Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on ways to help unpaid carers meet the rising cost of living.

While we have had no specific discussions, Ministers and officials have regular discussions on a range of issues.

The Government continues to provide financial support to unpaid carers through Carer’s Allowance, the Carer Element in Universal Credit and other benefits. Carers in low-income households will benefit from the Means-Tested Benefit Cost of Living Payment. Those living in the same household as the disabled person they care for will benefit from the disability Cost of Living Payment, while families with a pensioner in the household will benefit from the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment.