Debate in Parliament over £3000 Debt Demand on Carers who saved Taxpayers £1 million

3.23.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 17th May 2004

Vincent Cable MP speaking in Parliament

MP Vincent Cable secured a debate this week to challenge the government's (Department of Work and Pensions) refusal to write off a £3122 debt incurred without their knowledge by a local couple who have been caring for a seriously disabled young man, John Redman, described as one of the most seriously dependent in the borough.

For 18 years of his life Mr and Mrs Redman cared for their son at home. They saved the taxpayer well over £1 million by providing domestic care since John is so highly dependent that he would, alternatively, have demanded the most expensive form of residential care (currently costing over £95,000 pa). The family have accepted considerable financial hardship since Mr Redman retired early to be a carer and sacrificed his pension.

When John finally went into residential care, aged 19, the family were not told by the council, which was responsible, hat the carer and disability benefits had changed and they needed to notify the Department of Work and Pensions. As a result the family were accidentally overpaid £3122 all of which was spent on John's care. The Department of Work and Pensions have demanded repayment and rejected a personal appeal from Vincent Cable to waive the charge. Vincent Cable has therefore sought a special debate in parliament on the issue.

Vincent Cable said: "This is a case which on the one hand is enormously heartwarming - because of the remarkable self-sacrifice of Mr and Mrs Redman as carers - but also deeply dispiriting, because of the bureaucratic rigidity and incompetence of central and local government".

"Mr and Mrs Redman are heroes. They have shouldered an enormous burden as carers of an extremely dependent son. They have saved the taxpayer well over a million pounds. But Ministers try to justify a demand for a debt of over £3000, which the family can barely afford. It makes you want to weep. The handling of this case by the government, on top of incompetence in the council, has made me very angry. I hope it will be used by carers' campaigning groups and others to highlight the shabby way in which society treats those who give up much of their lives to caring for sick loved ones".