Carers Action Plan

Debate between Baroness Pitkeathley and Baroness Hyde of Bemerton

Thursday 22nd October 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Pitkeathley]

To ask His Majesty’s Government how they intend to ensure that the Cross-Government Carers Action Plan achieves lasting change for unpaid carers and their families.

[Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Hyde of Bemerton) (Lab)]

My Lords, the Government want the action plan to deliver lasting change for unpaid carers and their families. We will publish annual progress updates, meet annually with unpaid carers to hear their experiences, and refresh the plan to maintain momentum and accountability. In addition, the unpaid carers champion will drive progress and work with carers organisations. The cross-government ministerial group, chaired by Minister McGovern, will provide quarterly oversight supported by regular official level co-ordination.

[Baroness Pitkeathley (Lab)]

I thank the Minister for that reply. It is a great pleasure to welcome her to the Dispatch Box on her first outing. These initiatives for carers are hugely welcome, of course, but co-ordination is going to be of great importance. Can the Minister say a little more about how the unpaid carers champion, which is a wonderful new initiative, will be involved with overseeing or delivering the carers action plan, and how that in turn will link with the work being done by the noble Baroness, Lady Casey, and her commission?

[Baroness Hyde of Bemerton (Lab)]

Until May this year, I was the executive member for health and adult social care at Islington Council, and I regularly met with unpaid carers and supported the carers’ hub there. This gave me first-hand experience of the absolutely incredible people who are unpaid carers. I want to use this opportunity to express the Government’s gratitude to all those unpaid carers who provide that vital support to family, friends and neighbours.

To return to the noble Baroness’s question, the champion will build on commitments in the Government’s unpaid carers’ action plan and enable efforts to improve the identification and support of unpaid carers. Work is under way to establish the role, including how it will complement existing activity across government and that crucial wider adult social care reform.