Children and Young Persons Bill [HL]

If we have any sense of social solidarity whatsoever, every Member of the Committee should ask themselves about the kind of life that we take for granted and see just how much of it many of these carers are missing because of their devotion and commitment. We have a real job in responding to that and in ensuring that they have a chance to live a little more fully. Of course, many of them find immense fulfilment in their commitment to the child—or disabled adult, in many circumstances—but we must be quite certain that we do not just take what they are doing for granted. The second point, which we are repeatedly making in our deliberations, is that this makes economic sense. If the whole thing breaks down because the person cannot cope any longer, what will the costs be? In economic terms, prevention is much better than coping afterwards. I took the liberty a moment ago of referring to my time as national president of the YMCA. I remember once being asked to visit with my wife a residential holiday provided by the YMCA and a number of other agencies involved with young people. I was shocked to discover how much responsibility was falling on sometimes very young people who effectively became the principal carer. Under those circumstances, everything that I have said is doubled in its significance. What are we doing to the young person concerned? We are depriving them of their childhood, their full adolescent life and the rest. If we are going to take this important amendment seriously, we have to look at it in the fullest sense and recognise that, although there is a challenge with all carers, it is disgraceful how far as a society we have failed to face up to the predicament of young carers.