GRANDPARENTS WHO ACT AS PARENTS

Early day motion 601, tabled 14 July 2005 by Lord Field of Birkenhead (Labour). Signed by 56 members.

That this House, while acknowledging and praising the estimated 130,000 grandparents who are looking after children, regrets that they are generally in poorer health and financial circumstances as a result and, in light of the Government's policy commitments to older people and children, calls for a national survey of the extent to which grandparents play the role of parents to their grandchildren; and calls on the Government to consider whether all grandparents in this situation are receiving the services and financial support that they deserve.

Signatures by party: Labour 31, Conservative 10, Liberal Democrat 8, DUP 2, Plaid Cymru 2, Respect 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.