There is a "special duty" for government to help and support young carers, health minister Phil Hope has said.
Speaking in a Commons debate to draw attention to 'national carers week', the care services minister emphasised that young carers must not lose out on their childhood because of the need to look after a relative or friend.
He told MPs: "It is an indication of the strength of our society that every day some five or six million people care for their family members.
"They do an incredible job, often giving up huge amounts to care for someone they love.
"Carers are not a group separate from the rest of society, they are society."
Hope continued: "I believe we have a special duty to support young carers and to protect them from excessive caring burdens and inappropriate caring roles."
"We believe that young people who have caring responsibility for a family member should not be denied the right to enjoy their childhood and grow up like every other child."
Hope also told MPs at the debate that Dr Philippa Russell would take up the role of chairwoman of the Standing Commission on Carers, tasked with shaping future care policy.
For the Conservatives, shadow health minister Stephen O'Brien warned that carers lacked support from government.
"Too often carers bear the brunt of inadequate provision of care and support," he said.
"They are among those who are suffering the most because there has been prevarication, not least from the government, on reform."
And Liberal Democrat spokesman Greg Mulholland raised concerns that not enough has changed since the carers strategy was launched a year ago.
"If you speak with carers you will hear very little has changed - certainly not enough has changed - and, crucially, the fundamentals haven't changed," he said.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd