Welfare

16Feb 2021 by Ross Shipman No Comments

Lib Dems call on Chancellor to give 118,345 carers in Derbyshire a break

Welfare

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to “give carers a break”, by giving councils immediate emergency funding so they can provide the support services unpaid carers need to take a weekly break. More than 118,000 people in Derbyshire (including Derby City) are looking after elderly, disabled or vulnerable people during the Covid pandemic. In a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, Ed Davey highlights research from Carers UK showing that nationally: 64% of carers have not been able to take any breaks from their caring role during the pandemic,74% feel exhausted and worn out as a result of caring during Covid, and44% say they are reaching breaking point. The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Chancellor to provide local authorities with emergency funding in his Budget on 3rd March…

Shocking figures ‘highlights the extent of Derbyshire County Council’s failings in Children’s Services’ say Lib Dems

Education, Health, News, Welfare, Young People

A Freedom of Information request by the Liberal Democrats revealed that Derbyshire County Council successfully defended just 4.35% of cases where Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) were disputed for Special Educational Needs and Disability provision in 2018. EHCPs are for children and young people aged up to 25 who need more support than is available through special educational needs support. The plans identify educational, health and social needs and set out the additional support to meet those needs. So they are designed to identify essential support for some of the most vulnerable in our communities. Ross Shipman, the Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for N-E Derbyshire, said: “It’s absolutely terrible. The Tory controlled council are failing the most vulnerable children in Derbyshire; and in the vast majority of cases the…

Local Housing Allowance

Welfare

Theresa May has announced a U-turn over plans to apply the Local Housing Allowance cap to supported housing, a move that could have hit thousands of elderly and vulnerable people. The Liberal Democrats have now called on the government to also U-turn on its decision to scrap housing benefit for 18-21 year-olds. Wera Hobhouse MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Communities and Local Government, commented: “This cap would have hit the most vulnerable in our society, including the homeless and victims of domestic violence living in shelters. “It is right that the government has U-turned on this cruel and heartless policy. “Ministers must now reverse their damaging decision to scrap housing benefit for 18-21s, that risks pushing more young people into homelessness. “This would show that today's decision was not a…