Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many staff in his Department have roles with a specific focus on rural health.

We welcome the All-Party Parliamentary Group’s report, in particular its focus on health disparities and the experiences of rural communities. We plan to publish a health disparities white paper later this year which will set out measures to address health disparities and its causes, including those linked to geography. While there is no specific team within the Department solely focused on rural health, all policy teams are encouraged to embed consideration of rural health provision in policy development and delivery.