Hugh Robertson
Parliamentary Monitor
When I gave my maiden Speech in June 2001 little did I know that in less than three years I would be introducing a Private Member’s Bill on the very subject of my speech on the rights of people with disabilities and their carers. My choice of Bill was in many ways pre-determined by that first speech and by my experience as a carer for sixteen years of our son Sam, a child with Down’s Syndrome who died in 1996.
My wife Mair and I were only too well aware of the added pressures and responsibilities on carers. Despite improvements in their circumstances thanks to legislation initiated by Malcolm Wicks and Tom (now Lord) Pendry, the 7 million unpaid carers in the UK still need greater support and to achieve the same opportunities as everyone else – hence the very pertinent title of my Carers (Equal Opportunities) Bill.
From early December when I came second in the member’s ballot until 14th May when the Bill received its Third Reading in the Commons I have been extremely fortunate to have the wise advice and support of so many people inside and outside Parliament.
The day after the ballot was National Carers’ Rights Day and I met a group of young carers who told me about their hopes and their fears for their children and for themselves. They wanted a life beyond caring, a chance to return to education and work. These were modest demands but ones which we take for granted if we are not carers. That morning focused my mind very sharply: here was an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of carers based upon my own experience as a carer and the experiences of my constituents.
And so began my journey from that meeting with carers which led to a telephone call to the advocacy body for carers, Carers UK, meetings with experienced and dedicated Parliamentary campaigners in the Lords and Commons and from all parties, and with Ministers and discussions with the Welsh Assembly Government, and ultimately with Carers Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman and his officials.
What I discovered was a revelation: a remarkable degree of unanimity was achieved around the need for equal opportunities for carers: their right to be informed of their rights, the need to broaden their assessment to include advice, on education, training and leisure; and the need for a local carers’ strategy based on joint working of all local bodies.
When the Bill was launched in Parliament on 26th January I was pleased to welcome many carers from my constituency including our Mayor, Councillor Peter Lloyd. The Bill has a particular relevance for my locality because our county has the highest proportion of carers of any county in the UK.
My Bill Team and Bill sponsors have included some stalwart and seasoned campaigners for social justice. Lord Ashley gave me some invaluable advice on how to negotiate with Minister, Lord Rix (President of Mencap) knew from personal experience the stress of a carer as did Angela Browning who I am sure played her part in ensuring Official Opposition support.
Paul Goodman who led for the Official Opposition and Tony Baldry for the Conservatives, Paul Burstow and Roger Williams for the Liberal Democrats, Hywel Williams for Plaid Cymru and Roy Beggs for the Ulster Unionists all gave a warm and enthusiastic embrace to the Bill which ensured its safe passage through all the stages in the Commons.
Most valuable of all was Baroness Pitkeathley’s vast knowledge of carers legislation as a previous Chief Executive of Carers UK. This complemented the commitment of the Carers’ Minister, Dr Stephen Ladyman with his past work with the All party Autism Group and the Welsh Health Minister, Jane Hutt, with her long experience in the voluntary sector.
My particular interest has always been in providing lifelong learning opportunities for carers because of my previous ‘life’ in adult education. I have been greatly heartened by the way major national organisations, institutions as divers as the TUC, BT, the Open University and the National Extension College have come forward whilst the Bill has been progressing to ensure that it is ultimately implemented. At the same time, local carers organisations have been inviting me to speak as far afield as Totnes, Leeds, Belfast, Isle of Wight and Briton Ferry which leads me to believe that the spirit of Sam’s Bill named after our late son – is already being implemented before it receives Royal Assent.
The Rt Hon Tom Clarke, an invaluable Member of my Bill Team, advised me from the outset of the need for implementation strategies well before the Bill reaches the Statute Book. Knowing the vigilance of carers organisations, locally and nationally, I am sure they will be very keen not to miss that trick.
Dr Hywel Francis MP
May 2004
