2/11/06
BOURNEMOUTH WEST M.P. HAS ADJOURNMENT DEBATE IN HOUSE OF COMMONS
Bournemouth West M.P., Sir John Butterfill, raised the case of one of his constituents in an Adjournment Debate in the House of Commons on Thursday 2nd November. 2006.

John raised the case of Mrs B, who wished to remain anonymous, who became the carer to her father for four years but did not realise that she could claim Carer’s Allowance or Attendance Allowance.  This meant that she did not qualify under the rules for home responsibilities protection so that her pension is now reduced by the gap in her employment record during that time.  The rules unfortunately do not allow Mrs B to claim retrospectively.

John has discussed this matter with the Citizens Advice Bureau who tell him that the take up of carers’ benefits is low and that Mrs B’s case is not, therefore, unusual.  He, therefore, believes the system should be reformed, firstly so that the availability of these benefits is made more widely known and, secondly, so that people can claim retrospectively.

The Minister for Pensions Reform congratulated John on securing the Adjournment Debate and apologised for the fact that he had been given misinformation by his Department.  He assured him that the Government believed that the system should be reformed so that support for carers is provided in their pension arrangements.  He will be looking at John’s suggestions for reform and has offered to meet him together with his constituent to discuss the matter further.

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