theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Laurence Turner:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department's Vaccine Damage Payment Unit is still in operation. \p Ashley Dalton: The Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) provides a one-off, tax-free payment of £120,000 to claimants who have been found, in rare cases and on the balance of probabilities, to have been severely disabled by certain vaccines for a disease listed in the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979.

Responsibility for the operation of the VDPS transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions to the Department of Health and Social Care on 1 November 2021. Since then, the NHS Business Services Authority has administered the VDPS on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care, which retains responsibility for the policy and legislation governing the scheme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to information provided below Figure 11 in the UK Health Security Agency's official statistics entitled HIV testing, PrEP, new HIV diagnoses and care outcomes for people accessing HIV services: 2025 report, published on 7 October 2025, if he will publish the underlying data on the years in which newly diagnosed HIV patients first arrived in England. \p Ashley Dalton: The number of people newly diagnosed in England in 2025 who were born abroad, by year of arrival, is published in figure 12 of the recently published HIV testing, PrEP, new HIV diagnoses and care outcomes for people accessing HIV services: 2025 report, available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hiv-annual-data-tables/hiv-testing-prep-new-hiv-diagnoses-and-care-outcomes-for-people-accessing-hiv-services-2025-report

Among the 1,669 people born abroad and newly diagnosed with HIV in England in 2024:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase defibrillator training in schools in North Shropshire constituency. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department for Education has published guidance on automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for schools, including on maintenance and registration with The Circuit. This guidance is available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67936b102de28ea2d392f35b/Automated_External_Defibrillators__AEDs__guidance_for_schools.pdf

NHS England provides training sessions on first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of AEDs both in the community and in schools, under the under Restart a Heart initiative. NHS England has trained over 35,800 adults and children in CPR and defibrillation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Layla Moran:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to gather additional data on the (a) effectiveness and (b) safety of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccination in people that are over 80. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) undertakes monitoring and evaluation of immunisation programmes, including the effectiveness of vaccines. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) monitors vaccine safety. The UKHSA and the MHRA are in regular contact with manufacturers over new and emerging data from their products.

Evidence of effectiveness and safety in relevant age groups in the United States of America, which implemented older adult vaccination a season ahead of the United Kingdom, was used to inform the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVIs) considerations on extending the UK programme to adults aged 80 years old and older. The JCVI’s meeting minutes and statement of 16 July 2025 advising an extension to the UK respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) programme are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation

The JCVI keeps the RSV programme under regular review. Evidence on the safety and effectiveness of RSV vaccines in all age groups in all countries where data has been made available is used to inform JCVI advice.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will consider extending access to cardiac screening to people aged 14 to 35 who participate in sport. \p Ashley Dalton: In the United Kingdom, national screening programmes are introduced based on the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific advisory committee which advises ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries on all aspects of population and targeted screening and which supports implementation.

The UK NSC last reviewed screening for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in people under the age of 39 years old in 2019 and concluded that population screening should not be offered. Further information is available at the following link:

https://view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk/sudden-cardiac-death/

The UK NSC is currently examining the evidence for SCD screening and will open a public consultation to seek comments from members of the public and stakeholders on this in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Carla Lockhart:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help reduce waiting times for decisions on applications to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department is working with NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), the administrators of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), to process claims at a faster rate. We have scaled up and modernised VDPS operations through the digitisation of the claims process and increasing administration staff working on the VDPS. NHSBSA is also engaging with healthcare providers to improve the return rate of medical records, essential to assessing claims, including though submitting subject access requests.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many men have been diagnosed with penile cancer by age in the last 12 months. \p Ashley Dalton: The latest available data that can be broken down by age reports 676 recorded cases of penile cancer in 2022. Data is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/cancer-registration-statistics/england-2022

The ‘Cancer Registration Statistics, England 2023’ indicates 634 diagnoses of penile cancer in 2023. However, age-specific data is not yet available. Data is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/cancer-registration-statistics/england-2023
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Mr Paul Kohler:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of redundancy payments associated with the planned redundancies in the South West London Integrated Care Board under the new NHS 10-Year Health Plan; and whether he plans to provide additional funding for those redundancy payments. \p Karin Smyth: Following the Prime Minister’s announcement of the abolition of NHS England, we are clear on the need for a smaller centre, as well as scaling back integrated care board running costs and NHS provider corporate cost reductions in order to reduce waste and bureaucracy.

