LOCAL MP SAYS DON'T SCRAP CARERS' GRANT

Tony Baldry MP calls on Government to continue £1.7 million care fund for Oxfordshire

North Oxfordshire MP, Tony Baldry, is launching a county wide campaign to keep the Carers Support Grant.

Working with Oxfordshire County Council and the Oxfordshire Carers Forum, Tony Baldry is calling for the Government not to merge  the £1.7 million Carers’ Support Grant with the General Revenue Grant, which is the general budget Oxfordshire County Council receives from central government.

Tony Baldry, who is vice-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Carers, has already written to Ministers warning them that as a “floor authority” the County Council’s general budget is fixed and cannot be increased.

Tony Baldry will launch the campaign at 12 noon on Wednesday 3rd October at the North Oxfordshire Carers Centre in Banbury.

Tony Baldry is calling on around 2000 carers in Oxfordshire to sign a petition to Parliament to make the Chancellor rethink whether to scrap the Carers’ Support Grant during the Comprehensive Spending Review.

The loss of the Carers’ Support Grant would see £1.7 million ringfenced for carers in the county being scrapped, or about £1.2 million for adults and £500,000 for children, including resources for home carers and support for respite care.   Tony Baldry has also written to all Oxfordshire MPs asking them to back the campaign.

Tony Baldry MP said:

"The loss of the Carers’ Support Grant would be devastating for the carers and caring in Oxfordshire.  It will reduces resources for care in the home, and respite care outside the home.

"There are 2000 recognised carers in our county, who work under huge pressure and perform an invaluable job. Without carers other services in the community, like the NHS, would be put under severe strain."  

"If the Government merges the carers grant into the general budget for the County Council, Oxfordshire will lose out, and some of the people who need our help most will lose crucial financial support.

"That's why I hope all carers will tell the Chancellor to re-think his plan, and support the Petition to save this vital carers grant ".