Mr. ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the most recent estimate available to him of the number of carers in Britain; and what proportion of these are known to service agencies and supported in their efforts.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe most recent estimate of the number of carers in Britain comes from the carers data collected in the 1985 general household survey. This shows that one adult (that is, people in private households aged 16 years and over) in seven (14 per cent.) was providing informal care. Information on the proportion of these who are known to service agencies is not held centrally. However, the survey showed that 47 per cent. of the main dependants of carers received regular visits from a variety of health, social and voluntary services. Further information is contained in the informal carers report published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.