627,700 unpaid carers in Scotland

Responding to the census showing that there are 627,700 unpaid carers in Scotland, an increase of 27.5% since 2011, Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader Wendy Chamberlain MP, who introduced the Carer's Leave Act earlier this year, said:

“As these figures illustrate, caring for someone is an almost universal experience. Virtually everyone will find themselves being an unpaid carer or being cared for by their loved ones at some point.

“Carers are the backbone of our society, but they are all too often forgotten and ignored.

“I am so proud to have passed the Carer’s Leave Act, but we still have a long way to go. It’s why during the General Election, Ed Davey opened about his role as a carer for his severely disabled son and called for new support for millions of unpaid carers all across the UK. A fair deal would include paid carer’s leave, removing the unfair earnings cliff-edge, making caring a protected characteristic and an amnesty for carers being hounded by the DWP for overpayments.”