Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2026 to Question 118875 on Hospices: Children, if he will publish the amount that each children and young people's hospice will receive in the 2026-27 financial year.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Children and young people’s hospices will receive at least £26 million, adjusted for inflation, in revenue funding for 2026/27. NHS England has recently communicated the details of this funding allocation and dissemination to 35 individual children and young people’s hospices, and their respective integrated care boards, although the Department is not yet in a position to share those individual allocations publicly.

Communication regarding future allocations, in 2027/28 and 2028/29, will be sent once the 2026/27 process is complete.

Additionally, we have supported the hospice sector in England with a £125 million capital funding boost for adult, and children and young people’s, hospices to ensure they have the best physical environment for care.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the National Institute for Health and Care Research on the development of UK based research about (a) emerging drugs and (b) treatment options for patients with MND.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed

Government responsibility for delivering motor neurone disease (MND) research is shared between the Department of Health and Social Care, with research delivered by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation, primarily by the Medical Research Council.

The Government is investing in MND research across a range of areas, including possible treatments. For example, the MND Translational Accelerator, supported by £6 million of Government funding, has twelve projects all aimed at speeding up the development of treatments for MND.

The NIHR has also invested £8 million into EXPERTS-ALS, a pre-clinical study which is designed to accelerate the identification and testing of the most promising treatment candidates for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of MND. This will connect to the later phase platform trial, MND SMART.

In August 2025, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency approved Tofersen to treat SOD1-ALS, a rare form of MND. Research into Tofersen was supported by NIHR’s Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre, and all three trial phases were delivered by the NIHR’s Research Delivery Network, demonstrating tangible impact of NIHR funded research into MND.

The NIHR continues to welcome high quality applications for research into MND. 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 the public and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

Welcoming applications on MND 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.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 122861 on Business Rates, Gyms and Leisure Centres, whether she hold discussions with the leisure centre and gym sector on the impact of business rate costs on levels of service provision to promote health and wellbeing in communities.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring public access to gyms and leisure facilities, which are great spaces for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy, and play an important role within communities.

We regularly engage with the leisure sector on a broad range of issues, including the impact of business rates.

DCMS engaged extensively with HM Treasury in the run up to the Autumn Budget 2025 and provided evidence to HM Treasury on the anticipated impact to the sport and leisure sector. The Government has announced a support package worth £4.3 billion to protect against ratepayers seeing large overnight increases in their business rates bills because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down, next year. This also means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what [i] recent assessment he has made about levels of customer support for the increased availability of local and independent brewery products in local pubs, and [ii] whether this evidence is being considered as part of the Government's response to the Small Breweries Access to Market Review.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government recognises that breweries, particularly small and independent producers, play an important role in the UK’s brewing heritage, supporting diversity, innovation and consumer choice within the pub sector.

The Government will respond to the outcomes of the Small Breweries Access to Market Review in due course and will set out next steps once this consideration is complete. I will meet representatives from across the sector in the next month to discuss the issue before reaching conclusions.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he will respond to the outcomes of the Small Breweries Access to Market Review and outline the next steps to determine the future market for products in local pubs.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government recognises that breweries, particularly small and independent producers, play an important role in the UK’s brewing heritage, supporting diversity, innovation and consumer choice within the pub sector.

The Government will respond to the outcomes of the Small Breweries Access to Market Review in due course and will set out next steps once this consideration is complete. I will meet representatives from across the sector in the next month to discuss the issue before reaching conclusions.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions the UK Neuro Forum has had on (a) care pathways, (b) treatment options and (c) access to drugs for patients with motor neurone disease.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The UK Neuro Forum brings key stakeholders together to share learnings across the system and to discuss challenges, best practice examples, and potential solutions for improving the care of people with neurological conditions, including motor neurone disease (MND).

At the second meeting of the UK Neuro Forum on 10 September 2025, one of the key areas of discussion was cross-border care. The forum met again most recently on 18 March and discussed workforce challenges.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with the (a) British Independent Retailers Association and (b) Independent Menswear Trade Organisation on the potential impact of changes to business rate bills on small independent retailers.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government’s Call for Evidence on business rates and investment has sought views from industry representatives, to establish more detailed evidence on how the business rates system influences investment decisions, with questions on the business rates system’s tax structure, Small Business Rates Relief, Improvement Relief and Empty Property Relief.

The Government is carefully considering the representations received – including those from BIRA and other retailers - and a summary of responses will be published in due course. HM Treasury also continues to have regular discussions with sector representatives to understand the impact of business rates on the sector’s financial sustainability.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will assess the role of digital case management CVD prevention systems in supporting efforts to facilitate trends in [i] moving from hospital to community care and [ii] analogue to digital care.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is aware of the need for robust digital case management systems to identify, monitor, and track individuals who are at risk or who are living with cardiovascular disease.

