PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
CARERS WEEK 2003 (19 March 2003)

That this House notes the importance of Carers Week from 9th to 15th June; congratulates the Carers National Association, Contact a Family, Crossroads - Caring for Carers and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers for raising awareness for the important and tireless work which carers do, and for sponsoring this noteworthy campaign; wholeheartedly supports Carers Week, which this year highlights the issue of carers and opportunities; notes that the total number of carers in the United Kingdom is over 7 million, and that carers make up 13 per cent. of all people working full time, and 17 per cent. of those working part-time; further notes that three in five people will be a carer at some point in their lives; regrets the hardships and discrimination that carers often have to endure; further regrets that up to 77 per cent. of carers are worse off financially as a result of becoming carers; congratulates the organisers of Carers Week for raising awareness of the barriers that currently exist for carers, both those already in employment and those seeking such employment; is deeply concerned that the most commonly cited reasons for carers giving up work are the stress of juggling other employment and the substantial amount of care which they undertake, the uncertainty over, and inflexibility or unreliability of, substitute care services, the affordability of such services and the inflexibility of their non care work employers; believes that carers in the United Kingdom should have access to the same employment opportunities as other members of the population and that substitute care services which are high quality, flexible, affordable and appropriate should be promoted and that carers need to be able to draw on the support and backing of well-trained professionals and employers who understand both the impact of caring and how to support carers; and wishes Carers Week every success.

Sponsored by:
Sir Liam Fox (Conservative)