Employees: Carers

Mr. Marsden
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the effect of care responsibilities on work-life balance for employees; and what assessment has been made of the potential merits of a care voucher scheme.

Jane Kennedy
I have been asked to reply.

The Government are keen to ensure that people with caring responsibilities can make the most of opportunities to balance work with their caring responsibilities.

They will look carefully at the costs and benefits of any further proposals, including whether it is the most effective mechanism for tackling the issues faced by carers, particularly those experienced by specific groups, when making an assessment of the case for intervention in this area.

The Government keeps tax reliefs under review and has received representations in this area. However, it does not believe that allowing employers to provide employees with tax and NICs free care vouchers is the most appropriate, fair or cost effective way of tackling the issues faced by carers.