Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to recognise the role of informal carers providing care to psychiatric patients.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the vital role of unpaid carers, including those caring for people with mental ill-health, and is committed to ensuring they have the support they need.
We have raised the Carer’s Allowance earnings limit from £151 to £196 per week, the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage and representing the largest cash increase ever.
Through measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining their caring tasks by introducing a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.
The Government has not made a specific assessment of the need for additional recognition and support for unpaid carers of people with mental ill-health. Local authorities are required by the Care Act 2014 to undertake carer’s assessments to support people caring for their family and friends who appear to have a need for support, including those caring for people with mental ill-health, and to meet their eligible needs upon request from them.
The Government is making approximately £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements. Local areas determine how the money is best used to support carers, depending on local need and with reference to their statutory responsibilities.
Informal carers with common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety can self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies or be referred by their general practitioner. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country. This includes expanding Talking Therapies services and giving patients better access to 24/7 support directly through the NHS App.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure informal carers supporting psychiatric patients have access to appropriate support services.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the vital role of unpaid carers, including those caring for people with mental ill-health, and is committed to ensuring they have the support they need.
We have raised the Carer’s Allowance earnings limit from £151 to £196 per week, the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage and representing the largest cash increase ever.
Through measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining their caring tasks by introducing a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.
The Government has not made a specific assessment of the need for additional recognition and support for unpaid carers of people with mental ill-health. Local authorities are required by the Care Act 2014 to undertake carer’s assessments to support people caring for their family and friends who appear to have a need for support, including those caring for people with mental ill-health, and to meet their eligible needs upon request from them.
The Government is making approximately £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements. Local areas determine how the money is best used to support carers, depending on local need and with reference to their statutory responsibilities.
Informal carers with common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety can self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies or be referred by their general practitioner. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country. This includes expanding Talking Therapies services and giving patients better access to 24/7 support directly through the NHS App.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the need for additional recognition and support for informal carers supporting people with mental health conditions.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the vital role of unpaid carers, including those caring for people with mental ill-health, and is committed to ensuring they have the support they need.
We have raised the Carer’s Allowance earnings limit from £151 to £196 per week, the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage and representing the largest cash increase ever.
Through measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining their caring tasks by introducing a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.
The Government has not made a specific assessment of the need for additional recognition and support for unpaid carers of people with mental ill-health. Local authorities are required by the Care Act 2014 to undertake carer’s assessments to support people caring for their family and friends who appear to have a need for support, including those caring for people with mental ill-health, and to meet their eligible needs upon request from them.
The Government is making approximately £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements. Local areas determine how the money is best used to support carers, depending on local need and with reference to their statutory responsibilities.
Informal carers with common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety can self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies or be referred by their general practitioner. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country. This includes expanding Talking Therapies services and giving patients better access to 24/7 support directly through the NHS App.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has considered to support informal carers providing care to psychiatric patients.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the vital role of unpaid carers, including those caring for people with mental ill-health, and is committed to ensuring they have the support they need.
We have raised the Carer’s Allowance earnings limit from £151 to £196 per week, the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage and representing the largest cash increase ever.
Through measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining their caring tasks by introducing a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.
The Government has not made a specific assessment of the need for additional recognition and support for unpaid carers of people with mental ill-health. Local authorities are required by the Care Act 2014 to undertake carer’s assessments to support people caring for their family and friends who appear to have a need for support, including those caring for people with mental ill-health, and to meet their eligible needs upon request from them.
The Government is making approximately £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements. Local areas determine how the money is best used to support carers, depending on local need and with reference to their statutory responsibilities.
Informal carers with common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety can self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies or be referred by their general practitioner. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country. This includes expanding Talking Therapies services and giving patients better access to 24/7 support directly through the NHS App.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that communities relying on a mobile post office service continue to have provision when vehicles are undergoing repair or maintenance.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government sets the overall access criteria for the Post Office network, but day‑to‑day operational matters – including the deployment and management of mobile post office services – are the responsibility of the Post Office. Where mobile units are temporarily unavailable due to repair or maintenance, the Post Office works to restore services as quickly as possible and to minimise disruption for the communities affected.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what guidance his Department provides to the Post Office to ensure continuity of service in areas served by mobile post offices.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government sets the overall access criteria for the Post Office network, but day‑to‑day operational matters – including the deployment and management of mobile post office services – are the responsibility of the Post Office. Where mobile units are temporarily unavailable due to repair or maintenance, the Post Office works to restore services as quickly as possible and to minimise disruption for the communities affected.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Environment Agency on rules governing sewage discharge into rivers during periods of heavy rainfall.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to tackling the root causes of sewage pollution into our rivers, lakes and seas. We will enable a step change to allow for more ‘pre-pipe’ solutions to reduce the volume of rainwater and pollutants entering the sewerage system. This includes better rainwater management, including sustainable drainage systems, and tackling sewer misuse.
Between 2025 and 2030, over £11 billion is being invested in improving nearly 3,000 storm overflows across England and Wales, targeted at those affecting the most sensitive sites for ecological and human health, including in rural areas.
Storm overflows are strictly regulated by the Environment Agency (EA). The regulators will not let companies get away with illegal activity and where breaches are found, will not hesitate to hold companies to account. The EA has increased its target for water company inspections to 10,000 in 2025/26 as part of the Government’s wider focus to hold companies to account and improve our water environment.
Ministers meet regularly with the EA Chair and Chief Executive to discuss governance, performance and delivery across the EA’s remit.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department has taken to reduce sewage discharges by water companies into rivers in rural areas.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to tackling the root causes of sewage pollution into our rivers, lakes and seas. We will enable a step change to allow for more ‘pre-pipe’ solutions to reduce the volume of rainwater and pollutants entering the sewerage system. This includes better rainwater management, including sustainable drainage systems, and tackling sewer misuse.
Between 2025 and 2030, over £11 billion is being invested in improving nearly 3,000 storm overflows across England and Wales, targeted at those affecting the most sensitive sites for ecological and human health, including in rural areas.
Storm overflows are strictly regulated by the Environment Agency (EA). The regulators will not let companies get away with illegal activity and where breaches are found, will not hesitate to hold companies to account. The EA has increased its target for water company inspections to 10,000 in 2025/26 as part of the Government’s wider focus to hold companies to account and improve our water environment.
Ministers meet regularly with the EA Chair and Chief Executive to discuss governance, performance and delivery across the EA’s remit.