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The myth that people from ethnic minority backgrounds can "look after their own" with little assistance from statutory service providers still exists, according to health minister Jacqui Smith.

Speaking at the launch of a good practice guide for black carers held in London this week, she said: "We need to make special efforts for black carers. For too long black and ethnic minority carers have suffered financial and social exclusion, and received insufficient support."

She told the 200-plus delegates that the carers grant, which is currently £70m, will rise to £85m next year and £100m the following year.

The government was also trying to ensure that local authorities allocated a percentage of their carers grant for black carers' needs.

This year councils had been told that they could spend up to a tenth of their carers grant budget on short breaks for black carers, said Smith.

l We Care Too: a Good Practice Guide for People Working with Black Carers is available on 0121 558 7003