Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Carers

Tuesday 13 July 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department is prioritizing carers by providing them with covid-19 testing and vaccination and funding carers' organizations.
  • The Minister acknowledged the need to address outdated guidance for young carers on the gov.uk website and committed to reviewing it.
  • The Department is considering unpaid carers as part of the ongoing social care reform plans expected later in the year.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Clive Betts Lab Sheffield South East
Care & Healthcare Workers Social Care
Context

Carers face significant demands and the questioner seeks clarity on steps being taken to ensure they receive adequate support.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that unpaid carers can access the support they need to provide care to family members.

Answer from Helen Whately

We recognise how much carers do and the huge demands that caring places on them. We have made carers a priority group for covid-19 testing and vaccination, funded carers' organisations and asked local authorities to meet their duties to identify and support carers. We have also provided guidance and funding through the £1.5 billion infection control fund to support the reopening of day services.

Answered
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Q2 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Children & Families
Context

A young carer in the constituency contacted the MP regarding outdated and insufficient information on the gov.uk website.

Question

I have been contacted by a Megan, a young carer in my constituency, and I have been in correspondence with the Minister about the lack of guidance for young carers on the gov.uk website. We got the Government to remove an outdated linked to a Barnardo's service that had closed at the end of March, but they have not replaced it with anything, which has left a vacuum in where young carers can look for advice and support. Can the Minister ensure that there is adequate, up-to-date information on the gov.uk website and that young carers have somewhere to turn to when they need help and support?

Answer from Helen Whately

I thank the hon. Lady for her question and her correspondence on this. She makes a very important point and I will make sure of that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about ensuring adequate, up-to-date information on gov.uk website was not fully addressed.

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Q3 Clive Betts Lab Sheffield South East
Social Care Housing
Context

The Select Committee on Housing, Communities and Local Government observed Germany's social care system where public funding can be paid to family members providing care.

Question

When the Select Committee on Housing, Communities and Local Government went to Germany about four years ago to look at its social care system, we saw that people entitled to public funding for social care could either pay the public authorities or care agencies to deliver it. Alternatively, for a slightly reduced amount of money, they could pay their family members, which meant that the person receiving care got the care they wanted, family members got paid for their efforts and the public purse actually saved some money. In reforming the social care system, would the Minister look at introducing elements of the German system into our system in this country?

Answer from Helen Whately

The Secretary of State has already said that we are working on our plans for social care reform, and we will be bringing them forward later this year. Of course, as part of those plans we are considering unpaid carers.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specifically asked about incorporating elements of Germany's system was not directly addressed; only general consideration of unpaid carers mentioned.

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