Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assistance his Department provides for young people with caring responsibilities for older (a) siblings and (b) relatives.

Local authorities must identify young carers, including those caring for older siblings and relatives, who may need support and assess their needs when requested. We strongly support the No Wrong Doors for Young Carers Memorandum of Understanding, which promotes collaboration across children’s and adults’ services, health partners, and schools. We strongly encourage local authorities to sign up to it.

NHS England is supporting the identification of young carers through general practice guidance and improved data sharing. NHS England is also leading a cross-Government project, co-produced with young carers and voluntary, community, and social enterprise partners, to improve identification, strengthen support pathways, and join up services across education, health, and local organisations.

I chair a regular cross-Government meeting with ministers from the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Department for Education, to consider how best to provide unpaid carers and young carers with the recognition and support they deserve. The Government is preparing a cross-Government action plan for unpaid carers which we plan to publish later this year. This will include actions to strengthen further the support that is provided to young carers.