Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February to Question 135221, how much funding was provided for (a) short breaks and (b) respite services to carers by the Government in each of the last 13 years; and how many carers benefited from this funding each year.

The Department does not hold data on short breaks and respite care services for unpaid carers. Funding for respite and short breaks for unpaid carers has been included in the National Health Service contribution to the Better Care Fund (BCF) since 2015. In 2022/23, £291.7 million of BCF funding has been earmarked to provide short breaks and respite services for carers, as well as advice and support to unpaid carers.