Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the next meeting of the British–Irish Council discusses (1) mental health, and (2) dementia, medical and social care provision.

The British Irish Council supports 11 work sector programmes, the members of whom meet regularly at official and ministerial level. These thematic policy groups include Social Inclusion, Housing and Collaborative Spatial Planning, Digital Inclusion and Misuse of Substances, which each cover aspects of mental health and social care. As part of the agenda for the next main Summit meeting the Council will be provided with an update on the 11 work sector programmes.