NEW government measures aimed at supporting unpaid carers were criticised yesterday for promising to provide very little.

The two-year plan includes a scheme to boost employment help for carers and a £500,000 innovations fund to find fresh methods of support.

The MS Society’s Genevieve Edwards expressed concern at a lack of “any real commitment” to increase financial support for carers in the package, but she welcomed measures to encourage flexible working.

“Unpaid carers are under untold pressure, with over four in 10 admitting they struggle to make ends meet. Given it’s their contribution keeping our social care system afloat, they deserve better,” she said.

Labour shadow social care minister Barbara Keeley said: “This action plan is notable for planning very little action that would actually support carers when the need for support through better-funded social care has never been more urgent.

“After eight years of inhumane Tory cuts to council budgets, there is a £6.3 billion hole in social care funding.

“That means there are 400,000 fewer people receiving publicly funded care and that is heaping pressure on unpaid carers.”

One in 10 adults provide unpaid care for a relative or friend with an illness, disability, a mental health problem or addiction.