theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to incentivise R&D investment in the United Kingdom. \p Feryal Clark: R&D investment in the UK is 2.8% of GDP, ahead of the OECD average of 2.7%. To further incentivise R&D investment, we are supporting innovators with a record £20.4 billion in R&D spending for 2025/26, which on average leverages £2 of private R&D investment for every pound of public investment. The UK is also a leader in attracting international R&D investment, with the second highest number of R&D inward investment projects in Europe. We are backing high-growth firms through reforms to the British Business Bank and pensions to unlock £80 billion of investment. Our generous R&D tax relief rates are projected to support £56 billion of business R&D expenditure annually by 2029-30.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Helen Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what estimate his Department has made of the total level of funding allocated by the Medical Research Council into specific research on the (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of lobular breast cancer in each of the last five years. \p Feryal Clark: The Government does not ringfence funding for specific cancers. DSIT invests approximately £200 million into cancer research annually via UK Research and Innovation, including the Medical Research Council (MRC). The average annual funding awarded by UKRI to breast cancer research (including diagnosis and treatment) between 2018 and 2022 was approximately £10 million. The MRC invests approximately £125 million into cancer annually. DHSC spent £121.8 million in 2022/23 on cancer research via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research infrastructure funding supports Biomedical Research Centres and the NIHR Research Delivery Network, which has enabled the delivery of 10 lobular breast cancer studies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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David Davis:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the National Security Online Information Team's policies on the collection of personal data on people's ability to establish what information the Government holds about them. \p Feryal Clark: DSIT’s National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT) does not actively collect personal data. However, it may receive or process some personal data in the course of its work and follows the requirements of UK GDPR and any advice or guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office. NSOIT has published privacy notices on Gov.uk which set out how personal data may be processed. These notices include a section explaining the public’s data protection rights and how to establish if NSOIT does hold any individual data.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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David Davis:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps to ensure that the National Security Online Information Team's social media monitoring work can be scrutinised by (a) Parliament and (b) the public. \p Feryal Clark: DSIT ministers remain accountable to parliament and routinely answer questions from parliamentarians and select committees, including on the work of the National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT).

The department continues to respond to correspondence, Freedom of Information Act requests and Subject Access Requests from parliamentarians and members of the public. NSOIT has also published privacy notices which are accessible to the public on Gov.uk
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Tom Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what evidence his Department is gathering on the impact of social media interfaces on the mental wellbeing of users. \p Feryal Clark: We recognise the need for more research and evidence to improve our understanding of people’s experiences online.

In November 2024, DSIT announced a feasibility study to further understand the impact of social media on children.

The study will review existing evidence and assess which research methods will be most effective in determining the causal effect of social media on children’s developmental outcomes. The study will conclude in May 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number and proportion of civil servants who work from home every day in each Department. \p Georgia Gould: Central data on Civil Service Headquarters (HQ) occupancy is collected and published quarterly on GOV.UK for all HQ buildings of Whitehall Departments, Office for Scotland, Office for Wales and Northern Ireland Office. The latest data for the period October to December 2024 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of recent trends in the number of 16-24 year olds not in (a) employment, (b) education and (c) training. \p Georgia Gould: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 13th February is attached.

Letter from the UK Statistics Authority (pdf, 113.9KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish his Department’s internal guidance on answering written Parliamentary Questions. \p Georgia Gould: As was the case under previous administrations, there are currently no such plans to publish this guidance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Luke Akehurst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what cross-government policies exist on procuring UK-made vehicles for use by Government Departments. \p Georgia Gould: The Procurement Act 2023, which is due to come into force on 24 February 2025, establishes a new public procurement regime, creating a simpler and more transparent system that will deliver better value for money.

Alongside this, a new National Procurement Policy Statement is being introduced aligned to the Government’s strategic priorities including growing the economy, creating high-quality local jobs, driving innovation and opening up opportunities to small businesses and social enterprises.