As stated in the 10-Year Health Plan, to accelerate progress on the Government’s ambition to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% in the next 10 years, a new Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework will be published in spring. The framework will support consistent, high quality, and equitable care, whilst fostering innovation across the cardiovascular disease pathway in line with the Government’s three key shifts, from hospital to community, from sickness to prevention, and from analogue to digital.

We are engaging with key stakeholders, including National Health Service leaders, on priorities for the modern service framework, such as the role digital case management systems could play to support efforts to tackle cardiovascular disease.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of digital case management systems on tackling CVD.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is aware of the need for robust digital case management systems to identify, monitor, and track individuals who are at risk or who are living with cardiovascular disease.

As stated in the 10-Year Health Plan, to accelerate progress on the Government’s ambition to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% in the next 10 years, a new Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework will be published in spring. The framework will support consistent, high quality, and equitable care, whilst fostering innovation across the cardiovascular disease pathway in line with the Government’s three key shifts, from hospital to community, from sickness to prevention, and from analogue to digital.

We are engaging with key stakeholders, including National Health Service leaders, on priorities for the modern service framework, such as the role digital case management systems could play to support efforts to tackle cardiovascular disease.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what conversations he is having with NHS leaders about [i] the future of the PASS system and [ii] the role of digital case management system to support efforts to tackle CVD.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are aware of the need for robust digital case management systems to identify, monitor, and track individuals who are at risk or are living with cardiovascular disease, including opportunities systems such as the Pedigree and Cascade Screening System may present.

To accelerate progress on the Government’s ambition to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% in the next ten years, a new Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework will be published in spring. The framework will support consistent, high quality, and equitable care, whilst fostering innovation across the cardiovascular disease pathway.

We are engaging with key stakeholders, including National Health Service leaders, on priorities for the modern service frameworks, to support efforts to tackle cardiovascular disease.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to WPQ 110045 titled 'Nature Conservation: Crime,' answered on 10 February 2026, what recent conversations she has had with the National Wildlife Crime Unit about the effectiveness of their intelligence, analysis and investigative assistance to tackle wildlife crime in [a] England and [b] Leicestershire.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office worked in partnership with Defra to support the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) in delivering their Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy for 2025-28. The Strategy – which was published on 25 November -provides a framework through which policing, and its partners can work together to tackle the most prevalent threats and emerging issues including wildlife crime.

We also fund the National Wildlife Crime Unit who provide intelligence, analysis and investigative assistance to forces and other law enforcement agencies across the UK to support them in investigating wildlife crime. Throughout the grant agreement period, we hold regular official‑level meetings to discuss progress, engagement and delivery.

We are ensuring forces have the tools and resources they need to deal with rural crime including wildlife crime. We have hit our target of 3,000 more neighbourhood officers in March – and our target remains 13k by the end of the parliament

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Heavy Industry and Construction Industry about [i] the potential impacts of increases in the cost of commercial bulk purchasing of diesel and [ii] possible mitigating solutions to assist their operations.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

My Department is monitoring the situation, and is in regular contact with stakeholders, including through our partnership with the Construction Leadership Council, which I co-chair

The Construction Leadership Council’s Material’s Supply Chain Group, in March 2026, noted the main disruption to the sector from the Middle East crisis is the rapid rise in energy prices and their immediate impact on material costs, particularly for products with energy-intensive manufacturing processes or derived from oil-based raw materials

Ministers are being kept updated on the supply chain disruption (and impacts) as part of our cross Whitehall monitoring.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 125241 on Gyms and Leisure Centres: Business Rates, whether fiscal pressures from business rates have recently been raised by leisure centre and gym sector representatives in meetings with (a) Treasury Ministers and (b) officials.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The sector was engaged as part of the recent Call for Evidence on business rates and investment, which closed on 18 February. The Government is carefully considering representations it has received, and a response to the Call for Evidence will be published in due course.

The sector was also engaged ahead of the Transforming Business Rates: Interim Report, published in September 2025: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-business-rates-interim-report/transforming-business-rates-interim-report

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 125241 on Gyms and Leisure Centres: Business Rates, on what date did (a) HM Treasury Ministers and (b) officials last meet with representatives from the gyms and leisure centre sector.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The sector was engaged as part of the recent Call for Evidence on business rates and investment, which closed on 18 February. The Government is carefully considering representations it has received, and a response to the Call for Evidence will be published in due course.

The sector was also engaged ahead of the Transforming Business Rates: Interim Report, published in September 2025: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-business-rates-interim-report/transforming-business-rates-interim-report

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of NHS England's policy of mandatory Advice and Guidance and Elective Single Point of Access on GPs’ professional duties under General Medical Council guidance.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The 2026/27 GP Contract embeds the current Advice and Guidance (A&G) enhanced service funding into core practice funding. The contract does not mandate the use of A&G in all circumstances. Instead, practices are expected to use A&G in relation to a planned care referral where clinically appropriate, and to follow locally agreed referral pathways. This reflects longstanding planned care referral practice and does not alter existing legal or professional accountability frameworks for general practitioners (GPs).

