6. Welsh Conservatives Debate: Carers

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:05 pm on 13 June 2018.

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Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 5:05, 13 June 2018

I'll do my best to address the main points raised, though time, as always, will be the enemy here, because there's a lot of amendments and a lot of points have been raised.

I'd like to start with amendment 4. Unpaid carers, indeed, provide 96 per cent of care in Wales at a value of in excess of £8 billion. This is quite incredible; it shows the hidden economic value that is added to the compassion and the love and the care that they show. It does concern me that some carers indeed do feel unvalued, but we're increasingly talking to carers now who do feel valued, who do feel that not only Welsh Government but partners on the ground are taking notice of them and that we're taking really proactive steps to ensure that they can access practical support to maintain their own health and well-being as well.

Our transformative legislation, which has been mentioned, the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, gave carers an equal right to support as the person they care for. All carers in Wales have a right to a carers assessment to identify the support they need and local authorities must meet eligible needs. And if I can turn to Suzy's point there: Suzy, I don't know if you're aware of the publication of the first annual report on data relating to adults receiving care support, which was published in October 2017. It stated that, from 6 April 2016 to 31 March 2017, 6,207 assessments of need for support were undertaken, leading to provision of 1,823 support plans, but we're also currently working with the local authorities and stakeholders to develop new, more robust data for 2019-20 onwards. We're also about to commission an independent evaluation of the social services and well-being Act—[Interruption.] I'll turn to other aspects in a moment. I'm going to be limited on time, but if I can, I'll give way in a moment—