SUPPORTING SCOTLAND'S CARERS

That this House supports Scotland's 759,000 carers and thanks them, and the millions of unpaid carers across the UK, for the unwavering work that they do; recognises and gives its full support to Carers Week from 8 to 14 June 2015; congratulates third sector organisations, such as Carers Scotland, MND Scotland and Renfrewshire Carers Centre, for the crucial support that they provide to our carers; notes that, despite the extensive work of aforementioned organisations, there are a significant number of carers who remain unidentified and unsupported; condemns the Government for the devastating impact that the rollout of the Personal Independent Payment will have on carers and their families, with many losing the right to receive Carer's Allowance as a result of a change in the eligibility for the benefit; further supports calls for an increase in Carer's Allowance to match the current rate of Jobseeker's Allowance; and calls on the Government to abandon its commitment to proceed with a further £12 billion of cuts to the social security budget, as further cuts will only serve to exacerbate the devastating impact on the lives of people living with disabilities and the people who care for them, instead of providing support and ensuring dignity in living.