theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Layla Moran:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to expand the provision of capital investment for the primary care estate. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future, by fixing the front door to the NHS and shifting the focus of the NHS out of hospitals and into the community. At the Autumn Budget 2024, we established a dedicated capital fund of £102 million to deliver approximately 200 upgrades to general practice surgeries across England, supporting improved use of existing buildings and space, boosting productivity, and enabling delivery of more appointments. This funding represents a first step in delivering the additional capital the primary care sector needs.

The Government recognises the importance of strategic, value for money investments in capital projects, such as new facilities, significant upgrades, or other targeted capital investments, and the Department is currently reviewing capital requirements in line with the Government’s missions and as part of our preparations for Phase 2 of the Spending Review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 44058 on General Practitioners: Pay, what plans he has to update the Market Forces Factor in the Carr-Hill formula with modelled earnings by geographical location for 2024-25. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department has no immediate plans to update the Market Forces Factor in the Carr-Hill formula.
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Kate Osamor:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve tuberculosis (a) screening, (b) diagnosis and (c) treatment services for (i) people experiencing homelessness and (ii) asylum seekers. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department works collaboratively with Government departments, local authorities, and third-sector organisations to overcome barriers to healthcare access for people seeking asylum and those experiencing homelessness, ensuring they can access and receive necessary care.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) collects and publishes data on tuberculosis (TB). The UKHSA and NHS England’s joint TB Action Plan for England 2021 to 2026 outlines outcomes and indicators to achieve a 90% reduction in people with TB by 2035, which is aligned with the World Health Organization’s elimination targets.

There are specific actions within the collaborative UKHSA and NHS England TB Action Plan 2021 to 2026 to strengthen the prevention and detection of active disease in groups at higher risk of TB, such as those experiencing homelessness and seeking asylum, through targeted screening and active engagement with local authorities, their public health teams, and the third sector.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the blood donation eligibility requirements for recent travel. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England, and blood donor selection guidelines are prepared by the Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC).

The JPAC has a comprehensive process to review and assess reports of disease outbreaks from across the world. Assessment of a donor's travel history is an important means of reducing the risk of transfusion transmitted infections.

For some infections, such as West Nile virus or malaria, it is possible to test the donation rather than defer the donors. But for other infections, NHSBT defers donors until they are past the incubation period. Currently, there are no further suitable validated tests that could be used for donation testing, although work is ongoing to evaluate potential new tests which may result in fewer deferrals.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many funding awards under consideration focus on the (a) diagnosis, (b) care and (c) treatment of endometriosis. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR supports research with a focus on endometriosis through a range of funding streams. For example, the Health Technology Assessment Programme is currently considering applications submitted to a call for research into pain management programmes for endometriosis. Details of successful funding awards will be published on the NIHR website later this year.

In addition, the NIHR is currently funding two doctoral fellowships with relevance to endometriosis, thus supporting the pipeline of researchers with expertise in women’s health issues.

The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any area of women’s health, including endometriosis.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress has been made on research into a breath test to enable early detection of Pancreatic Cancer. \p Ashley Dalton: The PANACEA study will recruit 8,000 patients across 40 sites by September 2026 to evaluate breath test performance and is expected to complete in March 2027. This is one strand of the Office for Life Sciences’ Cancer Healthcare Goals Programme, which supports the development of technologies that enable earlier, more effective cancer diagnosis and improved treatment. The Department invests over £1.6 billion per year in health research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR spent £133 million on cancer research in 2023/24.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what active funding streams are focused on research into endometriosis. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR supports research with a focus on endometriosis through a range of funding streams. For example, the Health Technology Assessment Programme is currently considering applications submitted to a call for research into pain management programmes for endometriosis. Details of successful funding awards will be published on the NIHR website later this year.

In addition, the NIHR is currently funding two doctoral fellowships with relevance to endometriosis, thus supporting the pipeline of researchers with expertise in women’s health issues.

