Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing respite care for carers.

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 respite services. We also provided £1.49 billion via the Infection Control Fund, which has been used to support the safe reopening of day and respite services. In addition, we have allocated 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.