Carers Action Plan

Debate between Baroness Pidgeon and Baroness Hyde of Bemerton

Thursday 22nd October 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hyde of Bemerton (Lab)]

Until May this year, I was the executive member for health and adult social care at Islington Council, and I regularly met with unpaid carers and supported the carers’ hub there. This gave me first-hand experience of the absolutely incredible people who are unpaid carers. I want to use this opportunity to express the Government’s gratitude to all those unpaid carers who provide that vital support to family, friends and neighbours.

To return to the noble Baroness’s question, the champion will build on commitments in the Government’s unpaid carers’ action plan and enable efforts to improve the identification and support of unpaid carers. Work is under way to establish the role, including how it will complement existing activity across government and that crucial wider adult social care reform.

[Baroness Pidgeon (LD)]

My Lords, first, I welcome the Minister to her place. However, will the Government commit to a statutory guarantee so that unpaid carers have access to regular, reliable respite care, rather than support being dependent on reaching a point of crisis or on where someone happens to live?

[Baroness Hyde of Bemerton (Lab)]

I thank the noble Baroness for the welcome. Local authorities already have duties under the Care Act to assess carers’ needs and meet eligible needs, while the better care fund can support respite, short breaks and provide peer support. However, funding and duties must result in meaningful support on the ground, so we will continue to examine how effectively existing arrangements are working and consider whether further action is required to enable more support. We recognise the importance of unpaid carers receiving high-quality support wherever they live in the United Kingdom.