The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any area of women’s health, including endometriosis.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to work with relevant authorities to improve the (a) research, (b) diagnosis and (c) treatment of ocular cancers. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department funds cancer research via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR spent £133 million on cancer research in 2023/24. An example of this investment includes the NIHR Clinical Research Facilities (CRFs), which are dedicated facilities in National Health Service hospitals where researchers deliver early-phase and complex studies, including in cancer. In 2022, the NIHR invested £161 million in 28 facilities over five years to create dedicated spaces for high-risk experimental medicine studies, such as first-in-patient trials.

The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including ocular cancers. 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. Welcoming applications on ocular cancers to all NIHR programmes enables maximum flexibility both in terms of the amount of research funding a particular area can be awarded, and the type of research which can be funded.

The Department works closely with NHS England in taking steps to improve diagnostic and treatment waiting times for all cancers, including ocular cancer. We are committed to transforming diagnostic services and will support the NHS to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new capacity, including magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography scanners. In addition, £70 million will be spent on new radiotherapy machines, to ensure the most advanced treatment is available to patients who need it.

In December 2024, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence approved the treatment of tebentafusp for uveal melanoma, a form of ocular cancer. This treatment has now been rolled out to patients across England with inoperable ocular cancer.

Improving outcomes for rarer cancers, like ocular cancer, is an area of focus for the National Cancer Plan. The plan’s overarching goal will be to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next ten years.
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James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions with Sussex Police on their investigation into alleged medical negligence at the Royal Sussex County Hospital; and whether he has considered providing additional resources to support their inquiry. \p Ashley Dalton: The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has not had recent discussions with Sussex Police on their investigation and the provision of additional resources has not been considered to support them.

Ministers have met with the leadership of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust and are aware of the ongoing investigation. We have been reassured that the Trust and Sussex Police maintain an open and constructive working relationship, and governance frameworks are in place to safeguard patients, families, and staff.
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Kevin McKenna:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the Integrated National Transport Strategy. \p Ashley Dalton: Ministers and senior officials from the Department of Health and Social Care and Department for Transport have a range of discussions about policy issues of interest to both Departments. We expect to work closely together to ensure that health can be appropriately considered within the Integrated National Transport Strategy as it develops.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to address regional inequalities in access to radiotherapy. \p Ashley Dalton: To help to address regional inequalities in access to radiotherapy, the Department has allocated £70 million of funding for 28 new radiotherapy machines to trusts across the country, to replace outdated machines.

Reducing inequalities is a priority for the National Cancer Plan, which will look at the targeted improvements needed across different cancer types to reduce disparities in cancer survival, and will develop interventions to tackle these. This includes looking at inequalities related to geographic location.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to allocate further funding for new radiotherapy LINAC machines. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government allocated £70 million for the replacement of ageing radiotherapy machines. There are no plans at this stage to allocate further central funding for this. Responsibility for investing in new radiotherapy machines continues to sit with local systems.

All future spending commitments beyond 2025/26, including this one, will be determined through the next phase of the Spending Review process, which will conclude in June.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the National Cancer Plan with include consultation with blood cancer (a) consultant haematologists, (b) clinical nurse specialists and (c) other staff. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government recognises that a cancer-specific approach is needed to meet the challenges in cancer care, and the value in wide-ranging and meaningful engagement and consultation, including with blood cancer professionals and staff, whilst developing the National Cancer Plan.

Alongside the Call for Evidence launched on 4 February, our engagement has included a wide range of cancer partners, including charities, patient representative bodies, and a clinical advisory group that involves specialists from across cancer specialties, including haematology, to advise on development of the plan.

The Call for Evidence closed on 29 April 2025, and to date has received over 11,000 responses, including many from professionals.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many LINAC machines are (a) currently within the recommended lifespan and (b) beyond the recommended lifespan. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department does not hold data on how many radiotherapy machines are beyond their recommended working life in each National Health Service trust.

The number of radiotherapy machines in use which are over the 10-year recommended age is not published by NHS England. Since April 2022 the responsibility for investing in new radiotherapy machines has been with local systems.
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Anna Dixon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to Answer of 3rd April 2025 on Question 44192 on Events Industry: First Aid, when his Department plans to publish the updated Event Healthcare Standard; and whether he is taking steps to consult with (a) stakeholders, (b) healthcare providers and (c) event organisers during its development. \p Ashley Dalton: Following the Manchester Arena Inquiry Volume Two report recommendations the government committed to develop an Event Healthcare Standard. This guidance will support the Care Quality Commission’s regulation of the provision of treatment of disease, disorder, or injury rather than first aid.

