Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help lower the costs of dementia care for patients and their families.

We are making progress on a National Care Service based on higher quality of care, greater choice and control, and joined-up health and care services, with over £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26.

We are expanding care options to boost independent living at home through the confirmation of £723 million for the Disabled Facilities Grant in 2026/27 and through introducing care technology standards to help people choose the right support.

To help support the vital role of unpaid carers, we have raised the Carer’s Allowance weekly earnings limit by a record amount in April 2025, and it increased again to £204 net earnings a week for 2026/27. We are also committed to reviewing the implementation of Carer’s Leave and considering the benefits of introducing paid Carer’s Leave while being mindful of the impacts on businesses.

We will deliver the first ever Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, which is expected this year.  The Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia and will set national standards for dementia care and redirect National Health Service priorities to provide the best possible care and support.