The Princess Royal is to lead a debate on care with the three main political parties, which will include talks over social care jobs and funding, as well as opening the Building Society to Care round table discussion, by sharing her own experiences with her charity. The Princess is the founder of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and is dedicated to improving services for all carers.

This discussion follows the recent publicity of how less than a quarter of a £50 million fund for carers was spent by Primary Care Trusts on improving services for carers, when it should have been the full fund. The charity said it will confront politicians on the issue during the event, as well as passing on other carers questions from across the UK.

Care Services Minister Phil Hope, Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care, Stephen O'Brien and Liberal Democrat spokesperson Paul Burstow, will also be speaking at the event. Alex Fox, the charity's director of policy and communications, said: ''Research we carried out last year, which has been highlighted in the past few days by The Telegraph and the BBC, showed that only 23 per cent of the £50 million allocation to improve services for carers was actually used for that purpose."

Carole Cochrane, chief executive at The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, said: ''We are pleased that the three main parties have decided to put aside their differences to engage in a serious and measured debate about the future of social care policy, and what impact this will have on carers.''

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers provides support services across the UK. It provides information, advice and support to more than 400,000 carers, including approximately 25,000 young carers.