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| Lib Dems' respite plan for carers | Lib Dems' respite plan for carers |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A million unpaid carers in England could get a week's break every year under plans from the Liberal Democrats. | A million unpaid carers in England could get a week's break every year under plans from the Liberal Democrats. |
| The scheme would apply to those caring for more than 50 hours a week and would cost £460m. | The scheme would apply to those caring for more than 50 hours a week and would cost £460m. |
| The Lib Dems say money allocated by the government for the Personal Care at Home Bill could be redirected to fund the new scheme. | The Lib Dems say money allocated by the government for the Personal Care at Home Bill could be redirected to fund the new scheme. |
| Leader Nick Clegg said he wanted to offer respite to the "hidden army of heroes" working as voluntary carers. | Leader Nick Clegg said he wanted to offer respite to the "hidden army of heroes" working as voluntary carers. |
| 'Saving billions' | 'Saving billions' |
| The Personal Care at Home Bill is designed to provide free care in the home for 280,000 of the most vulnerable people in England. | The Personal Care at Home Bill is designed to provide free care in the home for 280,000 of the most vulnerable people in England. |
| It was announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown last year, with £420m of government money allocated to it. | It was announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown last year, with £420m of government money allocated to it. |
| Mr Clegg told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the bill was "flawed" and needed to be re-examined. | Mr Clegg told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the bill was "flawed" and needed to be re-examined. |
| "But in the meantime [we want to] do something with the money... to help those people who are like a hidden army of heroes in this country," he said. | "But in the meantime [we want to] do something with the money... to help those people who are like a hidden army of heroes in this country," he said. |
| One thing we can with this money is give a week's break to the million carers who do the most Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg | One thing we can with this money is give a week's break to the million carers who do the most Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg |
| "There are five million people in this country saving the rest of us, the rest of us taxpayers, £87bn a year because of all the help they are giving to people who are very vulnerable - feeding, washing, dressing and so on. | "There are five million people in this country saving the rest of us, the rest of us taxpayers, £87bn a year because of all the help they are giving to people who are very vulnerable - feeding, washing, dressing and so on. |
| "And so one thing we can with this money is give a week's break to the million carers who do the most." | "And so one thing we can with this money is give a week's break to the million carers who do the most." |
| Under the proposals, carers would receive a "personal budget" equivalent to the cost of a week's residential care. | Under the proposals, carers would receive a "personal budget" equivalent to the cost of a week's residential care. |
| This would allow them to take a seven-day holiday or series of shorter breaks while their loved one is looked after elsewhere. | This would allow them to take a seven-day holiday or series of shorter breaks while their loved one is looked after elsewhere. |
| Mr Clegg said many carers felt "tired and isolated" and a week's respite could make a big difference. | Mr Clegg said many carers felt "tired and isolated" and a week's respite could make a big difference. |
| The government is urging anyone who voluntarily cares for a friend or relative for more than 20 hours a week to take advantage of a new scheme to build up their state pension entitlement. | The government is urging anyone who voluntarily cares for a friend or relative for more than 20 hours a week to take advantage of a new scheme to build up their state pension entitlement. |
| It says up to 4.7million people could benefit from the Carer's Credit, which launches in April. | It says up to 4.7million people could benefit from the Carer's Credit, which launches in April. |
| 'Death tax' | 'Death tax' |
| Social care for the elderly and other vulnerable people has been the subject of a political row in recent weeks. | Social care for the elderly and other vulnerable people has been the subject of a political row in recent weeks. |
| On Friday, the Conservatives boycotted a conference to discuss the issue after Labour proposed a compulsory £20,000 levy to pay for care. | On Friday, the Conservatives boycotted a conference to discuss the issue after Labour proposed a compulsory £20,000 levy to pay for care. |
| Health Secretary Andy Burnham has called for a cross-party consensus to be reached, but his shadow, Andrew Lansley, has said he wants the so-called "death tax" scrapped as an option. | Health Secretary Andy Burnham has called for a cross-party consensus to be reached, but his shadow, Andrew Lansley, has said he wants the so-called "death tax" scrapped as an option. |
| Instead, the Tories have put forward a plan for an optional £8,000 fee to be paid on retirement. | Instead, the Tories have put forward a plan for an optional £8,000 fee to be paid on retirement. |
| In a speech on Monday, Mr Clegg called for an independent cross-party commission to be set up to examine the future of care in England. | |
| "None of the political parties have got a fully rounded, fully worked out solution to this huge demographic problem of how we provide care for the growing number of people who need care," he told the BBC. | "None of the political parties have got a fully rounded, fully worked out solution to this huge demographic problem of how we provide care for the growing number of people who need care," he told the BBC. |