We have recently announced the Spending Review settlement which provides an additional £29 billion of annual day-to-day spending in real terms by 2028/29 compared to 2023/24. We are now carefully reviewing how the settlement is prioritised, including making provision for redundancy costs. In due course, the National Health Service will be asked to incorporate this into the multi-year planning round which has now been launched with the publication of the Medium Term Planning Framework on 24 October 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Peter Prinsley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support early interventions in maternity care. \p Karin Smyth: We are rolling out several measures to support early interventions in maternity care.

These include implementing the Saving Babies’ Lives ‘Bundle’, which provides evidence-based guidance for providers of maternity care to help reduce adverse outcomes and optimise care; rolling out 14 Maternal Medicine Networks across England to ensure that women with chronic and acute medical problems around pregnancy have access to specialist care; and piloting Martha’s Rule in maternity and neonatal units in 14 Trusts in six regions.

In addition, we are developing a Maternal Care Bundle that will tackle the main causes of maternal death and harm, expected to be published this autumn. We are also launching a £50 million National Institute for Health Research challenge fund to task researchers with finding new ways to tackle maternity disparities and poor pregnancy outcomes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many staff redundancies there will be following the abolition of NHS England. \p Karin Smyth: Following the Prime Minister’s announcement of the abolition of NHS England, we are clear on the need for a smaller centre, as well as scaling back integrated care board running costs and National Health Service provider corporate costs in order to reduce waste and bureaucracy.

Good progress is being made, with NHS England having sought expressions of interest for a voluntary redundancy scheme. We are still in the process of prioritising funding for exits, there is detailed design work to do on the structure of the new organisation, and there will be natural turnover that means not all reductions will be delivered by voluntary exit or redundancy. At this point we do not therefore have a firm estimate for numbers of staff redundancies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Sir Alec Shelbrooke:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who has been selected to represent (a) midwifery, (b) obstetrics and (c) neonatal care for his Independent Maternity and Neonatal Investigation. \p Karin Smyth: The list of Expert Advisers supporting Baroness Amos is published in the terms of reference. They include:

a) Professor Julia Sanders and Lesley Sharkey, both midwives.

b) Professor Alex Heazell and Dr Christine Ekechi, both obstetricians.

c) Dr Edile Murdoch and Dr Alison Bedford-Russell, both neonatologists.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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John McDonnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of the changes to income thresholds in the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules, HC 997, published on 1 July 2025, on the number of people employed on Skilled Worker Visas who no longer have leave to remain. \p Karin Smyth: The Immigration Rules, published on 1 July 2025, set out the wider salary changes across the Skilled Worker route. This increased salary requirement does not apply to the Health and Care Worker visa.

From 9 April 2025, the minimum salary for the Health and Care Worker visa, which is part of the Skilled Worker route, increased to £25,000 per year. For healthcare roles that are eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa, the salary threshold is linked to national pay scales for the specific job, or the minimum of £25,000, whichever is higher.

Entry level National Health Service Agenda for Change band 3 roles do not meet the new minimum salary threshold for a Health and Care Worker visa. However, Agenda for Change NHS pay band 3 staff currently on the Health and Care Worker visa are not required to meet the new minimum salary threshold until the point at which they need to renew their visa. At this point, we expect the majority of staff to have accrued two or more years’ experience and therefore be at the top of pay band 3, which is above the new minimum salary threshold.

The Department continues to monitor trends in the size of the care workforce using a range of intelligence, including monthly tracking based on data collections from independent providers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department will publish regular data on patients treated in (a) corridors and (b) other inappropriate spaces. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to tackling the unacceptable practice of corridor care in our National Health Service. Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June, set out the steps that we are taking, including the commitment to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care.

NHS England has been working with trusts since 2024 to put in place new reporting arrangements related to the use of temporary escalation spaces, to drive improvement. This information will be published following a review of data quality, and we will consider how this data could be published on a regular basis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on granting support for Indefinite Leave to Remain for international medical graduates who have completed their training. \p Karin Smyth: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has regular discussions with my Rt Hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, on a range of subjects including immigration policy.

