§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will make a statement on the number of community support schemes there are in existence;
(2) what guidelines are issued for the operation of community support schemes.
§ Mr. YeoGuidance on implementing "Caring for People" includes material specifically on services for carers. We are funding the Carers Impact Group which will provide a consultancy service to statutory authorities about how to support carers, we also gave financial assistance to the King's Fund for their publication "Focus on Carers". Information about the number of community support schemes is not collected centrally.