The Event Healthcare Standard will be written by an authorship group, made up of clinicians and experts from within the healthcare sector, sports and events industries. The authorship group is also overseen by a review panel of experts and stakeholders also made-up healthcare providers, sports and events industries. We aim to publish the standard in the middle of 2026.

The Government will continue to engage with stakeholders within the health, sports and events sector as work on the standard progresses.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that radiotherapy treatment meets NHS cancer waiting times. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department is committed to improving cancer outcomes and reducing waiting times for treatment for patients across the country, including for patients in Wokingham.

To ensure the most advanced radiotherapy treatment is available to patients, the Department recently invested £70 million in 28 new radiotherapy machines. We are committed to improving waiting times for cancer treatment across England and aim to ensure that no one is waiting longer than they should for lifesaving treatment. As a first step to achieving this, we will deliver an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week, helping to ensure earlier diagnoses and faster treatment for those who need it most, providing better outcomes for cancer patients.

The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients and reduce waiting times for diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology.
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Mohammad Yasin:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2025 to Question 36441 on World Health Assembly, by what date his Department will confirm (a) ministerial attendance at the World Health Assembly 2025 and (b) whether it plans to endorse the WHO resolution on Reducing the Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) through the Promotion of Kidney Health and Strengthening Prevention and Control of Kidney Disease. \p Ashley Dalton: The World Health Assembly (WHA) is a unique opportunity to meet health ministers from around the world and to showcase the United Kingdom’s health leadership. The Department is planning to send a senior representation to the WHA in May, but plans are still being finalised.

The UK is actively engaged in negotiations on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) resolution ‘Reducing the Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) through the Promotion of Kidney Health and Strengthening Prevention and Control of Kidney Disease’ in advance of the 156th WHO Executive Board this February. The Executive Board recommended the adoption of all resolutions considered to the WHA in May, including this one, subject to ongoing WHO budget discussions.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many cases of salmonella infections have been reported in Birmingham in each of the last six months. \p Ashley Dalton: The information is not held in the format requested. Weekly reports with figures for food poisoning by region are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notifiable-diseases-weekly-reports-for-2025.
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Douglas McAllister:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help lengthen life expectancy for people with acute myeloid leukaemia; and if he will increase levels of funding for leukaemia (a) research and (b) treatment. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department funds research into leukaemia through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR spent £133 million on cancer research in 2023/24.

In leukaemia research, for example, the NIHR is funding the £2.6 million PROPEL trial, testing whether a package of enhanced personalised prehabilitation can help people with acute myeloid leukaemia secure better outcomes after treatment.

NHS England has implemented non symptom specific pathways for patients who present with non-specific symptoms or combinations thereof that can indicate several different cancers. This includes leukaemia, which can present non-specific symptoms, such as unexpected weight loss and night sweats. The national evaluation showed that blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.

The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia patients.
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Paul Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Yorkshire Outreach Programme for leukaemia monitoring; and whether he plans to roll that programme out nationally. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department commends the Yorkshire Outreach Programme for leukaemia monitoring, which supports more than 3,500 people across the region, and will consider the programme as we develop a new National Cancer Plan to improve patient outcomes.

For early-stage blood cancers, including leukaemia, early treatment is not always beneficial, with national and international clinical guidelines advising life-long monitoring to enable prompt intervention in the small group of patients who eventually need treatment. Models for monitoring these patients differ across England, with cancer alliances and integrated care boards rolling out programmes they have evaluated and have shown to improve benefits to patients, with oversight from NHS England.

The National Health Service is committed to ensuring that cancer patients have access to personalised care, including a needs assessment, a care plan, and health and wellbeing information and support. Personalised care includes provision of information, empowering people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer, ensuring that each person’s care is planned holistically, covering mental and physical health as well as any practical or financial concerns.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost to the public purse has been of dental support provided to asylum seekers since 5 July 2024. \p Stephen Kinnock: Data is not held on the financial cost of dental support provided to asylum seekers or the number of National Health Service dental appointments provided to asylum seekers since 5 July 2024.

