Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the public health impacts of loneliness in Surrey Heath constituency.

The most recent Community Life Survey, which also looks at data on a local authority level, shows that 7% of adults in England (over three million people) say they are lonely.

This Government is committed to supporting people to have the social connections they need across the nation, including in Surrey and Surrey Heath. This is a key part of achieving wider government priorities including a healthier, more connected society and ensuring opportunities for all. Rather than treating loneliness as a stand alone issue we are embedding this across wider government strategies, including the National Youth Strategy, the Pride in Place Strategy and the Men’s Health Strategy.

This government funds the Tackling Loneliness Hub, an online community which enables over 1000 members to connect across sectors in England, share insights, and collaborate. My department is currently exploring how to make the Hub even more accessible to a broader range of people whose work can reduce loneliness and improve social connection.