Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to ensure carers have access to breaks from their caring responsibilities.

The Government recognises that access to breaks is important support for carers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Care Act 2014 introduced 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.

Day services and other forms of respite care are vital services and we are working with local authorities, in collaboration with Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure, where possible, the safe resumption of these services. We have also provided funding through the £1.8 billion Infection Control Fund to support the reopening of day and respite services.