That this House supports the Daily Mirror in its Caring for Carers campaign; recognises the hugely important role that Britain's six million carers play in providing care for the elderly or ill friends and relatives; notes that many carers are unable to find full-time work because of their responsibilities to those for whom they care; and regrets that, despite saving the NHS approximately ??87 billion pounds a year, many carers struggle financially due to low incomes and often cannot afford basic costs of living.

That this House supports the Daily Mirror in its Caring for Carers campaign; recognises the hugely important role that Britain's six million carers play in providing care for the elderly or ill friends and relatives; notes that many carers are unable to find full-time work because of their responsibilities to...

That this House welcomes the recognition the Government now gives to the role of grandparents who have to act as parents to their grandchildren; notes that many such grandparents receive no additional financial help other than the basic social security allowances available to children; further notes that the Department for Work and Pensions professes to hold no information on the numbers of grandparents claiming income support allowances for their grandchildren; and calls on the Government to set up an inquiry to determine the numbers of such grandparents throughout the country and to recommend what financial support should be available to all grandparents acting as parents to their grandchildren with an objective of reporting within six months of establishment.

That this House welcomes the recognition the Government now gives to the role of grandparents who have to act as parents to their grandchildren; notes that many such grandparents receive no additional financial help other than the basic social security allowances available to children; further notes that the Department for...

That this House notes that in the National Strategy for Carers the Government pledged that by 2018 carers will be supported so that they are not forced into financial hardship by their caring role; believes that carers cannot wait because too many are living in poverty and financial hardship now, struggling to afford the basic costs of living, unable to study or work without their benefits being cut off, or facing the removal of their allowance when they start to claim their pension; further notes that the UK's six million carers save the country an estimated ??87 billion per year, and that in return, the main carer's benefit is the lowest of its kind, paid at only ??53.10 a week for a minimum of 35 hours caring, equivalent to ??1.52 per hour, far short of the national minimum wage of ??5.73 per hour; supports the Carer's Poverty Charter signed by the Alzheimer's Society, Carers UK, Citizens Advice, Contact a Family, Counsel and Care, Crossroads Caring for Carers, Every Disabled Child Matters, for dementia, Mencap, Macmillan Cancer, Motor Neurone Disease Society, National Autistic Society, Oxfam, Parkinson's Disease Society, Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Rethink, Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers and Vitalise; and calls on the Government to set out an urgent timetable of action to improve carers' benefits and income that protects carers from falling into poverty or financial hardship, reflects carers' different circumstances, helps carers to combine caring with paid work and study and is easy to understand and straightforward to claim.

That this House notes that in the National Strategy for Carers the Government pledged that by 2018 carers will be supported so that they are not forced into financial hardship by their caring role; believes that carers cannot wait because too many are living in poverty and financial hardship now,...

That this House calls on the Government to simplify guidance and systems of support for carers; is concerned by the findings of the Public Accounts Committee that one fifth of carers who receive benefits have experienced difficulties claiming; notes that approximately 900,000 people in the UK care for a relative or loved one; acknowledges that the value of the service that unpaid carers provide is not reflected in the quality of support available for them; and urges the Government urgently to review the loopholes identified by the Committee in order adequately to support the vital work of carers.

That this House calls on the Government to simplify guidance and systems of support for carers; is concerned by the findings of the Public Accounts Committee that one fifth of carers who receive benefits have experienced difficulties claiming; notes that approximately 900,000 people in the UK care for a relative...

That this House notes the dedication of the many thousands of carers in the UK, valued commercially at an estimated ??5 billion a year to the health industry; recognises that the Carer's Allowance, which is the main benefit given to carers, is just ??50 a week; expresses concern that some carers, including those aged over 65 years or suffering from illness, are excluded from receiving any carer's benefit altogether; is alarmed by the fact that one in five carers was forced to give up their work because of a loss of essential income; and urges the Government to review the benefits received by carers to ensure that they are given a fair deal.

That this House notes the dedication of the many thousands of carers in the UK, valued commercially at an estimated ??5 billion a year to the health industry; recognises that the Carer's Allowance, which is the main benefit given to carers, is just ??50 a week; expresses concern that some...

That this House recognises the vital contribution of grandparents who provide childcare to two thirds of working families; further recognises that grandparents are fundamental to the success of the Government's welfare reform strategy as lone parents are particularly reliant upon grandparental childcare; acknowledges that over 9 out of 10 grandparents who provide childcare do so for no payment or financial reward; notes that this may be at some cost to themselves, particularly where grandparents who could be in paid work are unable to be and so do not make national insurance contributions towards their own state pension; welcomes the fact that from 2010 parents and carers who provide care for at least 20 hours per week will receive a weekly credit towards their state pension entitlements; further notes that it is overwhelmingly women who are the carers and the grandparents in these situations; and urges government to include the care that grandparents provide in the definition of caring set out by regulation in accordance with Section 3(3)c of the Pensions Act 2007.

That this House recognises the vital contribution of grandparents who provide childcare to two thirds of working families; further recognises that grandparents are fundamental to the success of the Government's welfare reform strategy as lone parents are particularly reliant upon grandparental childcare; acknowledges that over 9 out of 10 grandparents...

That this House welcomes the Carers UK lobby of parliament on 4 December 2008 and National Carers Rights Day on 5 December 2008; recognises the commitment and sacrifices of six million unpaid carers; draws attention to the new report Carers in Crisis which shows that carers are struggling financially in the present economic climate with 65 per cent. living in fuel poverty, 52 per cent. cutting back on food and 54 per cent. in debt; notes that Carer's Allowance is still only ??50.55 per week and that the Work and Pensions Select Committee has called for an urgent overhaul of carers' benefits; and calls on the Government to publish a plan and timetable for ensuring that its 2018 vision that no carer falls into financial hardship because of their caring role, as promised in the National Carers Strategy, becomes a reality.

That this House welcomes the Carers UK lobby of parliament on 4 December 2008 and National Carers Rights Day on 5 December 2008; recognises the commitment and sacrifices of six million unpaid carers; draws attention to the new report Carers in Crisis which shows that carers are struggling financially in...

That this House welcomes the recognition the Government now gives to the role of grandparents who have to act as parents to their grandchildren; notes that many such grandparents receive no additional financial help other than the basic social security allowances available to children; further notes that the Department for Work and Pensions professes to hold no information on the numbers of grandparents claiming income support allowances for their grandchildren; and calls upon the Government to set up an inquiry to determine the numbers of such grandparents throughout the country and to recommend what financial support should be available to all grandparents acting as parents to their grandchildren with an objective of reporting within six months of establishment.

That this House welcomes the recognition the Government now gives to the role of grandparents who have to act as parents to their grandchildren; notes that many such grandparents receive no additional financial help other than the basic social security allowances available to children; further notes that the Department for...

That this House celebrates the valuable role performed by six million carers in the UK, in the majority of cases without any financial recognition from the state; recognises that many carers need to work to make ends meet and, therefore, work for a living in addition to providing more than 35 hours per week of care; further recognises that paid work helps carers overcome feelings of isolation that can sometimes be caused by their caring role; congratulates the Government on increasing the earnings threshold on carer's allowance to prevent increases in the national minimum wage from disqualifying working carers to this valuable benefit; welcomes the Government's full and fundamental review of the National Carers Strategy and calls for sufficient resources to be allocated to deliver significant gains for carers; further congratulates the Government on establishing the new Standing Commission on Carers; urges the Government to enable carers to combine flexible and fulfilling employment with their caring role, and to give employers the flexibility that they need from their staff, by extending carer's allowance to low paid working carers earning more than the current threshold of ??95 per week; and expresses support for Carers Day on Wednesday 11th June, organised by the Union of Shop Distributive and Allied Workers.

That this House celebrates the valuable role performed by six million carers in the UK, in the majority of cases without any financial recognition from the state; recognises that many carers need to work to make ends meet and, therefore, work for a living in addition to providing more than...

That this House notes the cross-party welcome given to members of the Young Carers' Forum at the All-Party Parliament Carers' Group; congratulates the Forum on its work on behalf of young carers, in particular its involvement in the consultation events for the New Deal for Carers; and, as part of this year's Carers' Rights Day, endorses their call for care services for the whole family, the training of professionals who deal with young carers and ensuring that young carers have a chance of a normal childhood.

That this House notes the cross-party welcome given to members of the Young Carers' Forum at the All-Party Parliament Carers' Group; congratulates the Forum on its work on behalf of young carers, in particular its involvement in the consultation events for the New Deal for Carers; and, as part of...

That this House welcomes Carers' Rights Day on 7th December, recognises the contribution of millions of carers to the support of vulnerable, disabled and frail people throughout the United Kingdom; acknowledges the support provided by the Government through the carer's allowance and the recent increases in the allowance to ??46.80 and the earnings limit to ??95; and calls on the Government to mark Carers' Rights Day by making further improvements in the allowance system by applying a taper to reductions in the allowance when the earnings limit is reached and by including pensioners and those on incapacity benefit in the carer's allowance system.

That this House welcomes Carers' Rights Day on 7th December, recognises the contribution of millions of carers to the support of vulnerable, disabled and frail people throughout the United Kingdom; acknowledges the support provided by the Government through the carer's allowance and the recent increases in the allowance to ??46.80...