Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Angela Watkinson (Conservative). It was answered on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Carers Strategy

Question: I thank the Secretary of State for his reply. He will know that some young carers fall behind in their studies because of a lack of awareness of their circumstances on the part of school staff. What guidance is given to schools to ensure that they are aware of what is happening and can help those young carers to balance their caring responsibilities with their personal development and education?

Answer: The hon. Lady raises an issue about which I care greatly. Some young people in our communities carry an incredible burden whereby they care for a family member and often sacrifice a great deal of their own life chances in doing so. Part of the problem is that the authorities often do not know that they are performing those caring responsibilities. We all have a duty to work harder to identify who those young people are and give them extra support, so that they do not miss out in later life as a result of performing a crucial function in caring for a loved one at a young age.

Secondary information