Cllr Chris Maines said, "I am delighted that the Government has conceded that their pension plans prevented many carers from building an entitlement to the basic state pension and that they will take steps to put this right.

"This is simply an issue of fairness. Carers make a huge contribution and this must be recognised when they come to retire by the granting of a full pension.

"Under the new proposals, agreed to by the Government, 40,000 more carers, who would have been unable to build up entitlement, will be credited with National Insurance Contributions and therefore will be eligible for a full state pension, including an estimated 175 right here in Lewisham.

"I am pleased that the Liberal Democrats, working with groups including Carers UK, the Equal Opportunities Commission, Age Concern and Help the Aged, as well as MPs from other parties, have been able to achieve this valuable improvement to our pension system."