WORKING CARERS

Early day motion 246, tabled 16 June 2010 by Rosie Cooper (Labour). Signed by 128 members.

That this House celebrates the valuable role performed by over six million carers in the UK, in the majority of cases without any financial recognition from the public purse, saving the country an estimated £87 billion per year; congratulates Carers UK for the valuable work it does in supporting carers and highlighting their needs during Carers Week; further congratulates the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers for its continued campaigning for a better deal for working carers; recognises that many carers need to work to make ends meet because Carer's Allowance only pays £53.90 a week for a minimum of 35 hours caring; urges the Government to match the commitment of the 2008 National Carers Strategy to ensure that carers are not forced into financial hardship by their caring role and to support the recommendation of the Work and Pensions Select Committee 2008 report that `DWP should support adults who become carers during their working lives to combine work and care'; and therefore calls on the Government to remove the disincentive to work represented by the cliff-edge earnings threshold of £97 per week that prevents many carers from working at all and stops those in work from fulfilling their full working potential.

Signatures by party: Labour 94, Liberal Democrat 17, DUP 6, Conservative 4, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Green 1, Independent 1.