Layla Moran elected Chair of Health and Social Care Committee

The Liberal Democrat MP emphasises the importance of finding common ground across political lines to address key issues in health and social care

Layla Moran, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, has been elected unopposed as the new Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee in the new Parliament.

The announcement was made by the Speaker in the House of Commons on Monday 9 September.

Moran, who has been serving as an MP since June 2017, also holds the roles of Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and International Development, as well as Science, Innovation, and Technology.

Taking on her new role, Moran expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I am delighted to be taking on the role of Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, to constructively challenge Ministers and the Department to deliver.

She highlighted the urgency of tackling the growing challenges within health and social care, including long waiting lists, workforce shortages, and delays in care plans for the elderly.

“With millions stuck on waiting lists, doctors and nurses overstretched, and far too many elderly people trapped in hospitals without a care plan, the role of the Committee as a critical friend of the Government as it tackles these challenges has never been more important.

“From social care to dentistry, and waiting lists to the workforce crisis, it has never been more pressing to find common ground across the political spectrum and I look forward to running a Committee that champions the voice of patients and front line health and social care staff,” she said.

The position of Chair was allocated to the Liberal Democrats following an agreement in the House on 30 July 2024.

Moran will officially assume her role once all the Committee members have been appointed by the House.

The Health and Social Care Committee is responsible for scrutinising the work of the Department of Health and Social Care and its associated public bodies. The Committee reviews government policies, spending, and administration on behalf of the public and the House of Commons.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting congratulated Layla Moran on her new role and expressed that the Health and Social Care ministers are eager to collaborate with the committee.