13/06/2016 Lords Questions

We support wholeheartedly the implementation of the improved

rights for carers, that is by the care act of 2014. Providing funding

to local authorities. We are committed to continue to improve

support for carers through the publication of a new national

strategy by the end of 2016. I thank the Minister for his response.

Research shows that the older the carer, the more hours of care they

provide and that surely cannot be right. Many carers over 80 are

providing as much as 50 hours of care a week, often without support

because they do not beat the new eligibility criteria and councils do

not have the money in their budgets. Will the Minister undertake to

ensure the new carers strategy tackles these high and increasing

demands of unmet demand and the councils across the country having

to cut back on carer support what specific support and funding will

the government provide to help them offer real support to carers? She is

absolutely right, Delhi half a million people over the age of 80

providing over 35 hours a week. -- nearly half a million. It is a huge

commitment, that often has profound implications on their own health and

well-being. So I think we are all singing from the same hymn sheet and

I'm sure that the carers strategy will address the particular

requirements of that age group. The government will continue to support

the rights of carers. The research report for carers last week reported

that approaching half of older carers had not been offered an

annual health check by their GP and also about half of older carers said

their GP practice had not told them where they could find help. What is

the government doing to encourage primary care to make sure that older

carers get access to annual health checks and support? Clearly it is

essential that older people do have access to at least annual checkups

from their GPs and I think part of this review, a large part of it will

be how we signpost and informed people of the need to have these

health checkups. I'm sure that will be a part of the strategy announced

at the end of the year. Under the new legislation care and support

act, carers have a right to an assessment of their needs. Could the

noble lord the Minister Ashour the House that those needs would not

just be assessed, but would also have an asked resources put into the

system -- enough, so that their needs can be met? Under the care

act, there is an assessment, eligibility criteria and a support

plan. There is clearly no point having a plan without the support.

Well the Government instead of setting up a review, independent

review to look at the source of budgets that local authorities

required to ask to provide a decent service? As part of the consultation

that has been conducted this year in preparation for the strategy at the

end of the year, the Government have called for evidence, looking at

international comparisons but also an economic review, which I think

will take into the account the issues that the noble Lord races.

What the noble Lord of the Minister in recognising the serious concerns

about people over 80 and people under 18 with health needs

themselves face, good he also assure us that the review will have regard

to the number of children who are themselves carers for adult members

of their family? Because too many of those children have needs of the

parent assessed, quite rightly, but the needs of the child concerned

with the children is not always taken into account. Can he have an

assurance that the new strategy will cover both my noble friend's

question and concern, and those of children? She is absolutely right,

there are tens of thousands of children who have very substantial

caring responsibilities for their parents or their grandparents. And

the impact of them on their education and future careers is

certainly something this House will want to take into account. The

children and families act set out the rights of children, but we need

to assess them carefully in the forthcoming strategy.

Surely the carers over 80 are saving the economy by offering their

services? I cannot give a figure for those over 80 but I think the total

amount of money, insofar as you can monetise something like this, the

total figure for all unpaid carers is estimated to be around ?1.3

billion a year. My Lords, does the Minister recognise... My Lords,...

I'm sorry, we have not heard from the Conservative benches although I

recognise there have been a series of Labour appears. Does the Minister

recognise that there are large numbers of people, older people, who

simply look after each other? This is that the heart of the institution

of marriage and they may not be registered as a carer because, if

you like, they are of similar age and shape. But I think it is the

whole issue, it is not just about the situation of the parents, but

about all the people who happily look after each other in their old

age. Yes, I think we are talking about not just people who are

registered carers at people in particular, whether it is in

marriage or a long-term partnership, where older people are looking after

each other. And that is something that cannot be monetised, it is part

of a loving relationship. One of the tragedy is sometimes of a caring

relationship, it can change that relationship of a husband and wife

to be one of a carer and a cared for. It can meet quite difficult

psychological impact on individuals. Is there any plans to provide

respite care for carers, particularly where there are

significant disabilities involved with the person being cared for?

Respite care is hugely important and the better care fund invites about

?130 million a year for respite care. I think giving people time out

is hugely important. I beg leave to ask the question is running in my

name on the order paper. My Lords, taking as a democracy with

multiparty elections whose Government has been democratically

elected, in some areas, progress has been made on fundamental freedoms in

recent years. But as the European Commission has highlighted, there

has also been significant backsliding. As a friend and ally,

we strongly encourage Turkey to continue to work towards the full

protection of all Civil Liberties and will continue to do so. Turkey

is a much valued member of Nato, most valued ally to this country and

vital for any solution to the crisis in the eastern Mediterranean. So

will the Minister join with me in condemning a shameless and

irresponsible lie that Turkey is joining the EU and the EU is about

to be flooded by Turkish criminals? Is not the best way of engaging

taking on civil rights and democratic governance precisely

through the EU membership negotiations? My Lords, I certainly

support the noble Lord in his wish to put the record straight, which he

has done. The Prime Minister yesterday made it clear that

although we continue to support Turkey's accession process, at their

current rate of knots, they will not achieve accession until the year

3000 and along the way, every single member of the European Union, which

includes cars, has right of veto. When can I ask my noble friend the

Minister whether representations could be made about the increasing

authoritarianism we see in Ankara these days, and in particular the

threats the HDPE party, which are arising from the recent lifting of

Parliamentary immunity, did the Minister make -- confound that

things are not helped when it seems that confidential telegrams are

leaked to the press? Will they review the level of security

governing the telegrams going to and from Ankara? My noble friend is

right to draw attention to the issue of Parliamentary impunity of MPs. I

understand that was signed into law last week and it is a matter of

concern will stop -- concern.