As part of the Immigration White Paper, published in May 2025, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, announced a proposed contribution-based settlement model which will include the expansion of the settlement qualifying period from five years to ten years, though some people will be able to qualify earlier. The Home Office will be consulting on the new settlement rules later this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to include Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust in the National maternity and neonatal investigation; and whether she plans to include bereaved families in Shropshire in the investigation. \p Karin Smyth: The Chair of the Independent Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, Baroness Amos, has removed the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust from the list of local National Health Service trust investigations for the Independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation following recent discussions with West Mercia Police about the details and schedule of their ongoing investigation.

The call for evidence will launch in November, and families from Shrewsbury and Telford have been encouraged to participate.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the (a) independence and (b) effectiveness of mechanisms for capturing patient feedback within health services in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are required to consult the group of people for whom they have core responsibility, and any other person they consider it appropriate to consult when developing their joint forward plans. Local Healthwatch arrangements also provide a route through which patients may provide feedback on services in their area.

As set out in the 10 Year Health Plan for England, the work of local Healthwatch bodies relating to healthcare will be brought together with ICBs and provider engagement functions to ensure patient and wider community input into the planning and design of services. Individual provider boards will be asked to ensure that they have robust mechanisms in place to collect and use patient feedback, ensuring that it is actively fed back to individual clinicians and clinical teams. Local authorities will have a similar role in relation to social care functions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of geographical variation in access to community care equipment in (a) general, (b) rural areas and (c) remote areas. \p Stephen Kinnock: Local authorities in England have a statutory duty under various pieces of legislation, including the Care Act 2014, to make arrangements for the provision of disability aids and community equipment, to meet the assessed eligible needs of individuals who are resident in their area. Responsibility for managing the market for these services, including commissioning and oversight of delivery, rests with local authorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to ensure accountability for the equitable provision of palliative care. \p Stephen Kinnock: Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications. The statutory guidance states that ICBs must work to ensure that there is sufficient provision of care services to meet the needs of their local populations.

NHS England has also developed a palliative care and end of life care dashboard, which brings together all relevant local data in one place. The dashboard helps commissioners understand the palliative care and end of life care needs of their local population, enabling ICBs to put plans in place to address and track the improvement of health inequalities, and ensure that funding is distributed fairly, based on prevalence.

The Department and NHS England are currently looking at how to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.

We will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative care and end of life care services to ensure that services reduce variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.

Additionally, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the Department is investing £3 million in a new Policy Research Unit in Palliative and End of Life Care. This unit launched in January 2024 and is building the evidence base on palliative care and end of life care, with a specific focus on inequalities.

On ICB accountability, NHS England has a legal duty to annually assess the performance of each ICB in respect of each financial year and to publish a summary of its findings. This assessment must assess how well the ICB has discharged its functions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Sir Edward Leigh:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps she has taken with her international counterparts to help ensure the protection of Christian communities in Eritrea. \p Chris Elmore: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 August 2025 to Question 68341.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with (a) the Economic Community of West African States and (b) other regional partners on support for democratic governance in (i) Niger, (ii) Burkina Faso and (iii) Mali. \p Chris Elmore: The UK is in regular dialogue with Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso and other West African partners, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its member states. We continue to press for progress on a return to democratic constitutional order in these countries and for all West African parties to continue dialogue and prioritise the unity of the region as essential to advance security and prosperity.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what strategic reasons aid is used to fund projects described as aiming to (a) influence social norms and (b) achieve social transformation overseas. \p Chris Elmore: Since 2021, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has used the Programme Operating Framework (PrOF) to guide decisions on how UK foreign aid is spent effectively. The PrOF sets out mandatory rules and principles to ensure programmes align with strategic priorities, deliver measurable impact, and represent value for money. The latest edition of the PrOF is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-programme-operating-framework/fcdo-programme-operating-framework-overview.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the UK will contribute £1 billion to the Eighth Replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. \p Chris Elmore: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 September 2025 to Questions 72852 and 72853.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his timeline is for the conclusion of the process of formal diplomatic recognition of the Sovereign Order of Malta. \p Stephen Doughty: Our Ambassador to the Holy See, Christopher Trott, is the Government's primary interlocutor with the Order of Malta. He regularly meets representatives from the Order including in the run-up to Their Majesties the King and Queen's historic State Visit to the Holy See. The Order has also appointed an official representative to the UK, Pasquale Terracciano. Officials from the Foreign, Commowealth and Development Office's Europe Directorate, which has responsibility for the UK's relations with the Holy See, have also met the Order representative since the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) in October 2024.

