Call for carers to get more assistance from Government

BRITAIN'S six million unpaid carers deserve a better deal from the Government, MPs said today.

The Commons work and pensions select committee said people who care for relatives and friends saved the taxpayer an estimated £87 billion every year.

Their support was of "critical importance" to the Government and they should receive more assistance, the committee said.

In its latest report, Valuing and Supporting Carers, the committee said the benefits system for carers was outdated and called on the Government to provide extra financial help to support them.

The report recommends income replacement for those who have to work part-time or are unable to work because of their commitments, and compensation for the extra costs incurred from "intensive" caring roles.

The MPs said they were "disappointed" the Government had not directly addressed financial help for carers in its Carers Strategy.

The report said: "We believe that the Department for Work and Pensions should support adults who become carers during their working lives to combine work and care and enable those who wish to return to work when caring ends to do so."