Local MP backs Carers Week

David Howarth, MP for Cambridge, is backing Carers Week 2007 (11 th to 17th June). Carers Week aims to draw attention to the UK's six million carers - people who look after a loved one who is either ill, frail or disabled - to help them gain the recognition and support they desperately need.

Two out of every three carers admitted that their personal relationships had suffered as a direct result of caring, with 60% revealing that they have little quality time together with their partners. Two thirds admitted to be financially worse off, with a quarter unable to support their family properly. An alarming three quarters of carers had not had a break from their caring role in the past 12 months. Following Liberal Democrat pressure, the Government has recently agreed to give those who are caring for more than 20 hours per week an entitlement to the basic state pension.

Carers Week will highlight the service available to help ease the burden of caring and ensure carers lives' are changed for the better.

David Howarth commented:

David Howarth MP

"I am delighted to be again supporting Carers Week. Far too many carers are suffering in silence, without access to the support that they need to carry out their crucial but incredibly difficult role. We need to make sure that we give carers that support and we need to make sure that carers have access to regular health checks and proper pension rights."