Contracting authorities are encouraged to consider how their procurement strategies can support domestic supply chains, including the vehicle manufacturing sector, while ensuring value for money for taxpayers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any private sector companies with contracts with his Department will receive higher payments to compensate for the increase in employer National Insurance contributions; and whether there are contractual obligations on passing on increased fees. \p Georgia Gould: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the number of (a) employments and (b) employees was by (i) UK, (ii) EU and (iii) non-EU nationality in each month since July 2014. \p Georgia Gould: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman Parliamentary Question of 13th of February is attached.

Dataset from the UK Statistics Authority (xlsx, 23.8KB)

Letter from the UK Statistics Authority (pdf, 104.9KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 18211 on Prime Minister: Aviation, whether this approach is different to that of the previous Prime Minister. \p Georgia Gould: The approach remains the same as that of previous Prime Ministers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any staff in his Department are seconded from the London Borough of Camden. \p Georgia Gould: Secondments are part of a range of ways of bringing talent and experience into the civil service for short periods of time and have been used by successive governments. Secondments are arranged at a business unit level and must follow the processes as set out in the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. Under the Plan for Change, the Cabinet Office is drawing together multi-disciplinary teams across the country including front line public service workers, policy officials and those with digital and data skills to pioneer public service reform.This includes one secondee from the London Borough of Camden.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 25696 on Public Appointments: Political Activities, whether the Commissioner for Public Appointments has issued guidance on whether declarations of political activity should be published when a public appointment is made as part of the announcement. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The Commissioner for Public Appointments has not issued guidance on the publication of declarations of political activity. As set out in previous answers, rules on political activity by prospective or existing public appointees are already clearly set out within both the Governance Code on Public Appointments and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies, and the process for declaring interests, including how they should be published by departments, is also set out in detail on Gov.uk.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Jim Allister:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have been awarded the Elizabeth Emblem in recognition of the sacrifice of a loved one who died in the course of providing services in Northern Ireland. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: In November, the government announced that thirty eight individuals would be honoured with the Elizabeth Emblem. None were related to Northern Ireland in this first announcement but I understand that several cases from Northern Ireland are currently being processed for a future announcement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Jim Allister:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the number of people nominated for the Elizabeth Emblem by (a) organisations and (b) private individuals in (i) Northern Ireland and (ii) the UK. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: Elizabeth Emblem nominations can only be made by the next-of-kin of the deceased individual. It is, however, open to them to seek the help of an appropriate organisation when completing the form. Organisations may also approach them to suggest that an application be made.

To date, 38 of the 187 nominations across the United Kingdom have been related to Northern Ireland.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 22198 on Civil Servants: Freedom of Information, what grade thresholds does the Government apply in Freedom of Information Act requests when determining whether a civil servant is sufficiently senior that a Section 40 exemption would not apply to the disclosure of their personal information. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: All Freedom of Information requests are considered on their own merits in all circumstances.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether Intertrade UK will have a board; and how many full-time staff it will have. \p Hilary Benn: Intertrade UK is a non-statutory advisory body that supports the East-West Council (EWC) in promoting all internal UK trade, made up of a Chair and six dedicated experts. The roles are unremunerated, but a Secretariat function will be provided by the Northern Ireland Office, with dedicated policy support provided by other Government Departments as required.

The work programme and budget for Intertrade UK are under development, and will ensure value for money.

Since the announcement of Baroness Foster as Chair of Intertrade UK in September 2024, preparatory work has been continuing in advance of the first meeting, the date of which will be confirmed soon.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Lincoln Jopp:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of whether air quality is a contributing factor to autism. \p Stephen Kinnock: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s Clinical Knowledge Summary on autism states that the precise cause of autism is unknown, but that genetic factors play a substantial role in the aetiology, and a number of environmental factors are also thought to play a part in development. Further information is available at the following link:

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/autism-in-adults/background-information/causes-risk-factors/
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's press release entitled AI technology to help cut cancer waiting lists, published on 21 May 2024, whether his Department has distributed all of the announced funding. \p Karin Smyth: The funding for artificially intelligent (AI) radiotherapy contouring quoted in the press release was announced under a previous administration, and was not taken forward at the time.

