Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 11 February (HL13173) which stated that the "Social Care Green Paper remains a priority for this Government", how they define priority in this instance; and what are the Department of Health and Social Care's other priorities.

Building a sustainable care and support system where people understand their responsibilities and can prepare for the future is a key priority for this Government. It is important that people know that the care they receive will be to a high standard and will help them maintain their independence and well-being.

The Department continues to work closely on the Green Paper. Minsters meet regularly with officials and ensure that other departments and key stakeholders are consulted regularly.

In line with the Government’s planning and performance framework process, the Department’s priorities are published online in the Single Departmental Plan.

The Department’s priorities for 2018/19 are that we will:

- keep people healthy to support economic productivity and sustainable public services;

- transform primary care, community, and social care to keep people living more independent, healthier lives for longer in their community;

- support the National Health Service to deliver high quality, safe and sustainable hospital care and secure the right workforce;

- support research and innovation to maximise health and economic productivity;

- ensure accountability of the health and care system to Parliament and the taxpayer, and create an efficient and effective Department;

- create value (reduced costs and growing income) by promoting better awareness and adoption of good commercial practice across the Department and our arm’s length bodies.

The Department’s 2019/20 Single Departmental Plan will be published in due course in line with the usual processes.