Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of (a) how widespread social exclusion is in rural areas and (b) the effect of his Department’s policies on social exclusion in rural areas.

Public Health England (PHE) and the Local Government Association jointly published ‘Health and Wellbeing in Rural Areas’ in March 2017, which describes the inequality experienced by some rural communities; gives a steer for local authorities on issues to consider in meeting the needs of rural communities and provides examples of case studies of how local areas are addressing this. The report is available to view at the following link:

https://www.local.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing-rural-areas

Last October, the Government published England’s first Loneliness Strategy which lays the foundation for people to build better and more meaningful connections. The practical measures to reduce loneliness set out in the strategy can also help to address social exclusion across the country.

The Department welcomed the opportunity to draw on its own policies and programmes and its arm’s length bodies, including on primary care, public health, carers, mental health, social care and technology and digital support to inform the Loneliness Strategy, and remains committed to working alongside businesses, healthcare professionals, charities, community groups and local authorities to have a real and lasting impact on loneliness.