§ Lord Astor of Heverasked Her Majesty's Government:
What guidance they will give to local authorities regarding the provision of carers ahead of the implementation of the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act in April 2005. [HL4456]
§ Lord WarnerThe Department of Health will be consulting on policy guidance to accompany the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 over the next few months with a view to publishing the policy guidance by April 2005. The Social Care Institute for Excellence will use the evidence from its current knowledge review on the participation of carers in changing and improving social care services to develop, in consultation with key stakeholders, a practice guide, which is likely to be published in the summer of 2005.