1. Will the Minister make a statement on respite support for unpaid carers in South Wales East? OQ56572

We recognise the vital importance of respite and taking a break for maintaining the mental health and well-being of unpaid carers. On Monday, at the start of national Carers Week, I announced £3 million of new funding in 2021-22 to support emergency respite provision and development of a short-breaks fund.

Thank you, Minister. As you've noted, it is Carers Week, and I welcome your respite support package for unpaid carers, but I'm afraid that that doesn't tally with the delay in reopening day-care services. These services are one of the principal means of respite for unpaid carers, and some councils have yet to fully reopen them. I understand that Caerphilly have said that they will open facilities only on a phased basis, and they've requested advice from the Welsh Government about what process to follow to allow them to do this safely. Now, neighbouring councils like Newport have already provided day services, so I'd firstly like to know why the same guidance isn't being given to all councils. But, moreover, Minister, I'd like to stress—and I know that you'll appreciate this—the deeply draining toll that this is all taking on hundreds of families, families of people with learning disabilities or complex needs, many of whom have already had the vaccine and who rely on these services to cope and to see their friends. And their families need this respite—their role is physically and emotionally demanding. If some councils can offer this respite, how is it that some other councils are waiting on Welsh Government guidance? I just fear that the needs of carers and the harm being done to these families is getting lost somewhere.

I thank Delyth Jewell for that very important question, and I am very aware of the strain that carers have been under during this really difficult time. And I'm certainly aware of those people who are caring for people with a learning disability or people with Alzheimer's, that there is a great stress. And so I'm absolutely in sympathy with her in the point that she's trying to make.

We have been encouraging local authorities to reopen day centres, and in fact I'm aware of the situation in Caerphilly, and we have been in discussion—the officials have been in discussion with Caerphilly council—in order to try to hurry up the process. I'm also aware that the provision of day services that have opened are spasmodic—are scattered throughout Wales. And so we are well aware of this situation, we know how important it is, and we're working hard to try to get day services up and running, as they should now be able to do so.

Minister, there are more than 22,000 young carers aged between 14 and 25 in Wales. The pressure faced by these young people because of their caring duties can have a negative impact on their own physical health, mental health, education and employment opportunities. The pressure on these young people has been increased by the pandemic—there's no doubt about it. Looking after a family member or friend is highly rewarding, but also incredibly demanding. Just knowing that you're able to escape for a break is a great incentive, particularly where you are confident the person you care for will be looked after in your absence. You did mention the £3 million that you provided to local authorities earlier in Wales, but I would like to know how you will monitor this and the actual progress that that £3 million is going to be spent on the rightful purpose.

I thank you for that, again, very important question, because the needs of young carers are absolutely a high priority in the Government's planning, and we know what an enormous amount they do to care for their loved ones. On the £3 million, £1.75 million has already been given to the local authorities to support the existing respite schemes that they do provide already. The other £1.25 million, there is a research project that is looking at the best way of providing short breaks, and looking at what you have to do in order to qualify for those short breaks. For example, do you need to have had a carer's assessment? I think it may be not necessary to have had a carer's assessment. So, we're trying to make respite more flexible and easier for carers, including young carers, to access. So, these respite projects that we're putting forward are going to be available for young carers and carers of all ages, and we're particularly anxious that young carers should benefit from them. So, thank you again for that very important question.