Written question asked by Bob Spink (Conservative) on Tuesday, 23 October 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 October 2007. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Monday, 29 October 2007 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Pensions: Carers

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of rules on state pension entitlement on people who stay at home to care for (a) children and (b) elderly relatives; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: People who are bringing up children or caring for severely disabled people can protect their state pension through measures such as Home Responsibilities Protection and carer's allowance credits.As a result of the provisions in the 2007 Pensions Act, including the treatment of Home Responsibilities Protection and the more generous arrangements for the award of credits to people with caring responsibilities, the proportion of women in Great Britain reaching state pension age with entitlement to a full basic state pension is estimated to rise from around 35 per cent. now to around three-quarters in 2010-11.

Secondary information