Cashpoint

Mitchells & Butlers revealed a sobering set of results yesterday.

The All Bar One and Harvester owner is nursing a hangover from higher wages bills and business rates, the sugar tax, restaurant discounting, dearer ingredients and Brexit uncertainty.

Profits dived 18% to £77million in the year to the end of September, despite sales rising 2.6% to £2.2billion.

Shares in the firm fell 6.5% yesterday as it ditched its interim dividend. Millions of carers could miss out on vital pension income because they fail to claim National Insurance Credits.

Department for Work and Pensions figures reveal just 14,000 of the seven million unpaid carers in the UK have applied for Carers’ NI credits.

Today is Carers’ Rights Day and the perfect time for carers to check they get the support they are entitled to.

NI credits ensure carers keep building up entitlement to the state pension. To be eligible a carer must do at least 20 hours per week and the person being cared for must receive a qualifying disability benefit, or be certified by a professional as requiring the amount of care being given.

Pensions Minister Guy Opperman said: “It’s vital those providing care also get the right support.”

Find out more at gov.uk/carerscredit or call 0345 608 4321.