The Government recognises that certain groups of patients, such as asylum seekers, may find it difficult to access dental care. We are committed to ensuring NHS dental services are available to all who need them.

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 across England.
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Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether GP training includes a mandatory rotation on (a) obstetrics and (b) gynaecology. \p Stephen Kinnock: The curricula for postgraduate medical specialty training are set by individual royal colleges and faculties. The General Medical Council approves curricula and assessment systems for each training programme. Curricula emphasise the skills and approaches that a doctor must develop in order to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) sets the curriculum that all general practitioners (GPs) must cover before they are able to pass the examination to become a member of the RCGP and to work independently as a GP.

Obstetrics and gynaecology are not mandatory specialties in a GP programme, and there are no mandatory jobs in GP specialty training. GP training is a balanced programme which allows the trainee to meet the outcomes of the curriculum. Women's health, including sexual and reproductive health, is a significant element of the General Practice and Community Placement elements of GP specialty training and of the curriculum.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to NHS dental care for (a) pregnant women and (b) women in the postnatal period. \p Stephen Kinnock: We are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a dentist and we want to make sure that everyone who needs a National Health Service dentist can get one, including pregnant women and new mothers. The 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 the areas that need them most.

Pregnant women and women who have had a baby in the last 12 months are eligible for free NHS dental treatment. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/get-help-with-dental-costs/

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 Hazel Grove constituency, this is NHS Greater Manchester ICB.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to cognitive behavioural therapy for autistic adults with (a) a gambling addiction and (b) other forms of addiction. \p Stephen Kinnock: National Health Service treatment for those experiencing gambling-related harms is currently offered through 15 specialist clinics, representing every region of England. These clinics provide access to expert clinicians who are able to offer relevant psychological and psychiatric support, including cognitive behavioural therapy. The Department is also continuing to invest in local drug and alcohol treatment services.

In addition, people, including autistic people, who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression as a result of an addiction can be referred by their general practitioner, or can self-refer, to NHS Talking Therapies.

Operational guidance for autism assessment services, published by NHS England in April 2023, sets out the expectation that primary and secondary mental health and psychological therapies services should make reasonable adjustments to routine care, so that it is more accessible for autistic people. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/autism-diagnosis-and-operational-guidance/

NHS England has also published guidance for NHS systems on how to improve the quality and accessibility of care and support for autistic adults to meet their mental health needs, which is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/meeting-the-needs-of-autistic-adults-in-mental-health-services/
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Over 1,500 extra GPs recruited to fix front door of the NHS, published on 8 April 2025, how many of those GPs will be deployed in (a) Mid Bedfordshire, (b) Bedfordshire and (c) rural areas. \p Stephen Kinnock: As at 31 March 2025, 26 GPs had been recruited through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme in NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB. The number of full time equivalent ARRS GPs working in the ICB was 13.5 as at 28 February 2025.

Data on the number of roles recruited to rural areas is not held.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to expand dental training programmes. \p Stephen Kinnock: To reform the National Health Service and make it fit for the future, we have launched a 10-Year Health Plan as part of the Government’s five long-term missions.

A central part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities.

We will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.

We will ensure the NHS has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.
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Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to prevent pharmacy closures in Warwickshire. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government recognises that pharmacies, including in Warwickshire, are an integral part of the fabric of our communities, as an easily accessible ‘front door’ to the National Health Service, staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals.

We have now concluded the consultation on funding for 2024/25 and 2025/26 and have agreed with Community Pharmacy England to increase the community pharmacy contractual framework to £3.073 billion. This deal represents an uplift of over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26 and demonstrates a commitment to rebuilding the sector.

