Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any impact that a shortage of residential care placements for learning disabled individuals may have on the choice available to families; and what steps they are taking to ensure that any shortage of placements does not lead to the acceptance of any restrictive contact regimes that infringe on a resident's right to family life.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their population, which is why, under the Care Act 2014, they are tasked with the duty to shape their care market to meet the diverse needs of all people. This includes commissioning a variety of different providers and specialist services that provide genuine choice to meet the needs of local people and that offer quality and value for money.
Contact with family and friends is a crucial part of a person’s care and no one should be denied reasonable access to visitors while they are a resident in a care home, or a patient in a hospital or hospice. Regulation 9A: Visiting and accompanying in care homes, hospitals and hospices is a Care Quality Commission (CQC) fundamental standard which came into force on 6 April 2024 and sets out what providers must do to make sure they respect the right of each person to receive visits and to be accompanied. Providers also have a responsibility to comply with relevant Court of Protection orders.
In April 2025, the Department launched a review of the effectiveness of CQC Regulation 9A: Visiting and accompanying in care homes, hospitals and hospices, to consider whether it has been effective in meeting its objectives. The Department will be publishing the outcome of the review shortly.
Asked by: Lord Kamall (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to commission a clinically-led review of diagnostic standards for Alzheimer's disease to ensure earlier and more accurate diagnosis.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
While there are currently no plans for a clinician-led review, Baroness Louise Casey of Blackstock was asked by the Prime Minister to chair an independent commission into adult social care. The commission is underway and phase one will report this year.
We will deliver the first ever Modern Service framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care.
The Modern Service framework for Frailty and Dementia will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia, including those living with Alzheimer’s disease. It will set national standards for dementia care and redirect National Health Service priorities to provide the best possible care and support.
In developing the Modern Service framework for Frailty and Dementia, we are engaging with a wide group of partners, including clinicians, to understand what should be included to ensure the best outcomes for people living with dementia.
Asked by: Lord Kamall (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the suitability of current diagnostic standards for Alzheimer's disease in promoting early and accurate diagnosis.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We know that a timely diagnosis is vital to ensuring that a person with dementia can access the advice, information, care, and support that can help them to live well and remain independent for as long as possible.
We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care. The commission is underway and phase one will report this year. The Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia and will set national standards for dementia care and redirect National Health Service priorities to provide the best possible care and support. Central to this modern service framework will be improved access to a timely and accurate diagnosis. We are considering all options to help reduce variation, including reviewing standards, metrics, and targets.
Asked by: Lord Markham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 16 February (HL14539), whether they will establish a statutory duty for water companies to follow the recommendations of the advisory group to the Independent Water Commission and work with the Secretary of State and relevant public health authorities on the implementation, operation, and maintenance of community water fluoridation schemes.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The White Paper A New Vision for Water published in January 2026 sets out the Government’s plans to implement the recommendations of the Independent Water Commission. This includes an integrated water regulator to deliver fair and effective regulation that protects and improves public health. A drinking water quality advisory group, including scientific and public health experts, will be given responsibility for making regular recommendations for updating drinking water regulations to ensure value for money whilst helping protect and improve public health.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with clinicians and relevant professional bodies regarding the development of new diagnostic pathways for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that reduce reliance on a single test and enable diagnosis in a wider range of care settings.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
To enable faster diagnosis of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and earlier treatment, access to spirometry tests in community diagnostic centres (CDCs) is growing and will continue to do so as more sites come online. The first five months of 2025/26 saw an increase in CDC spirometry testing of approximately 2,000 tests per month more than in the previous year.
As of November 2025, CDCs are now delivering additional tests and checks in 170 sites across the country. 101 CDCs across the country now offer out of hours services, 12 hours a day, seven days a week, meaning patients can access vital diagnostic tests around busy working lives.
Research into new diagostic tests for COPD, such as computed cardiopulmonography and N-Tidal Diagnose, is underway. Discussions on whether new diagnostic pathways could be developed will be dependent on the research findings.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve targeted case-finding and earlier diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in community settings.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
To enable faster diagnosis of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and earlier treatment, access to spirometry tests in community diagnostic centres (CDCs) is growing and will continue to do so as more sites come online. The first five months of 2025/26 saw an increase in CDC spirometry testing of approximately 2,000 tests per month more than in the previous year.
As of November 2025, CDCs are now delivering additional tests and checks in 170 sites across the country. 101 CDCs across the country now offer out of hours services, 12 hours a day, seven days a week, meaning patients can access vital diagnostic tests around busy working lives.
Research into new diagostic tests for COPD, such as computed cardiopulmonography and N-Tidal Diagnose, is underway. Discussions on whether new diagnostic pathways could be developed will be dependent on the research findings.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enable the adoption of innovative diagnostic technologies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease within the NHS; and what engagement they have had with clinical bodies to support large-scale implementation of targeted case-finding pathways that promote earlier diagnosis and help prevent disease progression.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Health Service is working to expand access to innovative diagnostic technologies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Research into new diagnostic tests for COPD, such as computed cardiopulmonography and N-Tidal Diagnose, is underway.
Discussions on whether new diagnostic pathways could be developed will be dependent on the research findings.
NHS England continues to work closely with Respiratory Clinical Networks and bodies such as the British Thoracic Society to support improvements to services.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the National Cancer Board will be accountable for the children and young people’s chapter of the National Cancer Plan for England; and, if so, how it will ensure sufficient representation from the children and young people sector.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Cancer Plan for England, published on the 4 February 2026, sets out several commitments and ambitions, to be delivered within the next 10 years. The role of the reformed National Cancer Board will be to support and monitor the delivery of the commitments and ambitions and provide regular updates to ministers.
The board will be co-chaired by the Director General for Planned Care in the Department, as well as an independent representative. It is important to choose the most suitable appointment process for selecting an independent representative to co-chair the board. Officials from NHS England and the Department are carefully following the required public appointments procedures for the selection of the independent representative.
The reformed National Cancer Board will be established once a co-chair is appointed, which will include a children and young people cancer lead that will support the delivery of the children and young people commitments in the National Cancer Plan.
Asked by: Baroness Walmsley (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what lessons they have learnt from the review and updating of previous age-restricted sales legislation; and how those lessons will inform the approach to keeping any future energy drinks age-of-sale legislation under review as new products enter the market and consumption patterns evolve.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government continues to learn from the implementation of previous age-restricted sales legislation. We recognise the importance of clear guidance, proportionate enforcement arrangements, and ensuring legislation is responsive to evidence, development in products, sales channels, and consumer behaviour.
Any future age of sale measures for energy drinks will be designed with these considerations in mind. We are reviewing consultation responses and will set out next steps in due course. The consultation specifically asked for views on our proposals for how the age restrictions will be enforced and its impact on local government.
Decisions on resourcing and enforcement will be taken alongside wider policy design and parliamentary scrutiny.
Asked by: Baroness Walmsley (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what lessons they have learned from previous age-restricted sales legislation, to ensure local authorities are adequately resourced to support the monitoring and enforcement of any future energy drinks age-of-sale legislation.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government continues to learn from the implementation of previous age-restricted sales legislation. We recognise the importance of clear guidance, proportionate enforcement arrangements, and ensuring legislation is responsive to evidence, development in products, sales channels, and consumer behaviour.
Any future age of sale measures for energy drinks will be designed with these considerations in mind. We are reviewing consultation responses and will set out next steps in due course. The consultation specifically asked for views on our proposals for how the age restrictions will be enforced and its impact on local government.
Decisions on resourcing and enforcement will be taken alongside wider policy design and parliamentary scrutiny.