Written question asked by Baroness Hollis of Heigham (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord McKenzie of Luton (Labour) on Thursday, 17 May 2007.

Carers

Question: How many grandparents in the United Kingdom regularly care for their grandchild or grandchildren for a minimum of 20 hours a week, enabling the mother to work and thus pay national insurance contributions; how many of these grandparents are below state pension age; how many are not accruing a state pension; and how many of them are grandmothers; and

Answer: The information requested is not available. The Family Resources Survey records the number of hours someone is reported to be caring. It does not, however, link all carers with the people for whom they care. Therefore, we cannot say whether the carer is a relative, grandparent or otherwise of the person receiving care or whether that relative is accruing state pension entitlement. Neither can we say whether the relative's care allows the child or children's motherto work. I refer my honourable friend to the Answer I gave on 7 February 2007 (Official Report, col. WA 138) for information regarding the number of people who report they are caring for at least 20 hours a week and not accruing state pension entitlement. We intend to use the Pensions Bill to introducea new carer's credit in 2010, which will ensure that those providing necessary and significant care ofat least 20 hours a week continue to build up state pension entitlement while they are caring. The carer's credit is not, however, intended for those providing care for a child without disability.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 3579; 692 c55WA
Session: 2006-07
Related items: Benefits: Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance
Wednesday, 7 February 2007
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Children Carers Grandparents Pension rights Relatives State retirement pensions
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk