Nicholas Soames’s question during a debate on women and the economy on achieving a proper career structure for carers to allow people to have a proper career in caring and to be paid more as they gain more qualifications.
Sir Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con): Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the things that limit pay in the care sector, particularly for women, is that in old people’s care, in homes and other places, there is no structure to allow people to move up? More thought needs to be given to having a proper career in caring, which would allow people to be paid more as they gain more qualifications.
Mims Davies: I absolutely agree with my right hon. Friend, and I am standing beside a nurse—my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (Maria Caulfield)—who is nodding her head. We absolutely need to value carers, from mothers to people who look after older members of our society. We need to make that a proper career structure and to value the people who look after vulnerable people day in, day out.