Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the costs of social loneliness and isolation in elderly people to the economy; and if he will make a statement.
My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care meets regularly with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss a range of policy issues.
Loneliness is an issue that affects many in our society and tackling loneliness can help to address social isolation.
The Department of Health and Social Care fully supports a Government-wide approach to tackling loneliness led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The Government’s Loneliness Strategy was published on 15 October 2018 and will be its first step in tackling the long-term challenge of loneliness.