Saving Gateway Accounts Bill

As I was saying, the Government intended to table amendments in the other place, and my noble Friend Lord Myners did that at the first opportunity. I should like again to place on record our thanks to all those with caring responsibilities. We will continue to do all we can to help and support them, and I am glad that we have been able to find a mechanism to do that while staying within our original policy objectives. As hon. Members know, the saving gateway is targeted at working age people on lower incomes. As the then Economic Secretary explained, carer's allowance can be claimed by anyone of 16 or older, as long as they meet the various requirements, and there is no upper age limit. Indeed, 375,000 of the 880,000 claimants of pension age. Making everyone who is entitled to carer's allowance eligible for the saving gateway would extend eligibility to a large number of people from outside our target group. We have therefore looked for a more targeted option. The amendments would make those receiving carer's allowance eligible for the saving gateway, rather than everyone who is entitled to receive it. Even without the amendments, around 225,000 claimants of carer's allowance would be eligible for the saving gateway through qualifying benefits. The amendments will add a further 300,000 carers to that number, taking the total to more than 500,000. I commend the amendments to the House.