Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to support the carers of people who have dementia.

On 28 February 2014, the Department set out an ambition for people with dementia and their carers to have high-quality care and support, which includes timely access to support for carers. The Department is supporting the Dementia Action Alliance's carers call to action, which sets out a shared vision and four actions to improve quality of life for carers of people with dementia.

In its Commitment to Carers, published on 7 May 2014, NHS England confirmed it will support timely diagnosis of dementia and support for carers. The revised Dementia Enhanced Service, which will be introduced from March 2015, will include an offer of a health check for carers and signposting to relevant information, advice and support. In 2013-14, the dementia Commissioning for Quality and Innovation goal was extended to include support for carers of people with dementia.

Carers are central to the Government's reform of care and support, with significant improvements in the Care Act which extend carers' rights to an assessment which will be based on the appearance of a need for support. For the first time, local authorities will be required to meet carers' eligible needs for support. The Act also creates a new statutory principle to promote an individual's well-being, including health and emotional well-being, which will apply equally to carers. We have provided £400 million to the National Health Service over four years from 2011 for carers to have breaks from their caring responsibilities. The £3.8 billion Better Care Fund includes £130 million funding for carers' breaks from 2015-16.