Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment with local authorities of the potential barriers faced by carers in accessing the support to which they are entitled; and if he will take steps to help increase access to support for carers.

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are required to undertake an assessment for any unpaid carer who appears to have a need for support and to meet their eligible needs on request from the carer.

The Health and Care Act 2022 includes provisions for the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to assess the performance of local authorities’ delivery of adult social care duties. The CQC is working with local government, the care sector and those with care and support needs to develop a framework for these assessments, including consideration of local authorities’ responsibilities to carers.