Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Rix (Crossbench). It was answered on Tuesday, 25 November 2008.

Coalition on Charging: Charging into Poverty?

Question: My Lords, is the Minister aware that 47 per cent of families with a severely or profoundly disabled child live in poverty, probably due to the fact that they pay five times as much for specialist childcare as other families? That often means that the parents have to give up work to take over the job of full-time carers. Does the Minister believe that the £60 payment in January, offered in yesterday’s PBR, will ameliorate this dire situation?

Answer: My Lords, as the noble Lord is aware through his work, it is not the only payment that families receive to support them with their disabled children. A whole range of support and services should be available to them. It is important that families use the systems that are effective in making sure that those services are available to them. It is important that they use the information services and that they challenge local authorities where they think that services are inadequate.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 705 c1342
Session: 2007-08
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Disability Fees and charges Home care services Older people Social services
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk