GRANDPARENTS' NATIONAL INSURANCE CREDITS

That this House recognises the vital contribution of grandparents who provide childcare to two thirds of working families; further recognises that grandparents are fundamental to the success of the Government's welfare reform strategy as lone parents are particularly reliant upon grandparental childcare; acknowledges that over 9 out of 10 grandparents who provide childcare do so for no payment or financial reward; notes that this may be at some cost to themselves, particularly where grandparents who could be in paid work are unable to be and so do not make national insurance contributions towards their own state pension; welcomes the fact that from 2010 parents and carers who provide care for at least 20 hours per week will receive a weekly credit towards their state pension entitlements; further notes that it is overwhelmingly women who are the carers and the grandparents in these situations; and urges government to include the care that grandparents provide in the definition of caring set out by regulation in accordance with Section 3(3)c of the Pensions Act 2007.