Carers Trust disappointed over Government's refusal to support a Private Members’ Bill

Carers Trust express disappointment that the Government has refused to support a Private Members’ Bill designed to improve identification of carers and improve access to services to support carers and disabled people.

Carers Trust supported the Bill along with 28 other national organisations but were disappointed that the Government refused to support this important legislation. The Bill proposed the following key changes:

• Local authorities to provide sufficient supply of social care services, including social care services for disabled people and carers who wish to work or go into education
• NHS bodies would have to identify carers
• Schools to identify and support young carers
• Further and higher education establishments to identify and support young carers

During the debate, Care Services Minister Norman Lamb MP said that he agreed with many of the principles of the Bill, but that the Government had reservations about putting duties on councils to ensure sufficient supply of care services or duties on education and health bodies on carer identification. However, the Minister said that the Government would look at how the principles of Bill would be included the Government’s own legislation.

Director of Policy and Research, Moira Fraser said:

“Although the Bill is not likely to make any further progress in Parliament, the debate was a vital opportunity to highlight what needs to be done and what difference local carers organisations can make. Carers Trust welcomes the Minister’s commitment to look at the important issue of improving identification of carers and we will ensure that this is taken forward. We would like to thank Barbara Keeley MP and the eleven co-sponsors for all their work to ensure that carers access services and the support that they need.”

For more information, please contact Emma Smale in the Policy team.