Rishi Sunak's 5p fuel duty cut 'no way sufficient' for home care staff facing high pump prices

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a cut to fuel duty by 5p a litre, effective from 6pm on 23 March, but the move has been criticised for being ‘no way sufficient’ for home care workers struggling to pay higher fuel costs.

Announcing the reduction in his Spring Statement, Mr Sunak said the cut which will last until next March, was "the biggest cut to all fuel duty rates ever".

However, Vic Rayner chief executive of National Care Forum (NCF), which represents care providers, said: “The 5p cut in fuel duty is also welcome and will also help both employees and employers, but is in no way sufficient to deal with the price increases that will fall particularly hard on domiciliary care provision.”

The RAC has said the 5p cut announced on 23 March, only took prices back to where they were just over a week ago and the cut would take £3.30 off the cost of filling a 55-litre family car.

On the eve of the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, average pump prices hit a new record - with petrol reaching £1.67 a litre and diesel close to £1.80 a litre.

Vic Rayner's comment on the impact of rising fuel costs on home care services has been echoed by care staff.

Fears staff will leave jobs rather than pay more

Home care worker Sharon Lloyd can drive 40 miles a day in her own car and says “because the petrol is rising I’m putting more out of my own pocket into my car. Everything else is going up as well.”

Some home care providers have increased their mileage payments and many are having to transfer the cost to their clients.

Gemma Bristow, Radfield Home Care (Wakefield and Dewsbury) told Home Care Insight “We have already received concerns from the team on the rise of fuel costs, and with that comes the possibility of having to search for another job.

“Our staff work here because they care, but they can also care in residential homes, hospitals and day centres, which do not require the use of their personal vehicles for work.”

Government urged to subsidize electric cars for home care staff

The Homecare Association’s chief executive Dr Jane Townson has been urging the government to “demonstrate its commitment to home care workers”, to the old and disabled they care for and to the environment, by subsidising fleets of electric cars.

Dr Jane Townson said: "The rising price of fuel is yet another financial burden for homecare workers, some of whom are facing real financial hardship and are reliant on grants from the Care Workers' Charity.

“Many employers in the state-funded part of the homecare sector are struggling to increase staff wages and payments for mileage as the fee rates they receive from councils and the NHS are inadequate to cover costs.”

With home care workers collectively driving “over 4 million miles per day” to provide care for older and disabled people, she said “access to affordable fuel is critical”. “Road pricing adds further to costs and many homecare workers cannot afford new cars which meet low emission standards.

“We welcome the government’s vision for social care, which places home-based support and care at the centre. To turn this vision into reality, homecare needs much greater investment.”

Mike Padgham chair of the Independent Care Group (ICG) which represents care bosses, says care providers are facing a fight for survival amidst huge increases in fuel, gas and electricity costs.

“This is a hidden crisis that could rob our communities of vital care providers, and we need help" said Mike Padgham.

“Covid-19 left us battered, bruised and almost bankrupt and as we try to fight back, get occupancy levels up and survive, we are faced with huge fuel and utility bills that threaten our ability to provide any care at all."