Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to support unpaid carers with the cost of living.

The Department of Health and Social Care works closely with the Department for Work and Pensions on matters about unpaid carers.

We understand the pressures people face with the cost of living. These are global challenges, and we are providing support worth over £22 billion in 2022/23 to help. This includes a cut to fuel duty, a £9.1 billion package to help with energy bills and raising National Insurance thresholds.

We are also spending record amounts specifically to support unpaid carers, with expenditure on Carer’s Allowance forecast to be £3.1 billion in 2021/22.