Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will introduce a statutory guarantee of regular respite breaks for unpaid carers.

The Government is committed to ensuring that families have the support that they need. We want to ensure that people who care for family and friends are better able to look after their own health and wellbeing.

Local authorities have duties to support people caring for their family and friends. The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of sustainable, high-quality care and support services, including support such as respite and breaks for carers.

However, Lord Darzi’s independent review of the National Health Service is clear that a fresh approach to supporting and involving unpaid carers is required to improve outcomes for carers, people needing care, and the NHS.  We will carefully consider these findings as part of our 10-Year Health Plan for reforming and modernising the NHS and as we develop plans to reform adult social care, including through the National Care Service.

Support for unpaid carers must also be addressed in the wider context of the need for a renewed vision for adult social care. As we move forward, we will collaborate with our counterparts across Government, unpaid carers, and sector partners, to make sure that unpaid carers are visible, valued, and supported.