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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason his Department's second report on rural proofing, Delivering for rural England, published on 3 September 2022, does not make reference to specific social care policies in relation to rural areas.

My Department works across HM Government to compile the annual report on rural proofing which is based on contributions provided by individual Departments in respect of the policy areas for which they are responsible. The Department of Health and Social Care leads on the provision of health and care services to rural communities and the report published on 3^rd September describes the significant work being done to address issues of rurality in delivering those services.