However, AI presents significant opportunities within NHS England to improve the delivery of care and outcomes for patients by increasing the speed and accuracy of diagnosis, and improving staff productivity, by freeing up staff time from some routine and administrative work.

Many of these AI technologies are being tested and evaluated in NHS England to aid clinical decision-making, healthcare diagnostics, and imaging. For example, the Department is focusing the £21 million AI Diagnostic Fund on the deployment of technologies in key, high-demand areas such as chest x-ray and chest computed tomography scans, to enable faster diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer in over half of acute trusts in England.

All future spending commitments beyond 2025 to 2026 will be dependent on the outcome of Phase 2 of the Spending Review process, which will conclude and be published in late spring of 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to (a) improve awareness of pancreatic cancer symptoms and (b) help ensure GPs receive appropriate training on recognising the symptoms of pancreatic cancer at an early stage. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS England is already taking steps to deliver a range of interventions to improve awareness of pancreatic cancer symptoms. NHS England runs Help Us Help You campaigns to increase knowledge of cancer symptoms and address barriers to acting on them, to encourage people to come forward as soon as possible to see their general practitioner. The campaigns focus on a range of symptoms, including symptoms of pancreatic cancer, as well as encouraging body awareness, to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers at an early point.

NHS England is also working with Pancreatic Cancer UK to develop a public-facing Family History Checker, which enables people, and their families, affected by pancreatic cancer to self-assess if they have inherited risk. People identified of being at risk are referred directly to the European Registry of Hereditary Pancreatic Diseases research trail, which aims to understand inherited conditions of the pancreas. Referrals to the trail can be made by any healthcare professional across all health sectors, or by individuals via self-referral.

General practitioners are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge remains up-to-date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. This activity should include taking account of new research and developments in guidance, such as that produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, to ensure that they can continue to provide high quality care to all patients.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the total cost to the public purse for the provision of diversity, equality and inclusion courses for staff in her Department in 2024. \p Karin Smyth: In the 12 months from January 2024 to December 2024, the Department has not delivered any diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) courses centrally. This refers to any courses where the training includes awareness of DEI as the main theme of the training.

All Departmental staff are required to complete the ‘Civil Service Expectations’ mandatory learning that includes aspects of DEI and is delivered centrally through Civil Service Learning at no additional cost to the Department. Since May 2024, the department has aligned itself with the Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance, which stipulates measures to enact greater control over DEI spend and activity across the Civil Service, providing assurance and alignment with Government priorities. The guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-equality-diversity-and-inclusion-expenditure-guidance/civil-service-equality-diversity-and-inclusion-expenditure-guidance
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2025 to Question 23857 on NHS Business Services Authority: Workplace Pensions, if he will undertake a review of the practices of the NHS Business Service Authority. \p Karin Smyth: The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) has investigated the recent pension savings calculation error that affected 2023/24 Pension Savings Statements. This established that the annual consumer price index increase was incorrectly applied to the opening value of 2023/24 pension savings calculations, resulting in the Pension Input Amount being lower than it should be. In light of the findings, robust measures have been put in place to ensure this error does not happen again. NHSBSA reported the issue to The Pensions Regulator and will take any actions that the regulator may require.

We will work with the NHS Pensions Board to monitor and hold NHSBSA to account for the quality of scheme administration.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a mutual recognition agreement with the European Medicines Agency; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of such an agreement on access to (a) medicines and (b) medical devices. \p Karin Smyth: We are focused on strengthening our relationship with the European Union, forging a stable, positive relationship that benefits the United Kingdom. We have always been clear that we will not return to the single market, customs union or freedom of movement.

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the UK and the EU currently provides for mutual recognition of inspections and acceptance of official Good Manufacturing Practice documents. In addition, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency works closely with a range of international regulatory authorities, including the European Medicines Agency, through several international regulatory groups such as the International Council for Harmonisation, the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities and the International Medical Device Regulators Forum.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total cost for the storage of PPE related to Covid-19 was in 2024. \p Karin Smyth: The cost of storing personal protective equipment (PPE) bought in response to the COVID-19 pandemic for the calendar year 2024 was approximately £60 million. The programme of work to reduce excess PPE stock has now concluded.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department spent on (a) external tenders and (b) contracts for (i) translation and (ii) interpretation services in the NHS in 2024. \p Karin Smyth: The Department’s expenditure with external suppliers of translation or interpretation services in the 2024 calendar year was £16,833. This was mainly for providing accessible, easy to understand versions of technical and legal documents for patients and the public.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Jack Rankin:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of an increase in Indefinite Leave to Remain visa grants on NHS capacity. \p Karin Smyth: No assessment has been made of the potential impact of changes in the levels of grants of Indefinite Leave to Remain on National Health Service capacity or waiting times, and there are no current plans to undertake such an assessment.

Internationally educated staff remain an important part of the workforce, and our Code of Practice for International Recruitment ensures stringent ethical standards when recruiting health and social care staff from overseas. The Government remains committed to growing homegrown talent and giving opportunities to more people across the country to join the NHS.

In summer 2025, we will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a table of the total amount spent on (a) primary, (b) secondary, (c) tertiary and (d) community care in the NHS in each of the last 5 financial years. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England does not routinely collect expenditure data against the categories requested. However, the table attached shows the total spend in billions for specialised services, primary medical care, community services, continuing care, acute services, core mental health services, and others, as well as total integrated care board and direct commissioning spend, from 2015/16 to 2023/24.

Table for 31214 (docx, 25.0KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Cat Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 27 January 2021 to Question 137239 on Prescription Drugs, what information his Department holds on the number of patients who have been prescribed drugs categorised under the (a) (i) clonazepam and (ii) other benzodiazepines, (b) z-drugs, (c) antidepressants, (d) opioids, (e) pregabalin and (f) gabapentin drug groups in the (A) last 12 months and (B) the previous 12 month period for which data is available. \p Karin Smyth: The following table shows the number of items dispensed and claimed for reimbursement for each of the categories requested, covering the most recently published 12-month period and the 12 months prior:

Drug group

Financial year

Total number of items

Clonazepam

2022/23

1,048,081

2023/24

1,059,421

Other benzodiazepines

2022/23

7,156,845

2023/24

6,814,129

Clonazepam and other benzodiazepines

2022/23

8,204,926

2023/24

7,873,550

Z-drugs

2022/23

5,316,627

2023/24

5,113,574

Antidepressants

2022/23

86,263,722

2023/24

89,131,582

Opioids

2022/23

39,401,517

2023/24

39,046,206

Pregabalin

2022/23

8,775,699

2023/24

9,180,793

Gabapentin

2022/23

7,413,759

2023/24

7,408,375

Source: NHS Business Services Authority.

In addition, the following table shows the patient identifiable information for the number of items dispensed and claimed for reimbursement for each of the categories requested, for the most recently published 12-month period and the 12 months prior:

Drug group

Financial Year

Total number of unique identified patients

Percentage of items where the patient has been identified

Clonazepam

2022/23

85,613

98.22%

2023/24

85,191

98.16%

Other benzodiazepines

2022/23

1,253,962

97.06%

2023/24

1,186,001

97.01%

Clonazepam and other benzodiazepines

2022/23

1,324,792

97.21%

2023/24

1,256,941

97.17%

Z-drugs

2022/23

795,959

98.29%

2023/24

764,743

98.27%

Antidepressants

2022/23

8,563,148

99.16%

2023/24

8,747,095

99.22%

Opioids

2022/23

5,593,035

98.92%

2023/24

5,562,718

98.94%

Pregabalin

2022/23

786,403

99.36%

2023/24

823,231

99.41%

Gabapentin

2022/23

808,562

99.36%

2023/24

799,144

99.41

Source: NHS Business Services Authority.

Notes:
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the document entitled Guidance for the provision of absorbent products for adult incontinence, published by the Royal College of Nursing and the Association for Continence Professionals in February 2023, whether he has made an assessment of whether the recommended number of incontinence products issued per 24 hours is consistent with the NICE guidance entitled Urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in women: management, reference NG123 published on 24 June 2019, Faecal incontinence in adults, reference QS54 published on 6 February 2014, and Faecal incontinence in adults: management, reference CG49 published on 27 June 2007; and if he will ensure that the Guidance for the provision of absorbent products for adult incontinence is followed by (a) NHS England and (b) social care providers. \p Karin Smyth: We are aware of the most recent publication by the Royal College of Nursing relating to continence pads. NHS England published Excellence in Continence Care on 23 July 2018, bringing together evidence-based resources and research for guidance for commissioners, providers, and health and social care staff. This guidance covers both urinary and bowel, also known as faecal, incontinence, and is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/excellence-in-continence-care/

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an independent body and is responsible for making decisions on whether its published guidelines should be updated in light of new evidence or emerging issues not in the scope of the original guideline.

NICE maintains surveillance of new evidence that may affect its published guidance and would consult on proposed changes with a wide range of stakeholders if significant new evidence was to emerge.

Both integrated care boards and healthcare providers are expected to take national guidance into consideration when commissioning and delivering services, respectively.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding will be made available to NHS trusts to integrate AI technology. \p Karin Smyth: The NHS AI Lab has already provided £113 million, through the NHS AI Health and Care Awards, to 86 artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, which have been used in 40% of National Health Service acute trusts in England and hundreds of Primary Care Networks across the United Kingdom. The awards have helped accelerate the testing and evaluation of AI technologies and developed an evidence base to support the commissioning of technologies that are clinically safe and cost effective.   Many of these AI technologies are being tested and evaluated in NHS England to aid clinical decision-making, healthcare diagnostics, and imaging. For example, the Department is focusing the £21 million AI Diagnostic Fund on the deployment of technologies in key, high-demand areas such as chest x-ray and chest computed tomography scans, to enable faster diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer in over half of acute trusts in England.

In addition, the National Institute for Health and Care Research, sponsored by the Department, has funded an £11 million trial, which will use artificial intelligence for breast cancer screening. The trial will be launched across the country and showcases our commitment to embracing innovative technologies in healthcare.

The Department is also supporting the NHS to adopt the latest innovations in digital technology, such as artificial intelligence, with £2 billion having been allocated to digitise the NHS.   All future spending commitments beyond 2025/26 will be dependent on the outcome of Phase 2 of the Spending Review process, which will conclude and be published in late spring of 2025.
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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the long-term sustainability of air ambulance charities. \p Karin Smyth: The Government supports the longstanding independent air ambulance charities model for the successful operation of helicopter emergency medical services in England, including through the training and provision of National Health Service clinicians.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-24 conversation_255

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many referrals to cardiology there were in 2024. \p Karin Smyth: There were 1,007,365 referrals to cardiology in England in 2024. The data is publicly available on NHS England’s website, at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-24 conversation_256

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to NHS audiology services in rural areas. \p Karin Smyth: Since June 2022, 42 integrated care boards (ICBs) across England have been responsible for arranging National Health Service healthcare services, including audiology, which meet the needs of their respective populations.

ICBs are responsible for developing a joint plan with its members and partner local authorities, arranging the provision of health services in the integrated care system area and managing the NHS budget.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-24 conversation_257

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to he Answer of 27 January 2025 to question 24346 on NHS: Standards, how many additional Value Weighted Activity appointments have been delivered since 5 July 2024. \p Karin Smyth: Between July 2024 and November 2024, the latest available data, there were 1,635,136 more value-weighted activity appointments compared to the period July 2023 to November 2023.

This includes elective ordinary and day case admissions, outpatient first appointments, and outpatient follow-up appointments with a procedure. It does not include other outpatient follow-ups, or diagnostic tests, except for endoscopy tests which are included within elective admissions or outpatient procedures as appropriate.

Including diagnostic tests, between July 2024 and November 2024, the latest available data, there were 2,199,579 more appointments compared to the period July 2023 to November 2023.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-24 conversation_258

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to provide additional funding to ICBs. \p Karin Smyth: At the Autumn Budget, the Government announced a £22.6 billion increase in day-to-day health spending and a £3.1 billion increase in the capital budget over 2024/25 and 2025/26. The recently published recurrent integrated care board core allocations will grow by 4.1% in 2025/26, compared to 2024/25. These growths exclude funding allocations that are made after convergence, including additional elective funding and transfers in from the Service Development Fund, which are treated separately.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-24 conversation_259

Abtisam Mohamed:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce speech and language therapy workforce shortages. \p Karin Smyth: We want to remove the barriers to training as a speech and language therapist (SLT), which is why eligible SLT students can get a non-repayable grant of £5,000 a year through the NHS Learning Support Fund. Further financial support is also available for childcare, dual accommodation costs, and travel. This is in addition to the student support package available from Student Finance England, which includes loans for tuition fees and living costs.

We will also publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan which will deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade to ensure that the National Health Service has the right people, including those who work in speech and language therapy, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-24 conversation_260

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been referred by the NHS’s Gender Dysphoria National Referral Support Services for masculinising chest surgery in the last five years. \p Karin Smyth: Referrals for masculinising chest surgery are made by the specialist clinical teams in the NHS Gender Dysphoria Clinics, not by the NHS Gender Dysphoria National Referral Support Service (GDNRSS). The non-clinical role of the GDNRSS is to process the referrals on behalf of the providers.

Between 1 April 2020 and 31 December 2024, the GDNRSS received 5,463 requests for masculinising chest surgery.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-24 conversation_261

Dr Ben Spencer:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility to people who are digitally excluded of the DHSC group accounting manual 2025 to 2026 consultation exercise, published on 7 February 2025. \p Karin Smyth: The Department launched the consultation, Changes to the DHSC Group Accounting Manual 2025 to 2026, on the GOV.UK website on 7 February 2025, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-dhsc-group-accounting-manual-2025-to-2026

In accordance with the Government’s Publishing Accessible Documents guidance, the consultation document is published in Hypertext Markup Language format to enhance readability and ease of navigation. The digital survey for submitting responses is also hosted on an accessible platform.

Due to the length and technical nature of the accompanying Group Accounting Manual, it is provided as a Portable Document Format to preserve formatting and technical content. Users who require the document in an accessible format, for use with screen readers, can request a copy by emailing xxx@xxx.xx.

For any queries related to the consultation, users are encouraged to contact the relevant sector leads, whose details are available on the GOV.UK website.

There has been no change in Government policy on ensuring the accessibility of consultations. We continue to follow the same approach as the previous administration to ensure accessibility standards are maintained.

We are carefully considering the best approach to making future consultations accessible to people who are digitally excluded.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-24 conversation_262

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the proposed increase in employer National Insurance contributions for financial year 2025-26. \p Karin Smyth: We have taken necessary decisions to fix the foundations in the public finances at Autumn Budget 2024, which enabled the Spending Review settlement of a £22.6 billion increase in resource spending for the Department from 2023/24 outturn to 2025/26.

The Employer National Insurance rise will be implemented from April 2025. The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs only. This funding will be allocated to departments in the usual way, in line with the approach taken under the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-24 conversation_263

Tony Vaughan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce waiting lists for NHS (a) surgeries and (b) scans. \p Karin Smyth: Additional funding of £1.8 billion was announced as part of the October 2024 budget to directly support elective recovery and activity in 2024/25. This funding will support the National Health Service to deliver an additional two million operations, scans and appointments during the first year in Government, as a First Step to ensuring patients can expect to be treated within 18 weeks.

We will support NHS performance across secondary and emergency care with approximately £1.5 billion capital funding in 2025/26. This will support new surgical hubs and diagnostic scanners to build capacity for over 30,000 additional procedures and over 1.25 million diagnostic tests as they come on-line.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-24 conversation_264

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost to the NHS is of (a) surgery to transplant a kidney and (b) medication for a year for a kidney transplant recipient. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for transplant services across the United Kingdom. Transplants represent a cost-efficient treatment and in the case of kidneys is a cost saving to the National Health Service.

The following table shows the estimated national average unit cost of a kidney transplant for 2023/24 for people aged 19 years old and over:

Donor category

Cost (£)

Deceased heart-beating donor

18,508

Deceased non-heart beating donor

21,418

Live donor

17,473

Source: NHSBT

The cost to the NHS of medication for a kidney transplant recipient for the first year after transplant can range on average between £9,000 and £13,000. Following this, costs can range on average between £5,000 and £8,000 per patient per year. These estimated costs are based on British National Formulary list price. For some drugs, the NHS can access confidential prices that cannot be shared outside of the NHS. The average cost does not take into consideration additional treatments in the event of complications such as infections and post-transplant rejections.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-24 conversation_265

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to encourage more people to become blood donors in Lincolnshire. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England.

Throughout the year, NHSBT runs campaigns to attract new donors, such as the ‘gift of blood’ campaign in the run up to Christmas. This involved paid media activity across several platforms including, social media, radio and TV. NHSBT also worked with the BBC’s Casualty to support development of its Christmas special focussing on the need for blood. To reach new audiences and find new ways to inspire donors to donate, NHSBT partners with organisations such as Disney, the Civil Service, NHS Trusts and Integrated Care Boards.

This activity takes place across England, including in the county of Lincolnshire.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-24 conversation_266

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2025 to Question 25535 on Viral Diseases, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of means-testing the winter fuel payment on the number of cases of (a) flu, (b) covid-19, (c) norovirus and (d) respiratory syncytial virus. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department has no current plans to undertake an assessment of the potential impact of means-testing the winter fuel payment on the number of flu, COVID-19, norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus cases.

The relationship between cold weather and respiratory illness in general, such as exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, is well established in scientific evidence. However, a link from cold snaps, or housing temperature, to respiratory infections does not have the same evidential base.

Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/surveillance-of-influenza-and-other-seasonal-respiratory-viruses-in-the-uk-winter-2023-to-2024/surveillance-of-influenza-and-other-seasonal-respiratory-viruses-in-the-uk-winter-2023-to-2024
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-24 conversation_267

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what purposes the Care Quality Commission has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months. \p Ashley Dalton: Artificial intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has used AI to support how they fulfil their role as the independent regulator of health and social care, focussing on supporting their operational colleagues with identifying risk in health and care services, making operational efficiency improvements, and making better use of unstructured data.

Over the last 12 months, the CQC’s AI usage has been in an initialisation phase. They have been developing governance approaches, AI platforms and tooling, and making sure their staff have the right skills to use AI platforms, tools, and processes.

Their current priority AI projects include developing an adult social care risk model, which takes multiple complex data sources and gives a predictive score of risk, as well as the key drivers of that risk for a given provider. They have also explored how generative AI capabilities can support the CQC’s work, both in the form of bespoke chatbot solutions to increase operational efficiencies, and in a small-scale Microsoft 365 Copilot trial.

The CQC has not yet submitted any Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard records. They are however, in the process of adopting that standard and are trialling it with their risk model for residential adult social care services.