News
+ Andrew Lansley - Shadow Secretary of State for Health
February 23rd, 2010
This response has been received in reply to an email that we sent concerning the issue of funding Social Care in the future.We have asked Mr Lansley for a statement that can be added to this blog, so we can learn of the direction his party will take in respect of family carers.We will inform you of his reply.
Many thanks for your comments on this important subject. Mr Lansley has taken up
Help the Aged’s offer of a neutral event for cross party debate on social care.Please be assured that Mr Lansley is committed to finding workable solutions for
social care, which include understanding the role of carers. As part of this, a
Conservative Government will introduce a Home Protection Scheme, a voluntary
insurance programme to allow people - for a one off £8,000 payment - to make sure
they never have to sell their home to pay for residential care.Kind regards
Connie
Office of Andrew Lansley CBE MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Health
+ Norman Lamb - Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Health
February 23rd, 2010
Before making a response to the announcement yesterday from the LibDebs re : guaranteed breaks for carers,Carer Watch have been corresponding with Norman Lamb. The Shadow Minister has agreed to look over questions we have gathered from CW members and others from the online community.
We will keep you informed of his response.
+ Nick Clegg sets out respite for carers guarantee
February 22nd, 2010
The way a society treats its elderly and vulnerable people is a true mark of its identity. With an ageing population, rising numbers of people suffering from dementia and millions of people in need of care with basics like washing, dressing and feeding themselves - if ever there was an issue for cross-party talks, this was it.Those talks fell apart when the Conservatives chose to launch a poster and in doing so killed off one of the best hopes in recent years of agreeing a long-term settlement.
+ Care and Support Conference: social care takes centre stage
February 20th, 2010
The discussion then moved to funding options, which have proved the most contentious aspect of the debate. The possibility raised by the Green Paper of incorporating Attendance Allowance into the social care system was again firmly opposed by all charities present. Andy Burnham himself raised the issue of a tax-funded system, before anyone else had chance to: the Green Paper had discounted this option as not being feasible, but the Secretary of State acknowledged that it had be raised repeatedly in the consultation, and that the Government would have to address this in the White Paper.
+ CommunityCare - Carer Watch
February 15th, 2010
Many thanks to Jeremy Dunning at Community Care for raising awareness of these important issues.
Carer Watch says openness is essential in care funding debate
A carers’ campaign group has called for this Friday’s conference on the future funding of social care to be televised to ensure full openness.
Carer Watch said that, after “a week of revelations regarding secret meetings between health spokesmen”, the event needed be held in the open and shown using Parliament TV, with full minutes available afterwards.
Read full article here - Community Care
+ Elderly care funding talks fall apart - where do we go from here
February 14th, 2010
After a week of revelations regarding secret meetings between Health spokesmen and many news articles covering this story, Carer Watch were disgusted today that on ‘The Politics Show’ , no agreement seemed to be within reach, of the Parties discussing these important issues further.
It was suggested that a conference be held,wherein Andy Burnham,Andrew Lansley and Norman Lamb, along with representations from various groups/organisations, would have further talks.
Carer Watch believe that any further discussions need be in the open, that any conference should be
televised in such a way that ‘Select committee hearings’ take place, and shown using Parliament TV. If this not possible,full minutes be available afterwards akin to Hansard. These suggestions we sent via email to the 3 Health spokesmen,with copies to Gordon Brown,David Cameron and Nick Clegg.
We are pleased to have received one reply so far from Norman Lamb…..
I totally agree with you. This should be an open process engaging all interested
parties and the public - with politicians willing to discuss these complex issues
without preconditions.Best wishes,
Norman Lamb
Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Health
We will keep you updated if any further replies are received.
+ STOP PRESS - SCHOOL MEALS AND CARERS CAMPAIGN
January 24th, 2010
Carers have children too & caring impacts on carers’ earnings.
Are you a carer on Working Tax Credit? Do you have school-age children in secondary school? Do you struggle to pay for school meals since you lost your child’s entitlement to Free School Meals when you went on Tax Credits? How does this affect your family budget?
West Norfolk Women and Carers’ Pensions Network launches our Free School Meals for Secondary School Children on WTC Campaign today. Show us your support and we will tell members of the House of Lords who are set to debate the issue this week in Grand Committee MONDAY 25 JANUARY & WEDNESDAY 27 JANUARY 2010
This Week’s Government Amendment 80 to the Child Poverty Bill is set to introduce free school meals for primary school children if parents are on Working Tax Credits - that is, on an income of £16,000 a year of less. This is set to take 50,000 children out of poverty.
But the same benefit won’t extend to children in secondary schools whose parents are on tax credits.
We believe it should!.
It could take another 50,000 children out of poverty. It doesn’t make sense to yo-yo children out of poverty at primary school and back in again at secondary school, when growing appetites and nutritional requirements put more pressure on family finances. With the extra unmet costs of transport and childcare, the cost of school meals can tip the balance against Making Work Pay and prove a real disincentive to returning to paid employment.
There are real health benefits to making school meals available for as many children as possible and recent studies of packed lunches show they don’t meet Govt’s nutritional guidelines for school meals.
What do you think? Tell us! And we will tell Parliament
Contact … Alexandra Kemp , West Norfolk Women and Carers’ Pensions Network, King’s Lynn, Norfolk
+ Carers and Inspiration by Joseph Healey
January 1st, 2010
Joseph Healy has been elected by Lambeth Green Party to stand as the Parliamentary Candidate for the Vauxhall Constituency at the next general election.
Carers and inspiration ……
+ Building Britain’s Recovery: Achieving Full Employment
December 16th, 2009
“Building Britain’s Recovery: Achieving Full Employment”, published on 15 December 2009, restates the Government’s response to the recession and signals the start of the programme to return to full employment.
Read here Carer Watch response will be posted here soon.
+ Extra employment help for carers from today - DWP press release
December 7th, 2009
Whilst Carer Watch can appreciate the benefits that this scheme will bring forth for some carers, we have grave concerns about the future of Carers Allowance and we will be pressing the govt for an up to date statement,especially after their response to our petition Jan 2009
Thousands of carers are set to benefit from improved employment support from today, giving them the chance to combine paid work with caring and help reduce financial hardship.
Jobcentre Plus customers with caring responsibilities will also be able to access replacement care funding while they are taking part in employment training.
Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions said: