Carers: In Sickness and in Health

Baroness Barker Excerpts

Wednesday 11th July 2012 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

As ever, the noble Baroness makes a really important point, and it is one that we fully recognise. In our plans to roll out psychological therapies, carers are very much within the scope of our thinking. As the noble Baroness will know, last year we published a four-year plan of action. We are investing around £400 million—the same sum of money that I referred to but additional to the other sum—in talking therapies: the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme. I am sure the noble Baroness will be glad to know that that investment is already making marked improvements, and there is a substantial increase in the number of people receiving the benefit of IAPT.

[Baroness Barker]

My Lords, in view of the Government’s stated intention to increase personalisation, can the Minister tell the House what happens when the expressed wishes and needs of somebody being cared for are in conflict with the expressed wishes and needs of a carer? Whose needs take precedence in that case, and how is the conflict resolved?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, when I come to make the Statement I shall have something to say about personal budgets, which will empower those who are being looked after and their carers in just the sort of circumstances to which my noble friend refers.