Skip to main content

Written question asked by Alison Bennett (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 21 February 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 25 February 2025. It was answered by Stephen Kinnock (Labour) on Monday, 3 March 2025 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Better Care Fund

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the recently published policy framework for the Better Care Fund will support unpaid carers; and whether the Better Care Fund includes any ringfenced funding for supporting unpaid carers.

Answer

The Better Care Fund (BCF) includes funding that can be used for unpaid carer support, including short breaks and respite services for carers. As set out in the BCF policy framework published on 30 January 2025, to meet the objectives of the BCF, local areas should provide support for unpaid carers.

Funding for supporting unpaid carers is not ringfenced within the BCF. Local authorities and integrated care boards agree the amount of BCF funding in their locality that will be committed to support carers, in the context of other sources of funding and with reference to their statutory duties to support unpaid carers. As a result, actual spend by local authorities on services to support carers may differ.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
32763
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Carers Finance Better Care Fund
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk