SAGA RESPITE FOR CARERS TRUST

That this House notes the last census in 2001 put the total figure of carers at 5.2 million in England, 480,000 in Scotland and 306,000 in Wales, numbers which are likely to be increasing as the population ages; further notes that one million carers provide more than 50 hours of care a week; that research by Carers UK estimates the value to the UK of this support at £82 billion a year, each carer thus saving the taxpayer over £15,000 annually; further acknowledges that the Saga/Populus Panel 2008 survey shows first, that two-thirds of these carers receive no benefits or financial support for providing care and only 12 per cent. claim carer's allowance and second, that 46 per cent. of carers have not taken a holiday away from their caring responsibilities in the last year, while 24 per cent. have never taken such a holiday (this figure rising to 31 per cent. for longer term carers); believes that this relentless work inevitably takes a toll on the carer's health; and therefore welcomes the launch on 10th June of the Saga Respite for Carers Trust which seeks first, to highlight this issue and in particular to raise the profile of the need for respite breaks and second, to fund free respite breaks for people over 50 caring for a family member.