Unpaid Carers - Question

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 3:07 pm on 15 October 2025.

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Photo of Baroness Blake of Leeds Baroness Blake of Leeds Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip) 3:07, 15 October 2025

I thank my noble friend for her long-standing commitment to the cause of unpaid carers and for contributing to strengthening their rights under the Health and Care Act 2022. I reassure her and the House that the Government recognise the concerns raised in the recent Carers UK report. The Hospital Discharge and Community Support Guidance states that NHS bodies and local authorities have a duty to involve parents and carers, including young carers, at the earliest opportunity in discharge planning for adults who are likely to need care and support. The Care Quality Commission is assessing local authority performance against the Care Act 2014. If the CQC identifies that a local authority has failed or is failing to involve carers in discharge planning, the Secretary of State can intervene.

Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care providers in England and it is responsible for developing and consulting on its methodology for assessing whether providers are meeting the registration requirements.

Secretary of State

Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.