IN RESPONSE to your article 'Outrage at Cuts to Carers' (November 25), I would like to make it clear that the work of carers in our community is highly valued and that is why, despite greatly reduced resources and government pressures, Harrow still spends more than £1million a year supporting them.

Mr Coker concedes that 'budgets are tight and difficult decisions have to be made' which is true, and we are doing everything we can to prioritise adult social care spending on support for carers.

All the voluntary groups that are funded with SLAs (service level agreements) from the adult social care budget have been reviewed against criteria which were agreed at meetings with all the stakeholders and Harrow Carers were involved in this decision-making process at every stage.

I am worried about the impact of coalition cuts to carer funding, but I am concerned that Mr Coker's remarks only serve to spread confusion when we should be doing more to lessen the anxiety for vulnerable groups at such an uncertain time.

We will have to make some very tough decisions but we will not allow the dignity of older and disabled people and the services for those that care for them in Harrow to be undermined.

COUNCILLOR MARGARET DAVINE

Harrow Council's portfolio holder for adult social care