Unpaid Carers

Lord Fox Excerpts

Wednesday 8th July 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Leong (Lab)]

I hear what the noble Lord says about national insurance, but let me say this. There is a moral imperative on employers to play their part in supporting unpaid carers. There are fantastic employers up and down this country that are doing fantastic things to support carers. I shall give an example: Centrica estimates savings of £1.5 million last year in reduced absence costs alone, achieved through support measures for unpaid carers, with further savings on retention. So these measures result in improved retention, better productivity and reduced absence from work.

[Lord Fox (LD)]

My Lords, when I was piloting the Carer’s Leave Bill 2023 through your Lordships’ House, Centrica was one of the companies I spoke to. Centrica and other companies were already doing phenomenal work, but we all agreed that the Bill was the first step for unpaid carers. The Act has now been in force for just over two years, and data on take-up is sketchy. At best, the Minister’s department puts take-up at 29% of those eligible, but other data says just 10%. We do not have to wait for a consultation. The barriers have been researched by the Minister’s department. The first barrier is that it is unpaid by nature: that is what we hope to change. But the second is awareness, or lack of awareness, by people who might benefit. The third barrier is fear from employers. Can the Minister tell your Lordships’ House what the Government are doing in order to take away those two important barriers—for people getting what little benefit they have already—before his consultation finishes its work?