Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of (a) carers and (b) parents that have (a) not entered work (b) reduced their working hours and (c) left the workforce as a result of caring responsibilities.

The requested information is not available.

DWP continues to invest in supporting carers to return to work through Jobcentre Plus which could include adviser support, access to the Flexible Support Fund, and payment for replacement care, childcare, travel and course costs to allow the carer to undertake approved activity or interview with Jobcentre Plus, providers or employers.