Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made on the merits of establishing a Commissioner for Older People; and if he would make a statement.

The Government is committed to making this country one of the best places to grow old in.

Across the health and social care system in England there are already systems in place that are able to listen to the voices of older people and respond to their concerns, such as through Care Quality Commission Inspections, Healthwatch England and via the policy that all older and vulnerable people have a single named local general practitioner that can help them navigate health and care.

We have previously considered the merits of introducing an older people’s commissioner. However, we believe that the duties that would be covered by such a role are covered by work elsewhere in the system.