Local authorities are required to undertake a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served by local pharmacies and must keep these assessments under review. Integrated care boards give regard to the PNAs when reviewing applications from the new contractors. Contractors can also apply to open a new pharmacy to offer benefits to patients that were not foreseen by the PNA. If there is a need for a new local pharmacy to open and no contractors apply to open a pharmacy and fill the gap, integrated care boards (ICBs) can commission a new pharmacy to open outside of the market entry processes and fund the contract from the ICBs’ budgets. The Pharmacy Access Scheme helps protect access to pharmacies in areas where there are fewer pharmacies and higher health needs, so that no area is left without access to local, physical NHS pharmaceutical services.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to cognitive behavioural therapy for people experiencing insomnia. \p Stephen Kinnock: It is for local integrated care boards to decide whether cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) should be offered to their populations as a treatment for insomnia.

NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression offers low-intensity therapy which may include interventions around sleep hygiene. Individuals who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression can be referred by their general practitioner, or can self-refer, to NHS Talking Therapies. This is available via the following link:  https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/

Individuals can also access helpful resources on sleep problems on the Every Mind Matters website. This is available at the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-health-issues/sleep/

In addition, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s Prioritisation Board has recently agreed to prioritise digital technologies that deliver CBT interventions for insomnia and insomnia symptoms as a topic for the development of HealthTech guidance.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what is the total cost to the public purse of financial support given to asylum seekers for glasses since 5 July 2024. \p Stephen Kinnock: The National Health Service is a residency-based system, which means that people who do not live here on a lawful, settled basis must contribute to the cost of their care. However, some of the most vulnerable people arriving in the United Kingdom, including refugees and asylum seekers, do not pay for NHS treatment.

Asylum seekers who are receiving support from the Home Office under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 will automatically receive a HC2 certificate for full help with health costs. From the data available it is not possible to determine the total number, or cost of, sight tests or optical vouchers provided to asylum seekers, as eligibility to NHS services and to free means-tested services is not based on immigration status. Immigration status is therefore not recorded when services are provided.

Asylum seekers are entitled to free new glasses or contact lenses in the same way as other residents meeting the means-test criteria. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/free-nhs-eye-tests-and-optical-vouchers/

The Home Office and its contractors work closely with the NHS, local authorities, and non-governmental organisations to ensure that people can access the health care and support they need.
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Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the adequacy of community pharmacy provision in Stratford-on-Avon constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government recognises that pharmacies, including in Stratford-on-Avon, are an integral part of the fabric of our communities, as an easily accessible front door to the National Health Service, staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals.

We have now concluded the consultation on funding for 2024/25 and 2025/26, and have agreed with Community Pharmacy England to increase the community pharmacy contractual framework to £3.073 billion. This deal represents the largest uplift in funding of any part of the NHS, over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26. This shows a commitment to rebuilding the sector.

Local authorities are required to undertake a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served by local pharmacies and must keep these assessments under review. Integrated care boards (ICBs) give regard to the PNAs when reviewing applications from the new contractors. Contractors can also apply to open a new pharmacy to offer benefits to patients that were not foreseen by the PNA. If there is a need for a new local pharmacy to open and no contractors apply to open a pharmacy and fill the gap, ICBs can commission a new pharmacy to open outside of the market entry processes, and fund the contract from the ICB’s budget. The Pharmacy Access Scheme helps protect access to pharmacies in areas where there are fewer pharmacies and higher health needs, so that no area is left without access to local, physical NHS pharmaceutical services.
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David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with local authorities on updating the adult social care funding formula in the local government finance settlement for the 2026-27 financial year. \p Stephen Kinnock: MHCLG’s consultation on the principles and objectives of reform to the local government finance system, which was published alongside the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement on the 18 December 2024, included material on the approach to distributing adult social care funding.

My officials have met with local authority representative bodies to discuss the options in the consultation. The Department is considering their feedback alongside the responses received from the consultation. We look forward to continuing working with the sector on what our priorities should be for distributing adult social care funding.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's press release entitled New services for patients under record pharmacy funding deal, published on 31 March 2025, what proportion of the additional funding for community pharmacies was allocated to meet the cost of increases to (a) employer National Insurance Contributions (b) business rates and (c) National Minimum Wage in (i) 2024/25 and (ii) 2025/26. \p Stephen Kinnock: We have taken the necessary decisions to fix the foundations in the public finances at the Autumn Budget, 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 Department has considered the increases in the National Living Wage and employer national insurance when consulting on the funding arrangements for community pharmacy. We have now agreed with Community Pharmacy England to increase the community pharmacy contractual framework to £3.073 billion from April 2025. This deal represents the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service, at over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to help improve (a) the delivery and (b) standards of patient care in dental practices following the dissolution of NHS England in 2027. \p Stephen Kinnock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 April 2025 to Question 46592.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Rachel Gilmour:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take through the 10 Year Health Plan to support community pharmacies. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and community pharmacies will have a big role to play in that shift.

