On Friday 27 March the House of Commons is due to hear a second reading of the Carers Bedroom Entitlement (Social Housing Sector) Bill.
But the Bill may not get the airing it deserves if not enough time is allocated for it to be heard.
It was put forward as a Private Member’s Bill by Worsley and Eccles South MP Barbara Keeley.
She told SalfordOnline.com: “It is a pity that Liberal Democrat and Conservative Ministers have not supported my Bill and I fear they will not allocate time for it to have a second reading.”
At its first reading in October 204 MPs voted for the Bill to go ahead, with eight voting against.
The legistation, if passed, would mean households that have one additional room would not have to pay the bedroom tax if one person living there is entitled to a Carers Allowance or needs overnight care.
It is believed that there are some 20,000 unpaid carers in Salford alone.
The bedroom tax, a reduction in benefits for social housing tenants with one or more ‘spare’ bedrooms, affects around 60,000 carers nationally.
The reduction costs the average family around £720 a year.
Labour have pledged to reverse the bedroom tax if they are elected in May.
Ms Keeley said the bill was a “common sense measure” to protect those carers who already face a host of financial and emotional challenges.
She said: “The bedroom tax fails to take into account the fact that many carers need an additional bedroom. This may be needed for medical equipment or so they can get enough rest to carry out their caring responsibilities.
“My bill is simple measure to protect carers from the impact of an illogical and unfair policy of the Conservative-led government.
She added: “Government policy reflects a complete misunderstanding of the circumstances most carers find themselves in, and it fails to treat carers with the dignity and the respect that they deserve.”
