Saving Gateway Accounts Bill

Noble Lords will not be surprised to learn that I, too, welcome these amendments, and I think I speak on behalf of many carers when I say how glad we are that the Government have introduced them. They indicate not only that the Government recognise the financial problems faced by carers, but that it would be quite wrong to exclude a group of people who make such a huge contribution to society from the opportunity to take advantage of this modest savings measure. As I said at Second Reading, the original decision to exclude the recipients of carer’s allowance went quite counter to the Government’s previous record so far as carers are concerned. They have been extremely supportive, as set out in the national strategy. I am sure that carers everywhere will welcome this amendment, as I most certainly do.