Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which Minister in their Department is responsible for overseeing work on long-term strategic challenges; and how many officials in their Department (a) undertake horizon scanning work and (b) focus on delivering long-term priorities.

The Liaison Committee recently launched an inquiry into select committee scrutiny of strategic thinking across Whitehall. The Government will be providing written evidence to this in due course.

Each Minister is responsible for overseeing work on long term strategy in each of their portfolios, with the Secretary of State maintaining overall responsibility for the work of the Department.

Officials carry out horizon scanning and delivering long-term priorities in a range of roles across the department.