Echo's ministerial date to hand over We Care manifesto

THE Echo's We Care campaign has taken a significant step forward after receiving support from Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson and a senior MP.

Cabinet member Mr Johnson has agreed to meet members of the Echo's We Care committee to discuss its manifesto for change.

He will be joined by Exeter MP and Health Minister Ben Bradshaw for the briefing in London on December 16.

Mr Johnson agreed to receive a copy of the manifesto after Mr Bradshaw briefed him about the Echo's campaign.

Meanwhile, MP Terry Rooney, who chairs the Government's Work & Pensions Select Committee, has also backed the manifesto.

The committee, which examines expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for Work and Pensions, was responsible for calling for more financial reforms for carers earlier this year.

The committee advised the Government to replace the Carers' Allowance of £50.55 a week with a support allowance of £60.50 a week to compensate for loss of earnings, plus a costs payment of up to £50 a week to cover caring expenses.

Mr Rooney told the Echo he was "delighted" to support the campaign.

Exeter parliamentary candidate Hannah Foster has also lent her support to the manifesto.

And she has promised to bring the issues of carers to the attention of more MPs.

She said: "Carers play a vital role in our community and must be supported.

"We must change the system to ensure that healthcare, benefits and social services work better together to enable our carers to look after those not able to look after themselves.

"I personally support the We Care manifesto, and I am pushing this to the Conservative Party nationally to see what we can get into the Conservative General Election manifesto for carers."

The Express & Echo launched its manifesto last week and called for a series of changes.

Written by carers themselves and those who work with carers, these demands range from being consulted about important decisions surrounding the person they cared for to having better training to help them care.

The manifesto also petitioned for the Carers Allowance to be increased to at least the minimum wage, and it calls for better transition from children's to adult services.

To support the manifesto, fill in and return the coupon, visit www.thisisexeter.co.uk/wecare and choose manifesto.