Carers need more cash, more quickly - Burstow

3.54.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 11th Jun 2009

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam, has spoken out today on behalf of local carers in a parliamentary debate, putting their questions to the Minister for Care.

At a Carers Week coffee morning at the Sutton Carers centre on Wednesday, Mr Burstow asked for concerns and questions from those who care for their relatives and friends.

During today's debate about carers, among other questions, he asked the Minister for Care why the carers allowance stops when people receive their pension when it is older people who often shoulder a significant caring burden.

Local MPs, Paul Burstow & Tom Brake, with local carers lobbying the Government earlier this year to raise the carers allowance

He also conveyed the frustration of many carers who feel they get little support in their role and cannot wait ten years for the Government's strategy to be completed.

Commenting Paul Burstow MP said:

'Carers are the fourth emergency service. Without the millions of individuals who give up their time, jobs, savings and even health the public services would not be able to cope.

'Unfortunately the Government's treatment of these dedicated, compassionate people does not reflect their value in human or monetary terms.

'Carers need, let alone deserve, much more than £53 a week. But they cannot wait until 2018 for that.'