Social Care

Lord Bradley Excerpts

Tuesday 24th June 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Bradley]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve social care provision over the next two years.

[Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Blake of Leeds) (Lab)]

My Lords, this year we have boosted funding for social care authorities by up to £3.7 billion and provided £86 million for home adaptations for older and disabled people. Further improvements include the largest ever uplift to the carer’s allowance earnings limit, legislation on the first fair pay agreement for care workers and new standards for care technologies. The noble Baroness, Lady Casey, is chairing an independent commission to make recommendations for a national care service, with the first phase reporting next year.

[Lord Bradley (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for that reply and welcome the initiatives that she has outlined. I want to raise further the extraordinary work of unpaid workers in the care system. The Government have confirmed to me that 61% of unpaid carers in receipt of carer’s allowance have no other additional income from paid employment. This is not surprising, since eligibility for the allowance requires 35 hours of caring every week, but the amount received for this work is only £83.30 a week or less than £2.40 an hour. Will the Minister urgently review this woeful level of recompense, well ahead of the review by the noble Baroness, Lady Casey, in 2028? This is for millions of unpaid carers, without whom the social care system may well collapse.

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for his question and take this opportunity to pay tribute to all those unpaid carers who make such an important contribution to the lives of the most vulnerable in our society. This Government are committed to ensuring that families have the support they need, and we know that many people want to play a role caring for their family and friends. Quite frankly, it is exceptionally difficult at times. We want to ensure that they are better able to look after their own health and well-being, which will enable them to care for others. To support our unpaid carers, in April 2025 the Government increased the carer’s allowance weekly earnings limit from £150 to £196. This is the largest ever increase. I know that the noble Baroness, Lady Casey, through her commission, will be looking at this situation very closely as we move forward.