Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has has discussion with Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland on the provision of additional mental support for older people and families living in rural areas.

We are not aware of any discussions having taken place on the provision of additional mental support for older people and families living in rural areas between Defra officials and their NI counterparts in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland. Both rural policy and healthcare are devolved issues.