Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will publish a recovery and respite plan for unpaid carers.

We have no plans to do so. The ‘People at the Heart of Care: adult social care reform’ white paper sets out how the Government will work with the sector to improve the services provided to support unpaid carers. Funding is also provided through the Better Care Fund (BCF) to support carer breaks and respite. The BCF Framework for 2022/23 will request that all local BCF partnerships set out how funding is being used to support unpaid carers.

Additionally, unpaid carers in low-income households will benefit from the Means-Tested Benefit Cost of Living Payment. Those living in the same household as the disabled person for whom they care will benefit from the disability Cost of Living Payment, while families with a pensioner in the household will benefit from the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment.