Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish a new national strategy for carers.

On 1 July 2015 my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State (Mr Jeremy Hunt) announced that I will develop a new carers’ strategy.

The cross-government strategy, led by the Department, will examine what more we can do to support existing carers and new carers.

Our intention is to publish the new strategy towards the close of 2016. Development of the strategy will include consideration of the evidence about the economic impact of caring and its relationship with the health and care sectors and wider society as whole. It will also include consideration of both international and national good practice about support for carers. Work to develop the strategy will include seeking views from carers and stakeholders.