Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the timeframe is for (a) implementing policies to tackle the challenges facing the social care system and (b) the publication of the Green Paper on social care.

As people live longer than ever before, sometimes with complex care needs, we need to ensure the social care system is sustainable in the longer term. The Government has committed to publishing a Green Paper setting out its proposals for reform and will bring forward ideas for including an element of risk pooling in the system, which will help to protect people from the highest costs.

The Green Paper remains a priority for the Government and will address a longstanding policy problem. We are continuing to work on it closely, taking the time to consult with key stakeholders and take their feedback into consideration. The Green Paper will be published at the earliest opportunity.