Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had on tackling loneliness and social isolation in elderly people with (i) charities, (ii) professional bodies and (iii) other government departments in each of the last three years.

I have met with a number of organisations over the past three years to specifically discuss the issue of loneliness and social isolation. These organisations have included The Campaign to End Loneliness, Silverline, Royal Voluntary Service and Citizens UK.

During this period, I have also met with Ministers from Cabinet Office and Department for Work and Pensions to discuss loneliness and social isolation.