This MoU provides a framework for a modern, pragmatic partnership that champions the exchange of knowledge, expertise and good practice on humanitarian and development issues, without changing our position on the Order's sovereign status. Our missions across the globe have been encouraged to engage in this spirit.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Brendan O'Hara:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department gave Special Mission Immunity to Mr Tô Lâm to allow him to travel to the UK in October 2025. \p Seema Malhotra: No special immunity was given in this case.
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Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the level of funding in the International Climate Finance budget to support countries in ceasing deforestation. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 22 July to Question 68327.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department has spent on social media advertising by (a) influencer and (b) organisation in each of the last five financial years. \p Kirsty McNeill: The Scotland Office has not spent on social media advertising with influencers in the last five financial years.

The Office has spent the following on social media advertising over the past five financial years.

Financial Year

Organisation

Social media advertising spend

2025/6 (to date)

Meta

6,245

2024/5

Meta

17,725

2023/4

Meta

49,893

2022/3

Meta

39,818

2021/2

Meta

75,681
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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the proposed closure of the Forth Valley College's campus at Alloa; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of such a closure on the delivery of Project Willow's objectives. \p Kirsty McNeill: While education policy is devolved to the Scottish Government, we recognise the importance of colleges to the economies and communities of Scotland’s towns and cities.

As the First Minister said at First Minister's Questions on 2 October, their Cabinet Secretary for Education is considering all options to protect the future of the Alloa campus. The Scotland Office continues to engage regularly with the Scottish Government on all matters relating to Grangemouth, and the Secretary of State for Scotland, alongside Minister Shanks, met with Cabinet Secretary Gillian Martin on 21 October to discuss the progress of investment there.
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Joe Morris:To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 52361 on Gender Based Violence: Prosecutions, whether her Department has had further discussions on the application of the Crown Prosecution Service Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan to rural areas. \p Ellie Reeves: Domestic abuse causes severe and lasting harm to victims. Bringing perpetrators of these crimes to justice, whether committed in our cities, towns or rural areas, is a core priority for this Government and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

In collaboration with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the CPS launched the Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan (DA JJP) to improve the collective response to the investigation and prosecution of domestic abuse cases across England and Wales.

The DA JJP has strengthened joint working with policing – building stronger cases from the outset and increasing access to justice for victims nationally and locally. The work is already showing positive results – referrals volumes from Northumbria Police have increased by nearly 18.4% since the plan was launched, demonstrating that significant progress has been made.

Recognising different local needs, the plan provides strategic direction rather than prescribing local activity. CPS Areas and police forces have worked together to tailor the plan to address local priorities and community needs – including those in rural areas.

A key outcome of the DA JJP is building expertise across both the CPS and policing. To support this, there is a joint knowledge sharing event on ‘Domestic Abuse in Rural Areas’ planned for the new year. This coordinated approach is key to breaking cycles of abuse, securing prosecutions, and ensuring that victims are heard, protected, and supported throughout the justice process.
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Joe Morris:To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 52361, whether her Department has had further discussions with the CPS on (a) the pilot scheme for Operation Soteria in CPS North East and (b) its rollout across the country. \p Ellie Reeves: This Government is committed to halving violence against women and girls within a decade, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) plays a critical role in achieving this.

Operation Soteria, which concluded in November 2023, was an ambitious joint policing-CPS programme aimed at transforming the investigation and prosecution of adult rape cases.

Operation Soteria informed the launch of the CPS’ National Operating Model for Adult Rape Prosecution (NOM) in July 2023. It sets out a consistent national approach to adult rape prosecutions, built around a suspect-focused, victim-centred, and context-led approach to case building. It includes new processes and guidance materials, bespoke training, and the recruitment of additional prosecutors and operational staff. Every component of the NOM has now been rolled out nationally to the CPS’ specialist Rape and Serious Sexual Offence Units.

Since the NOM’s launch, there have been significant increases in the volume of police referrals, suspects charged, and court receipts for adult rape cases. For example, between Q1 2023/24 (the last quarter before the launch of NOM) and Q1 2025/26 (the CPS' most recent published data), the number of completed prosecutions for adult rape flagged cases has increased by 37%.

