Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the Carers UK's publication entitled State of Caring Survey 2023, published 17 October 2023; and if he will make it his policy to (a) raise the level of and (b) widen the eligibility criteria for the Caring Allowance.

I am grateful to Carers UK for its publication. It is important that unpaid carers should receive all the financial support that is available to them, including from the benefit system through Universal Credit for those on the lowest incomes, and through Carer’s Allowance. We keep this support under continual review, reflecting a wide range of data and evidence, including from key stakeholders such as Carers UK, to see whether it is meeting its policy objectives.