Randerson uncovers devastating news for Carers in Wales

12.36.13pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 26th Jun 2008

The new money would have helped Carers across Wales

Carers in Wales are set to miss out on a multi-million pound windfall Welsh Lib Dem Spokesperson for Health and Social Care Jenny Randerson has discovered. In a reply to a Written Assembly Question from Jenny Randerson, the First Minister has admitted that Welsh Carers will receive no new money as a result of the UK Government's recently announced £235m Carers strategy.

The Government announced what was previously believed to be around £235m of new money which would have led to a Barnett consequential of around £11m for Wales, but in his answer, the First Minister admitted that none of the UK money was 'new.' This will mean that the Assembly Government - and carers in Wales - will not receive a penny.

Jenny Randerson said: "This is extremely disappointing. Thousands of Carers in Wales were hoping for a better deal provided by this new money. They were hoping for things like respite care, a dedicated phone advice service, more training for professionals and more money to support young carers.

"Over the last few days, I have had a number of answers to written questions from the Deputy Minister for Social Care. I was asking what new plans she had as a result of the money but I received a number of very vague commitments. The First Minister's answer today explains why.

"Carers were hoping this money would kick start a number of big improvements, but it is clear the money is just not there. It is very disappointing indeed."

Notes:

The UK Carers Strategy was announced earlier this month and contained a package of £255m, of which around £235m was thought to be 'new money.' This would have led to a Welsh Barnett consequential of around £11m,

Carers in Wales do not have a dedicated telephone support service as they do in England.

The First Minister's answer to Jenny Randerson follows:

Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): What estimation has the Minister made of the amount of money the Welsh Assembly Government expects to receive as a result of the additional funding announced recently by the UK Government for the National Carers Strategy. (WAQ51893)

Answered by the First Minister on behalf of Andrew Davies, the Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery:

I understand the funding announced on 10 June came from within the Department of Health's overall 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review settlement and was not in addition to it. The Assembly Government received consequential funding through the Barnett formula for the increases in all UK Government departmental budgets at the time of the Comprehensive Spending Review. As such we are not expecting an additional consequential transfer of funds in respect of this recent announcement.

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