This week is Carers Week, an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring and recognise the contribution carers make to families and communities throughout the UK. And I am joining carers at a local event to listen to their views on caring responsibilities. Like some of my constituents, there are 6.5 million people across the UK who are carers.
As Employment Minister in the Government, the monthly jobs figures released by the independent Office for National Statistics (ONS) are, of course, a focus of interest for me. For some time the jobs market has been buoyant and the figures released this month demonstrate the continuing resilience of the jobs market.
This year the government is spending over £50 billion to support those with disabilities and health conditions. This is around 2.5% of GDP, and over 6% of overall government spending. This year, spending on the main disability benefits – PIP, DLA and Attendance Allowance – will have been £5 billion higher than in 2010.
Many of my Reading West constituents will remember developer Blue Living submitting a planning application in 2009 to build a very large number of houses and commercial units on Pincents Hill. Together with the brilliant campaigners from the Save Calcot Action Group, united with local people, we managed to get this application rejected and retain a valuable green space.