Response to the Government's announcement of a 'new deal for carers'

11.30.16am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 27th Feb 2007

In response to the Government's announcement of a 'new deal for carers', Sir Bert Massie, Chairman of the Disability Rights Commission, said:

'Informal carers perform an important role by filling the gaps left by under-funded and inefficient public services. But few choose to adopt such roles and many people in need of support don't want to have to rely on family or friends to have to provide it.

'We need to be extremely cautious in allowing 'gratitude' to be the guiding principle of public policy in this area. It's allowing national and local government to celebrate carers' voluntary work while running down essential social care services - for a very small price. The Government's 'New Deal for Carers' announced today will be welcomed but it only works out at approximately £5.50 for each of Britain's six million carers.

'As our population ages many more of us will need care and support. Unless we invest in social care many more people will have to give up work to provide it, creating a huge downward pressure on prosperity and economic growth. Too often the debate around social care is whether we can afford it. But we need to start a new debate which asks whether we can afford not to invest in it.'