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 of the potential merits of introducing an older people’s commissioner for England with statutory powers to project and champion older people.

While we have previously considered the merits of an older people’s commissioner, we believe that the duties of such a role are addressed by existing mechanisms in the health and care system in England. These include the Care Quality Commission’s inspections, Healthwatch England and ensuring that all older and vulnerable people have a single named local general practitioner to assist them to navigate the health and care system.