Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will commission specialist support for carers who have not been in paid employment for some time on (a) managing finances, (b) work placements and (c) confidence building.

As we have promised in the recently published Get Britain Working White Paper, this government will be providing help more effectively by creating a new jobs and careers service to help people into work and get on at work, which will promote better joining up employment support.

This will build on what the Department for Work and Pensions already offer to support carers. Part time carers on Universal Credit receive tailored support from their Jobcentre Plus work coach, who will adjust work related requirements to fit around their caring responsibilities. Support also includes skills training, career advice, job search help, volunteering opportunities and access to the Flexible Support Fund to aid job entry.

Full time carers providing at least 35 hours caring per week, are not required to undertake any work-related activities, but they can access employment support voluntarily.

Additionally, the department launched the Jobhelp pages offering advice to help carers make informed decisions about combining work and caring responsibilities.