As part of the work to develop a 10-Year Health Plan, we have been carefully considering policies, with input from the public, patients, health staff, and our partners, including from the community pharmacy sector.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Kirsty Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications posts there are in his Department; and what the salary band is for each post. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 41044 on Radiotherapy: Medical Equipment, whether there is funding remaining for hospital trusts wishing to submit late applications for radiotherapy equipment. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Competition and Markets Authority's infant formula and follow-on formula market study, published on 14 February 2025, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of launching a public consultation on infant formula regulations. \p Ashley Dalton: Infant feeding is critical to a baby’s healthy growth and development. The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and that includes helping families to access support to feed their baby. Whilst breastfeeding has significant health benefits, we recognise that for those families that cannot or choose not to breastfeed, it is vital that they have access to infant formula that is affordable and high quality. Infant formula regulations ensure that all infant formula is suitable for meeting the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.

The Government welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study report on infant formula and follow-on formula. We are working with other Government Departments and the Devolved Governments to consider its recommendations, and relevant Ministers will also be consulted.

The legislation which sets the general principles and requirements of overall food law places a statutory requirement to consult on potential changes to food law.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Valerie Vaz:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the loss of supply routes to the US following the imposition of tariffs on UK companies; and if he will consider tariffs on imported metal goods. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The Department for Business and Trade are working closely with colleagues in DfT to understand and assess the impacts on supply routes of goods globally due to US tariffs. This is complex analysis and requires collaboration between multiple government departments.

We remain committed to discussions with the US on a wider economic deal and this government will do what is necessary to defend the UK’s national interest. That is why on 3 April, the government launched a Request for Input from businesses, to keep all options on the table; and help inform the UK's response to US tariffs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of US tariffs on the bus and coach sector. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: Buses and coaches are exempt from the additional 25% tariffs the US is imposing on the automotive sector. However, they are still included in the 10% baseline tariffs, posing challenges for businesses. In March 2025, the Minister for Local Transport launched the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel, regularly bringing together industry experts to ensure the UK remains a leader in bus manufacturing. This government is committed to supporting the automotive sector, a crucial part of our manufacturing base. While preparing for all scenarios, our priority is to strengthen our economic relationship with the US through constructive discussions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential of recent political unrest in Turkey on the consideration of (a) existing and (b) new defence export licenses. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: This Government takes its export control responsibilities very seriously and we operate one of the most robust and transparent export control regimes in the world. This is an important lever for promoting both UK prosperity and national and global security.

We rigorously assess every application on a case-by-case basis against strict assessment criteria, the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria (the SELC). We review all new licence applications on this basis taking into account all current information available at the time including the situation in the end destination. We also keep all our extant licences (which typically last for two years) under continual review. The FCDO advises DBT on the situation in country and the risks this poses with respect to the UK’s export control responsibilities.
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Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what defence export licenses to Turkey are under consideration. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: We publish information on export licence outcomes as part of official statistics published on gov.uk by the Department for Business and Trade on behalf of the Export Control Joint Unit. The latest general statistics, which were classified as Official Statistics in Development, were published on 27 February 2025 and cover licence decisions to 30 September 2024. They are available to view on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.

We do not routinely publish information about in progress licence applications. Hundreds of licensing decisions are taken each week so the precise number of applications in progress changes on a daily basis. Once an application has received an outcome, it will be published as official statistics in the Annual and Quarterly Reports on Strategic Export Controls.

Information relating to export licensing decisions covering the period 1 October 2024 – 31 December 2024 will be published on 15 May 2025.