Carers Strategy

Baroness Knight of Collingtree Excerpts

Thursday 3rd July 2014 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Jolly]

Benefits are clearly critical to carers and, indeed, to the people they care for. The Government are really aware of that. I urge the noble Baroness to tell anyone who has approached her about individual problems to get in touch with their MPs, who have hotlines to all these agencies.

[Baroness Knight of Collingtree (Con)]

My Lords, my noble friend indicated that this matter is under consideration. Would she please think of speeding up what is being considered, because there is a real urgency about this matter? Carers who sacrifice a great deal of their physical well-being on looking after a relative should not have to bear these very large costs that are often applied months and months before there is ever a chance of getting the money.

[Baroness Jolly]

The noble Baroness is right; the report is overdue for publication. I pressed my officials before coming here about when it is likely to be reported and the answer was, “Very, very soon”.