Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his oral contribution of 19 May 2025, on what date his Department plans to hold the first meeting of cross-party talks on social care.

The Government has clearly set out the importance of reaching cross-party consensus on adult social care. Building cross-party consensus is fundamental to the national conversation, and the Prime Minister has tasked Baroness Casey, as Chair of the Independent Commission into adult social care, to facilitate this.

Given the commission is independent, it is only right for Baroness Casey to independently build public and cross-party consensus on how best to meet the current and future needs of the population.

Baroness Casey has the autonomy to convene cross-party talks over the course of her work as she sees fit, with political parties invited as participants.