Carers get less than a fiver each.

12.38.30pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 21st Feb 2007

Liberal Democrat Leader Jeanette Sunderland has attacked government plans to give £25 million to local authorities for fund emergency respite care for people who need a break from their caring role saying that the announcement amounts to less than a fiver for each carer and does not address the very real issues facing carers.

She said,

"There are over 6 million unpaid carers in the UK who work long and hard saving the country millions. This handout from the government amounts to less that a fiver a year for each carer. Many carers look after others as a full time jobs with little or no support from anyone. Failure to invest in support for families is driving millions into poverty. Government reform of social care is now urgent. Their failure to invest in and reform social care is leaving many people without the assistance and support they need. Having an emergency respite service at times of family crisis is no substitute for proper social care

" In Bradford the Conservative group is trying to cut help to people who have been assessed as having moderate needs. If these cuts go ahead more and more of the responsibilities for caring will shift onto families and friends. We will be asking other groups on the council to make sure that people who need help can get it

"Research by Carers UK has shown that nearly half of those caring for more than 50 hours a week have been treated for a stress-related disorder since they started caring.

"Providing care and support to family and friends who need help because of illness or disability, still often goes unseen and unrecognised. It is estimated that within the next 25 years the numbers of people providing care will increase by 50 per cent to 9 million.

"What we are seeing is a number of policy collisions that makes life for carers very difficult. Poor investment in social care when there is real pressure for people to remain in work - and work for more years - and equally strong pressures to provide support to a loved one.

"The choice couldn't be more difficult. We need to reverse the trend of poor investment in social care and the very low levels of state benefits available to carers. The Local Government Association has already warned that care would have to be withdrawn from 400,000 people unless funding was increased."