Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the June 2020 finding of Carers UK that 4.5 million people have taken on caring responsibilities following the outbreak of covid-19, what plans his Department has to provide (a) funding, (b) support and (c) advice services to those people.

The Care Act 2014 introduced new rights for carers including an assessment of and support for their needs where eligible by their local authority. We have provided over £11.6 million to a number of charities to support carers and guidance tailored their needs.

We are working with local authorities, in collaboration with Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure, where possible, the safe resumption of day services and other forms of respite care. The Department has provided £1.35 billion to adult social care services through the Infection Control Fund, which has been used to support the reopening of day and respite services. In addition, we have provided over £2 billion this year to the Better Care Fund which local authorities can access to fund social care services in their areas, including respite services.