All-party support for Bill to give carers more help
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.MPs from all sides backed measures yesterday to help carers looking after disabled family members. Under the backbench legislation, the right to local authority funding for independent accommodation, now reserved for disabled people, would be extended to the parents of disabled children.
MPs from all sides backed measures yesterday to help carers looking after disabled family members. Under the backbench legislation, the right to local authority funding for independent accommodation, now reserved for disabled people, would be extended to the parents of disabled children.
Introducing the Carers and Disabled Children Bill, Tom Pendry, the Labour MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, said it would allow social services departments to assess carers' needs and offer vouchers for services including training, taxi fares and mobile phones.
He said: "We might be able to celebrate a stunning victory for carers. This Bill is about freedom, it's about choice and it's about flexibility and enabling carers to be given the support to continue to care."
Robert Syms, the Tory MP for Poole, said there were 5.7 million carers in Britain, 58 per cent of them women. Nine out of ten looked after a relative.
"It's a false economy not actually to do something for carers," he said. "If the straw breaks the camel's back, we're going to have a situation where a lot more people fall on the state with a lot more expense."
Lawrie Quinn, the Labour MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said there was an "invisible" multitude of carers and it was estimated only 18 per cent had access to respite care.
John Hutton, a Health minister, said that he "strongly" welcomed the Bill. He added: "It will give effect to the Government's carers' national strategy commitment by enabling local authority social services departments to sell certain services directly to carers following assessment.
"This Bill is an important step forward for both carers and people with disability." The Bill was given a second reading without a vote.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments