theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much and what proportion of the funding for NHS England announced in the Autumn Budget 2024 will be spent on (a) National Insurance contribution increases and (b) existing overspends by (i) NHS England and (ii) his Department. \p Karin Smyth: We have taken necessary decisions to fix the foundations in the public finances at the Autumn Budget, and this 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 Department will set out further details on the allocation of funding for next year at the earliest opportunity, including through planning guidance. We are not planning for overspends in 2025/26 by either NHS England or the Department overall.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the percentage of funding announced in the Autumn Budget 2024 that will be allocated by NHS bodies to fund increases in National Insurance Contributions. \p Karin Smyth: We have taken necessary decisions to fix the foundations in the public finances at the Autumn Budget, and this 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 Budget announced the increase to the National Insurance contribution, but additional funding will be agreed with HM Treasury for 2025/26 separately, which is not included in the £22.6 billion increase.

The Employer National Insurance rise will be implemented in April 2025, with the Department setting out further details on allocation of funding in due course, including through planning guidance.
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Susan Murray:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of workforce shortages on the delivery of palliative care services. \p Stephen Kinnock: The delivery of palliative and end of life care services is a devolved matter. We want to assure ourselves and the National Health Service in England that it has access to the workforce it needs in the years ahead to ensure that patients, including those at end of life, are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. We will need to do this in light of the 10-Year Health Plan.

In England, palliative and end of life care is wide-ranging, provided by generalist as well as specialist healthcare professionals, and is not disease/diagnosis specific. A large proportion of palliative and end of life care is not provided by palliative care specialists and, therefore, it is difficult to quantify the totality of the NHS workforce providing palliative and end of life care.
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Tim Roca:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing details of the GP contract earlier in the year to improve forward planning. \p Stephen Kinnock: My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, wrote to general practices on 20 December 2024 to confirm an £889 million uplift to the contract for 2025/26 and set out the proposed areas of reform. The proposed changes to the contract bring about important reforms and make progress towards manifesto commitments. This announcement recognised the benefits in providing reassurance to the sector and supporting forward planning. The final details of the contract will be announced in the usual way following the close of the consultation with the General Practitioners Committee England in Spring 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take additional steps to support (a) Halton Haven and (b) Good Shepard Hospice in Runcorn and Helsby constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB), such as the Cheshire and Merseyside ICB, which covers the Runcorn and Helsby constituency, must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.

Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices like Halton Haven and the Good Shepard Hospice, also play in providing support to people at end of life and their loved ones.

On 19 December 2024, the Government announced the biggest investment in a generation for hospices in England, supporting the sector with a £100 million boost for adult and children’s hospices to ensure they have the best physical environment for care, and £26 million revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices. We will set out the details of the funding allocation and dissemination in the coming weeks.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

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Dr Danny Chambers:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help integrate accredited (a) counsellors and (b) psychotherapists into mental health support teams for students. \p Stephen Kinnock: We know that too many children and young people are not receiving the mental health care they need, and that waits for mental health services are far too long. We will provide access to a specialist mental health professional in every school so that mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, can be identified early on and prevented from developing into more serious conditions in later life. We are working with our colleagues at NHS England and the Department for Education to consider options to deliver this commitment.

Department for Education guidance encourages mental health support teams to work with other existing professionals, such as school or college-based counsellors, educational psychologists, school nurses, pastoral care, educational welfare officers, voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, local authority provision, primary care, and NHS Children and Young People Mental Health services.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to extend free NHS dental repairs to teeth damaged by seizures from epilepsy. \p Stephen Kinnock: Free National Health Service dental care is available to people who meet the following criteria: under 18 years old, or under 19 years old and in full-time education; pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months; being treated in an NHS hospital and the treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist, keeping in mind that patients may have to pay for any dentures or bridges; receiving low-income benefits, or under 20 years old and a dependant of someone receiving low-income benefits.

Support is also available through the NHS Low Income Scheme for those patients who are not eligible for exemption or full remission of dental patient charges. More information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/who-is-entitled-to-free-nhs-dental-treatment-in-england/

Community dental services provide specialised dental services to people with additional needs and are available in a variety of places to ensure everyone can have access to dental care. These include hospitals, specialists’ health centres and mobile clinics, as well as home visits or visits in nursing and care homes. These services may be available to people with epilepsy, depending on their needs.
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Greg Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the increase to employers' National Insurance contributions on hospices. \p Stephen Kinnock: We have taken necessary decisions at the Autumn Budget, which enabled a £22.6 billion increase in resource spending for the Department.

In December, we announced a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices and an additional £26 million revenue funding for children’s hospices. The biggest investment in a generation for hospices.

The employer National Insurance contribution rise will be implemented in April 2025 and the Department will set out further details on allocation of funding for hospices in England for next year in due course, including through the NHS planning guidance.
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Jessica Toale:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the uplift will be to general dental service contracts for 2024-25; and what his planned timetable is to apply such uplift. \p Stephen Kinnock: The independent pay review body for doctors and dentists recommended a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25. The Government accepted the recommendation and has proposed that National Health Service primary care dentistry contract values be uplifted by 4.64%, net of pay (6%) and expenses (1.68%) elements.

The Government is acting to consider and implement the overall uplift to contract values as soon as possible.
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Sadik Al-Hassan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps his Department has taken to implement the Hub and Spoke model for community pharmacy. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government is working towards introducing legislation to enable hub and spoke dispensing between different legal entities in 2025. This change will be enabled via amendments to both primary and secondary legislation, and is subject to the usual parliamentary processes.
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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the availability of GP appointments in Nottingham East constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: We are committed to improving capacity and access to local services across the country, including in Nottingham East. That is why we have already begun recruiting 1,000 newly qualified general practitioners (GPs) through an £82 million boost to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, enabling the recruitment of 1,000 newly qualified GPs across England. This will increase the number of appointments delivered in general practice, which will benefit thousands of patients that are struggling to care the care they desperately need. This will also secure the future supply of GPs and take pressure off those currently working in the system.

Additionally, we have announced a proposed £889 million uplift to the GP contract, with a rising share of total National Health Service resources going to general practice. We are currently consulting on key proposals to improve access, continuity of care and GP recruitment.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timetable is for recruiting 8,500 additional mental health workers. \p Stephen Kinnock: As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future, we will recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers to reduce waiting times and provide faster treatment.

We recognise that bringing in the staff needed will take time. The decision for the timetable of recruiting the 8,500 additional mental health workers is still ongoing. We are working with NHS England on options to deliver this expansion of the mental health workforce.
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Luke Murphy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the rate of hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge was for (a) Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, (b) Hampshire and (c) England in each of the last ten years. \p Stephen Kinnock: The following tables show published experimental statistics by NHS England on the percentage of emergency admissions to any hospital in England within 30 days of the most recent discharge from hospital at a trust and national level:

Year

Level description

Indicator value

Banding (comparison to national average – see below for definitions)

2014/15

HAMPSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

11.5

B1

2015/16

HAMPSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

11.1

B1

2016/17

HAMPSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

12.4

B1

2017/18

HAMPSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

13.6

W

2018/19

HAMPSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

14.4

W

2019/20

HAMPSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

14.7

A5

2020/21

HAMPSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

16.3

A1

2021/22

HAMPSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

16.1

A1

2022/23

HAMPSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

15.8

A1

2023/24

HAMPSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

16.6

A1

Year

Level description

Indicator value

2014/15

England

12.7

2015/16

England

13.0

2016/17

England

13.2

2017/18

England

13.6

2018/19

England

14.2

2019/20

England

14.3

2020/21

England

15.4

2021/22

England

14.3

2022/23

England

14.2

2023/24

England

14.8

Source: NHS England

Notes:

Further statistics around discharge are available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/compendium-emergency-readmissions/current/emergency-readmissions-to-hospital-within-30-days-of-discharge
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to emergency dentistry. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Dental Statistics - England 2023-24, published by the NHS Business Services Authority on 22 August 2024, is available at the following link:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/dental-england/dental-statistics-england-202324

In England, in 2023/24, 3,674,731 urgent dental treatments in the National Health Service were delivered, which was 10.8% of all treatments delivered.

This Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency, this is the NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough ICB.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what representation not-for-profit social care providers will receive on the proposed Adult Social Care Negotiating Body. \p Stephen Kinnock: As currently drafted, the Employment Rights Bill requires that membership of the Adult Social Care Negotiating Body must include, “officials of one or more trade unions that represent the interests of social care workers” and “persons representing the interests of employers of social care workers”. Further details on membership of the Negotiating Body, including on employer representation, will be subject to engagement with the sector and then set out through secondary legislation.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to monitor the declining charitable income of hospices and the potential link to deterioration in service. \p Stephen Kinnock: Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.

Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at end of life and their loved ones.

Individual ICBs oversee palliative care provision by NHS and non-NHS services, including charitable hospices, within each area.

The biggest investment in a generation for hospices has been announced by the Government, ensuring that hospices can continue to deliver the highest quality end of life care possible for their patients, families, and loved ones.

This was through a £100 million boost for adult and children’s hospices to ensure they have the best physical environment for care, and £26 million of revenue to support children and young people’s hospices. Further details of the funding allocation and dissemination will be set out in the new year.

We, alongside key partners NHS England, will continue to proactively engage with our stakeholders, including the voluntary sector and independent hospices, on an ongoing basis, in order to understand the issues they face.
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Luke Murphy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many delayed discharges there were (a) at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, (b) in Hampshire and (c) in England in each of the last ten years. \p Stephen Kinnock: The data collection used for monitoring delayed discharges was changed in 2020. In addition, the Department and NHS England do not hold data on the number of delayed discharges at hospital level, and trust level data was published from 2022 onwards. As such, we have provided data on the number of delayed discharges at trust and national level from 2021 to present.

The following table shows the average daily number of acute adult patients remaining in hospital at the end of the day despite being medically fit, that is, patients with no criteria to reside and not discharged, in each financial year since 2021/22:

Year

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

England

Comments

2021/22

n/a

9,891

Published data not available at trust level before April xx-xxxx-xxxx figures affected by Covid-19 pandemic (low bed occupancy rates)

2022/23

174

13,227

2023/24

160

12,693

2024/25

153

12,381

Average for the year so far up to 30 November 2024

Source: NHS England
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding his Department plans to provide for meeting the Mental Health Investment Standard in the 2025-26 financial year. \p Stephen Kinnock: We remain committed to the Mental Health Investment Standard. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will set out expectations for mental health funding, including the share of overall National Health Service expenditure in 2025/26, in due course, as required under section 3(2) of the Health and Care Act 2022. NHS England is also expected to issue its priorities and operational planning guidance for the NHS for 2025/26 shortly.
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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to support pharmacies in Newbury constituency with the increased cost of employers National Insurance contributions. \p Stephen Kinnock: 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 April 2025, with the Department setting out further details on allocation of funding for this year in due course.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with NHS England on the future of the mental health investment standard. \p Stephen Kinnock: Ministers and officials hold discussions regularly with NHS England on a range of issues. My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care will set out expectations for mental health funding, including the share of overall National Health Service expenditure in 2025/26, in due course, as required under section 3(2) of the Health and Care Act 2022. NHS England is also expected to issue its priorities and operational planning guidance for the NHS for 2025/25 shortly.
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Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to safeguard primary care services. \p Stephen Kinnock: Work is already underway to ensure the safeguarding of primary care services. Neighbourhood Health Centres will be trialled to bring together a range of services, ensuring healthcare is provided closer to home. This is part of our broader ambition to move towards a Neighbourhood Health Service, with more care delivered in local communities to spot problems earlier.

The 10-Year Health Plan has been launched to reform the National Health Service and make it fit for the future. The plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed to move healthcare from hospital to the community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention.

The Government is providing the biggest investment into general practice for years, an additional £889 million on top of the existing budget. We will make sure the future of general practice is sustainable by training thousands more general practitioners, guaranteeing a face-to-face appointment for all those who want one, and delivering a modern booking system.

We are committed to expanding the role of community pharmacies and better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists as we shift care from hospital to the community.

We plan to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

NHS England is working to develop a long-term infrastructure strategy including anticipated primary care investment needed to meet demand over the next 10 years and beyond, as well as a detailed look at the quality of the estate.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce suicide levels amongst men. \p Stephen Kinnock: We have committed to tackling suicide, as one the biggest killers in this country. As part of this, the 8,500 new mental health staff we will recruit will be specially trained to support people at risk, to reduce the lives lost to suicide.

The Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, published in September 2023, identifies a number of groups for tailored or targeted action at a national level, including middle-aged men, and we are exploring opportunities to go further.

79 organisations have been allocated funding between 2023 and 2025, through the £10 million Suicide Prevention Grant Fund, and are delivering a broad and diverse range of activity that will prevent suicides and save lives. Organisations benefitting include the Lancaster Men’s Hub, Mankind UK, and UK Men’s Sheds Association.
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Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to support ICBs that are considering cuts to primary care services. \p Stephen Kinnock: Integrated care boards (ICBs) have a delegated responsibility for planning and commissioning healthcare services to meet the reasonable needs of the people for whom they are responsible. ICBs should evaluate the needs of the populations for which they are responsible and plan service provision as required.

NHS England will continue to develop national policy and guidance to support ICBs to discharge their primary care commissioning functions effectively, supporting primary care providers and Primary Care Networks to deliver high quality services for patients. The Government is providing the biggest investment into general practice (GP) for years, an additional £889 million on top of the existing budget.

In the event of any GP closure, it is the responsibility of these local commissioners to ensure that patients are able to register with and attend another GP, so that their health needs continue to be met. When a practice does close, patients are informed of the closure and advised to register at another local practice of their choice within their area. Commissioners must put in place appropriate measures to ensure that the affected patients have access to GP services.
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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to encourage (a) pharmacists and (b) independent prescribers to work in the community. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government is committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and to better using the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes embedding services such as Pharmacy First and making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists.

The current seven conditions covered by Pharmacy First clinical pathways were informed by guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and were designed with input from an expert panel of clinicians. NHS England will keep the clinical scope of this service under review.

The community pharmacy independent prescribing Pathfinder programme is currently piloting clinical models to inform a commissioning framework that can be used to deliver national and local National Health Service clinical services with a prescribing element.

NHS England is funding up to 3,000 existing pharmacists each year to become independent prescribers and upskill the existing workforce to play a greater role in multidisciplinary clinical teams. This ensures we have more independent prescribers working in the community than ever before and is expected to lead to more diverse and rewarding careers in the community providing direct care for patients.

To ensure adequate supervision during training, NHS England is also providing national funding of supervisors and Designated Prescribing Practitioners. This will ensure the NHS is ready to support and mentor the trainee pharmacists from 2025/26 alongside currently registered pharmacists learning to be independent prescribers.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to tackle funding gaps between (a) mental and (b) physical health services. \p Stephen Kinnock: We know that too many people with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they need, which is why we will fix the broken system to ensure we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health, and that people can be confident in accessing high quality mental health support when they need it.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care will set out expectations for mental health funding, including its share of overall National Health Service expenditure in 2025/26, in due course, as required under section 3(2) of the Health and Care Act 2022.
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James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with Norfolk and Waveney Acute Healthcare Collaborative on its proposal to move to a group model of operation. \p Karin Smyth: The Department is aware that Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust, and James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are considering the possibility of transitioning to a group model of operation from April 2025, with a single Chair and CEO across the three trusts.

The Department is not involved in approving group models. The trusts’ proposal has been made locally and the Case for Change will be subject to approval from NHS England to ensure that all appropriate planning and safeguards are in place for the change to happen.

The group model is intended to strengthen collaboration, enabling optimal efficiency, sharing of resources, a unified approach to tackling large-scale challenges, and improved patient care and outcomes.
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Dr Danny Chambers:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to maintain the Mental Health Investment Standard. \p Stephen Kinnock: The NHS Operational and Planning Guidance for 2024/25 makes clear that integrated care boards are expected to continue to meet the Mental Health Investment Standard by increasing their investment in mental health services in line with their overall increase in funding for the year.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care will set out expectations for mental health funding, including its share of overall National Health Service expenditure in 2025/26, in due course, as required under section 3(2) of the Health and Care Act 2022.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the oral statement entitled Puberty-suppressing Hormones of 11 December 2024, Official Report, column 914, what groups representing trans youth he consulted with before making his decision to extend the ban on puberty blockers. \p Karin Smyth: A full list of groups which represent trans youth and that were consulted as part of the Government’s targeted consultation is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-changes-to-the-availability-of-puberty-blockers-for-under-18s/outcome/9702c8a7-3299-4a01-94dc-a63861786dd9
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of officials in his Department were hired via positive action schemes in the last financial year. \p Karin Smyth: All Civil Service departments work within the Recruitment Principles, as regulated by the Civil Service Commission, to recruit using a fair and open process and appoint on merit. Departments will only limit a campaign to a specific group as a form of positive action as a proportionate response to achieve a legitimate aim, as defined in section 159 of the Equality Act 2010.

The Civil Service is committed to a diverse workforce and a culture of openness and inclusivity, not as ends in themselves, but as means of delivering better outcomes to the citizens we serve.

The Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy: 2022 to 2025, published in February 2022, is positioned as an essential lever to deliver a modern Civil Service, where our values are to serve with integrity, honesty, objectivity, and impartiality, driving our vision to be a skilled, innovative, and ambitious Civil Service equipped for the future. This strategy sets out a broader definition of diversity, to include geographical, social, and career backgrounds alongside the protected groups. This strategy is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy-2022-to-2025

As set out in the Civil Service People Plan 2024-2027, we are committed to ensuring we attract, develop, and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds, to create a modern Civil Service, now and for the future. Further information on this plan is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-people-plan-2024-2027/civil-service-people-plan-2024-2027-html#recruitment-retention--talent

The Department has made hires from wider Civil Service schemes. The schemes supported by the Department for external hires in the last financial year 2023/2024 were the Civil Service Care Leaver Internship Scheme and Going Forward into Employment. Details on these schemes are available at the following link:

https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/gfie-schemes/

Six such appointments were made from these schemes, representing 2% of the total new hires to the Department made in that financial year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_52

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Analogues are permitted for treatment of precocious puberty but not gender incongruence. \p Karin Smyth: Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues, puberty suppressing hormones, have been licenced by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the treatment of precocious puberty and certain types of cancer. In granting a licence for these purposes, the MHRA has made a robust assessment of safety and efficacy data for use in these specific indications.

The MHRA has not licenced these medications for use in gender incongruence. There is not enough evidence about the long-term effects of using puberty suppressing hormones to treat gender incongruence to know whether they are safe or beneficial.

This is why the Government is supporting NHS England to set up a study into the potential benefits and harms of puberty suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial aims to begin recruiting participants in spring 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_53

Deirdre Costigan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to shift care from hospitals into the community. \p Stephen Kinnock: It is vital to move services from hospital to community. The Chancellor made funding available for 380,000 more talking therapies for patients and put in place a £26 million capital investment scheme for mental health crisis centres. A lot of work has been done, but there is a lot more still to do.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_54

Kevin McKenna:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to shift care from hospitals into the community. \p Stephen Kinnock: It is vital to move services from hospital to community. The Chancellor made funding available for 380,000 more talking therapies for patients and put in place a £26 million capital investment scheme for mental health crisis centres. A lot of work has been done, but there is a lot more still to do.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_55

Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help recruit social care workers in Cumbria. \p Stephen Kinnock: We are launching a national recruitment campaign in February to encourage suitable candidates to apply for immediate vacancies by highlighting the varied and rewarding work available.

We have also introduced legislation to deliver the first Fair Pay Agreement in adult social care to empower worker representatives, employers, and others to negotiate pay and terms and conditions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_56

Steff Aquarone:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2024 to Question 16285 on Methylphenidate: Shortages, what estimate he has made of the number of prescriptions for methylphenidate (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully fulfilled in Norfolk in 2024. \p Karin Smyth: The Prescription Cost Analysis, produced by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), provides the total number of prescription items of each medicine dispensed in the community in England.

There were 28,249 National Health Service prescription items for the chemical substance methylphenidate dispensed by contractors in the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, regardless of where prescribed, from January 2024 to October 2024. The NHSBSA does not hold data on unsuccessfully fulfilled prescriptions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_57

Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of deterring adults who might otherwise smoke cigarettes from using flavoured vapes on public health. \p Andrew Gwynne: The youth vaping call for evidence, published in 2023, demonstrated that vape flavours are one of the main reasons that vapes appeal to children. However, we recognise that vape flavours can also be a consideration for adult smokers seeking to quit smoking.

That is why it is important we strike the balance between restricting vape flavours to reduce their appeal to young people, whilst ensuring vapes remain available for adult smokers as a smoking cessation tool. Before laying any regulations in Parliament, we will undertake a full public consultation to ensure we get this balance right, and consider the views of a range of stakeholders. We will also undertake a full impact assessment on any future flavour restrictions.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill includes regulation making powers to limit how nicotine products are displayed. These are also subject to consultation. Adult smokers will still be able to access vapes as well as other alternative methods to stop smoking. Vapes are commonly used alongside behavioural support within local Stop Smoking Services, helping thousands of adults each year to live healthier lives. In addition, our national Swap to Stop scheme is supporting adult smokers to swap cigarettes for vapes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_58

Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of changing the funding for built environment Level 7 apprentices on the Government's commitment to build 1.5 million homes. \p Janet Daby: The government is committed to 1.5 million homes being built across this Parliament while spreading opportunities and economic growth supported by a strong skills system.

The department is working closely with industry and across Whitehall on this ambition, including with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Work and Pensions to understand skill needs and how to address them.

The department has made early progress on expanding the skills offer with the announcement of Construction and Industry Training Board and National Housebuilding Council funding worth £140 million, to deliver up to 32 Homebuilding Skills Hubs and to make 5,000 more construction apprenticeships available, making use of existing flexibilities in our apprenticeships system to help businesses get the skilled workers they need more quickly.

There are 96 high quality apprenticeship standards in the construction and the built environment sector approved for delivery across levels 2 to 6 to support employers and apprentices to develop the skills they need, with three apprenticeship standards in the sector approved for delivery at level 7.

This government had a dire fiscal inheritance with a £22 billion blackhole in the nation’s finances. We are taking difficult decisions to fix the foundations of our economy and prioritise government spending where it can be most impactful, including in order to generate opportunities for young people that enable them to make a start in good, fulfilling careers. The department will therefore be asking more employers to step forward and fund a significant number of level 7 apprenticeships themselves outside of the levy-funded growth and skills offer.

The department is taking advice from Skills England, who have been engaging with employers and sector-representative organisations, including in construction, and expects to make a final decision on affected apprenticeships shortly. Learners who have started these apprenticeships will be funded through to completion and employers will continue to be able to offer these apprenticeships where they choose to do so.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_60

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people were working in the Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence team in (a) total, (b) the East of England, (c) the East Midlands, (d) the North West, (e) the North East, (f) the South East, (g) London, (h) the South West, (i) the West Midlands and (j) Yorkshire and the Humber on 10 December 2024. \p Catherine McKinnell: On 10 December 2024, the number of civil servants working in the Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence teams were as follows. These numbers represent staff headcount, not full time equivalent.

a) Total: 35

b) East of England: 4

c) East Midlands: 4

d) North West: 3

e) North East: 4

f) South East: 4

g) London: 5

h) South West: 4

i) West Midlands: 4

j) Yorkshire and the Humber: 3
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_61

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools will have to change their uniform policy to comply with the provisions in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. \p Catherine McKinnell: School uniforms can play a valuable role in creating a sense of common identity among pupils and reducing visible inequalities. However, too many schools require high numbers of branded uniform items costing families hundreds of pounds. That is why the department has introduced legislation to limit the number of branded items of uniform and PE kit that schools can require, to bring down costs for parents and remove barriers from children accessing sport and other school activities.

The department does not routinely collect school-level data on uniform requirements. However, based on the department’s 2023 Cost of School Uniforms Survey of parents, we estimate that one third of primary schools and seven in ten secondary schools will have to remove compulsory branded items from their uniforms to comply with the new limit. Many schools will only have to remove one or two items, although those with excessive numbers of branded items will have to remove more.

This research report can be accessed at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66e2b4df6cc3c902a6e6fbcc/DfE_Cost_of_School_Uniform_Survey_Report.pdf.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_62

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of academy schools' facilities to comply with the duty in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to follow the national curriculum. \p Catherine McKinnell: Every child deserves a cutting-edge curriculum taught by expert, qualified teachers, which sets them up with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve throughout life. The Bill will require all state schools to teach the reformed national curriculum, giving parents certainty of the high quality education their children will receive.

Many academies already choose to follow the national curriculum and have the facilities they need to deliver it. The department will not commence the new requirement until a reformed national curriculum is introduced following the advice of the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review. This will give all teachers and all schools, including academies, sufficient time to plan and prepare for the changes, including developing their facilities as needed.