Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) financial and (b) other resources available to family carers.

The Government is committed to continuing to support informal carers, and to do so in a way that supports their own health and wellbeing, employment and other life chances. On the 5 June the Department published a cross-Government action plan of targeted work to support carers over the next two years.

The Care Act 2014 also introduced important new rights for carers, for the first time putting them on the same footing as the people for whom they care. They now have legal rights to an assessment of, and support for, their needs where eligible.

In addition, carers have access to the full range of social security benefits according to their circumstances. Since 2010 the rate of Carer’s Allowance has increased from £53.90 to £64.60 a week, meaning an additional £550 a year for carers.