INVALID CARE ALLOWANCE AND THE STATE PENSION

Early day motion 405, tabled 17 December 2002 by Simon Thomas (Plaid Cymru). Signed by 50 members.

That this House welcomes the extension of the entitlement to Invalid Care Allowance to carers over 65; notes with concern, however, that the vast majority of carers over 65 cannot receive ICA because it is classed as an overlapping benefit with their state pensions; believes strongly that the state pension is not a benefit but an entitlement earned through national insurance contributions; asserts that the state pension is not a payment for caring; recognises that the job of caring does not end at 65 years; values the contribution of those over 65 years who continue to care and to save society a considerable amount of money; notes with great interest the Government's green paper on a more flexible age of retirement; and calls on the Government to reconsider the anomaly of ICA and the state pension.

Signatures by party: Labour 29, Liberal Democrat 14, Labour/Co-operative 2, Plaid Cymru 2, UUP 2, Conservative 1.