsibility?

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

I think the noble Baroness will agree with me that there are very difficult choices to be made when it comes to public spending. Sometimes, there is perhaps not always a high degree of consistency from our colleagues in the House of Commons.