However, the CPS recognises the need to maintain momentum and is currently implementing a new Rape Action Plan to ensure every decision in rape cases is robust, every prosecutor is supported, and every victim can have confidence in the justice process.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2025 to Question 87433 on Hereditary Diseases, which NHS trusts and other data providers are submitting incomplete information on parental consanguinity to the National Disease Registration Service congenital conditions dataset; what the rate of completeness is for each provider; and what action is being taken in respect of providers not meeting required data standards. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Since assuming responsibility for the registration of congenital and rare conditions in 2015, the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) has focused on improving the accuracy of case completeness and strengthening regional coverage to monitor trends in congenital and rare conditions. NDRS is reviewing the data items recommended for reporting of congenital conditions, including which information should be collected through specialist congenital condition registration datasets and which is better captured for all pregnancies through the Maternity Services Data Set. NDRS has not assessed completeness of the consanguinity field at a provider level. NHS England is working to improve the recording of consanguinity. NDRS continues to work closely with reporting trusts, maternity services, and clinical teams to improve the quality and completeness of congenital condition data, supported by a dedicated data liaison function.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

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Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of people in the Bracknell Forest wards of Maidenhead constituency who are unable to register with an NHS dentist. \p Stephen Kinnock: Patients in England are not registered with a National Health Service dental practice, although many NHS dental practices do tend to see patients regularly. There is no geographical restriction on which practice a patient may attend. Some dental practices may operate local waiting list arrangements. Therefore, data is not available on the number of people who are unable to register with a dentist in the Maidenhead constituency.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the Maidenhead constituency, this is the Frimley ICB.

The data for the NHS Frimley ICB shows that 40% of adults were seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 24 months up to June 2025, which is the same as the average for England, and 56% of children were seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 12 months up to June 2025, compared to 57% in England.

We are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a dentist, particularly in underserved areas, and the Government is taking action to improve this. We have asked ICBs to commission extra urgent dental appointments across the country, with appointments more heavily weighted towards those areas where they are needed the most. The Government is also considering the outcomes of the consultation on immediate improvements to dental care and will publish a response shortly.

ICBs are also recruiting posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.

We are committed to reforming the dental sector and we will deliver fundamental contract reform before the end of this Parliament.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average wait time for a GP appointment was in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency in each of the last five years. \p Stephen Kinnock: This information is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/appointments-in-general-practice

The time between booking and the appointment is not a proxy for “waiting times,” as patients may prefer to book routine appointments, for example regular tests or medicine reviews, further in advance.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November to Question 85518 on General Practitioners: Ely and East Cambridgeshire, if he will commission research to examine the workload of GPs. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

There are currently over 200 projects involving general practice being funded by the NIHR and active as of November 2025. An example of research is NIHR168327, which will assess the impact of different models of integrating new or extended roles into primary care. This comparative analysis between Scotland and England will examine the impact of variations in funding, employment models, and deployment of new/extended roles on staff experiences, patient care and experiences, and general practice workload and satisfaction.

The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including research about general practice. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

The review of the Carr-Hill formula is being conducted by National Institute for Health and Care Research. The review has commenced and will draw on a range of evidence and advice from experts, with key stakeholders including the Royal College of General Practitioners involved in the process. Implementation of any new funding approach will be subject to Ministerial decision, in the context of available funding and our commitment to substantively reform the GMS contract within this Parliament.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to help reduce (a) regional and (b) wealth inequalities in access to NHS dentistry services. \p Stephen Kinnock: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning primary care services, including National Health Service dentistry, to meet the needs of the local populations, and for determining the priorities for investment.

We do not hold data on access to NHS dentistry according to income. However, ICBs are responsible for undertaking special care oral health needs assessments to inform local commissioning intentions that reduce inequalities in access and priorities for investment.

We have asked ICBs to commission extra urgent dental appointments, with these appointments more heavily weighted towards those areas where they are needed the most. ICBs have been making extra appointments available from 1 April 2025.

More broadly, as per the 10-Year Health Plan for England, we are shifting the focus from treatment to prevention. This includes assessing the roll out of further water fluoridation programmes in areas where oral health outcomes are poorest, and through targeted action such as our supervised toothbrushing programme for three to five-year-olds living in the 20% most deprived areas of England. Both of these interventions improve oral health and reduce inequalities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

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Sir Andrew Mitchell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the minimum wage rise on the cost of care home places for (a) those that are self funding and (b) local authorities that fund residents in care homes. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department regularly makes assessments of the cost pressures facing adult social care. These assessments take into account a wide range of factors, including changes to the National Minimum Wage and the impact that may have on local authorities funding residents in care homes.

The Spending Review allows for an increase of over £4 billion of funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements.
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Julia Lopez:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of (a) the effect of no national oversight relating to the quality of vision rehabilitation services for patients in England and (b) the experiences of those with sight loss when it comes to being able to use those services. \p Stephen Kinnock: Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have the duty to shape their care market and to commission a range of high-quality, sustainable, and person-centred care and support services to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes encouraging a wide range of service provision to ensure that people, including those with sight loss, have a choice of appropriate services and equipment that maximises independence.

Although the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is not currently required to assess vision rehabilitation services, as regulated activities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, sensory services, including vision rehabilitation, do form part of the CQC’s overall assessment of local authorities’ delivery of adult social care.

CQC assessments identify local authorities’ strengths and areas for development, in their delivery of their duties under part 1 of the Care Act. This facilitates the sharing of good practice and helps us to target support where it is most needed. The CQC will report on sensory services when there is something important to highlight, for example, something being done well, innovative practice, or an area for improvement.
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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to increase GP dispensing fees to bring them in line with community pharmacies. \p Stephen Kinnock: General practices (GPs) are valued independent contractors who provide over £13 billion worth of National Health Services. Every year we consult with the sector both about what services they provide, and the money providers are entitled to in return under their contract, taking into account the cost of delivering services.

The Department and NHS England will begin consultation with stakeholders on the 2026/27 GP Contract shortly. Further information will be announced in due course.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department are taking to reduce emergency hospital admissions involving people who are in the last 12 months of life. \p Stephen Kinnock: Our 10-Year Health Plan sets out that community-based advice and support will help more people die in their home, while community teams will work closely with care homes and paramedics to share care plans to avoid people being taken to accident and emergency unless absolutely necessary. Those teams can include hospice outreach staff and palliative care professionals. Additionally, rapid response teams will help symptom management, including pain.

The Government is developing a Palliative Care and End of Life Care Modern Service Framework for England. I refer the Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement HCWS1087, which I gave to the House on 24 November 2025.

NHS England has published universal principles for advanced care planning (ACP). These principles facilitate a consistent national approach to ACP in England. The principles focus on the importance of providing opportunities for a person and their family or carers to engage in meaningful discussions, led by the person concerned, which consider that person’s priorities and preferences, including the place of care, when they are nearing the end of life. The universal principles for ACP are available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/universal-principles-for-advance-care-planning/
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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Government will publish its guidance to local authorities on Neighbourhood Health Plans. \p Stephen Kinnock: Neighbourhood health will move care out of hospitals and into communities, with more personalised, proactive, and integrated services starting from where and how people live their lives. This will involve building stronger links to wider local government services such as housing, family hubs, and programmes such as Pride in Place, as well as links with wider civil society including the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector.

The Planning Framework for the NHS in England, published on 8 September, reiterates the commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan, that place partners develop a local neighbourhood plan, which integrated care boards will bring together into a population health improvement plan. These local plans will be drawn up by local government, the National Health Service, and its partners at single or upper tier local authority level under the leadership of the Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs).

We will be publishing further guidance to support local areas to develop neighbourhood health plans in due course. This will set out how the NHS, local authorities, and partners should work together under the leadership of HWBs to develop and implement plans.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

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Julia Lopez:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of recent trends in the number of patients receiving timely access to vision rehabilitation services in line with industry best practice. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is now assessing how local authorities are meeting the full range of their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014. These assessments identify local authorities’ strengths and areas for development, facilitating the sharing of good practice, and helping us to target support where it is most needed. This means that sensory services, including vision rehabilitation, form part of the CQC’s overall assessment of local authorities’ delivery of adult social care. In that context, the CQC will report on sensory services when there is something important to highlight, for example, something being done well, innovative practice, or an area for improvement.