GPs, and other primary care referrers, remain professionally accountable for making appropriate clinical decisions, including referring patients to specialist care when it is in the patient’s best interests. The use of A&G and Single Point of Access does not override those responsibilities or place GPs in conflict between contractual and professional obligations.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) Remedial Service Statements and (b) Remedial Pensions Saving Statements remain outstanding.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Business Services Authority, which administers the NHS Pension Scheme on behalf of my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has confirmed that, as of 23 April 2026, there are 429,451 Remedial Service Statements and 20,185 Remedial Pension Savings Statements outstanding.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when does he plan to publish updated deadlines for the delivery of (a) Remedial Service Statements and (b) Remedial Pension Saving Statements.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department recognises the importance of providing NHS Pension Scheme members certainty about when they will receive their Remediable Service Statement. An independent review team is assessing the NHS Business Service Authority’s revised plans for the delivery of the McCloud remedy for NHS Pension Scheme members. Subject to the review team's assurance, in May 2026, we intend to issue new deadlines for Remedial Service Statements and update the House on delivery of Remedial Pension Savings Statements.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact social prescribing on supporting men with mental health issues.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed

No specific assessment has been made of the potential impact of social prescribing for supporting mental health and wellbeing in men.

The Department recognises the value of social prescribing for men. The Men’s Health Strategy, launched on 19 November 2025, includes partnerships with sports organisations to support mental health and social connection.

The Department has commissioned national research into different workstreams for social prescribing. This includes evaluation of the impact of activities such as nature-based interventions for people with mental ill-health.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what statutory and third party bodies are members of the Men's Health Strategy Stakeholder Group.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Men’s Health Stakeholder Group is an advisory group that provides advice to the Department on the implementation of the Men’s Health Strategy. It reports to the Men’s Health Project Board. The project board coordinates delivery across the Department and works with other relevant Government departments that are responsible for actions in the strategy. The project board reports to the Minister responsible for men’s health.

Information relating to the Men’s Health Stakeholder Group, including membership and meeting minutes, is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/mens-health-strategy-governance

The Department is closely engaged with the work of the Deputy Prime Minister, who is leading a cross-Government agenda on improving outcomes for men and boys. The Deputy Prime Minister is convening departments and partners to deliver coordinated action, focusing on three core themes: education and employment; health and wellbeing; and masculinities and connection. The Deputy Prime Minister recently chaired the first Inter-Ministerial Group on this issue, to which the Department of Health and Social Care heavily contributed and a minister attended.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether minutes were taken for the discussions of the Men's Health Strategy Stakeholder Group.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Men’s Health Stakeholder Group is an advisory group that provides advice to the Department on the implementation of the Men’s Health Strategy. It reports to the Men’s Health Project Board. The project board coordinates delivery across the Department and works with other relevant Government departments that are responsible for actions in the strategy. The project board reports to the Minister responsible for men’s health.

Information relating to the Men’s Health Stakeholder Group, including membership and meeting minutes, is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/mens-health-strategy-governance

The Department is closely engaged with the work of the Deputy Prime Minister, who is leading a cross-Government agenda on improving outcomes for men and boys. The Deputy Prime Minister is convening departments and partners to deliver coordinated action, focusing on three core themes: education and employment; health and wellbeing; and masculinities and connection. The Deputy Prime Minister recently chaired the first Inter-Ministerial Group on this issue, to which the Department of Health and Social Care heavily contributed and a minister attended.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the (a) Ministry of Justice, (b) Department for Education and (c) Government Equalities Office including in their workstreams into the work of the Men's Health Strategy Stakeholder Group.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Men’s Health Stakeholder Group is an advisory group that provides advice to the Department on the implementation of the Men’s Health Strategy. It reports to the Men’s Health Project Board. The project board coordinates delivery across the Department and works with other relevant Government departments that are responsible for actions in the strategy. The project board reports to the Minister responsible for men’s health.

Information relating to the Men’s Health Stakeholder Group, including membership and meeting minutes, is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/mens-health-strategy-governance

The Department is closely engaged with the work of the Deputy Prime Minister, who is leading a cross-Government agenda on improving outcomes for men and boys. The Deputy Prime Minister is convening departments and partners to deliver coordinated action, focusing on three core themes: education and employment; health and wellbeing; and masculinities and connection. The Deputy Prime Minister recently chaired the first Inter-Ministerial Group on this issue, to which the Department of Health and Social Care heavily contributed and a minister attended.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the Mens Health Strategy Stakeholder Group to monitor the implementation of the Mens Health Strategy.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Men’s Health Stakeholder Group is an advisory group that provides advice to the Department on the implementation of the Men’s Health Strategy. It reports to the Men’s Health Project Board. The project board coordinates delivery across the Department and works with other relevant Government departments that are responsible for actions in the strategy. The project board reports to the Minister responsible for men’s health.

Information relating to the Men’s Health Stakeholder Group, including membership and meeting minutes, is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/mens-health-strategy-governance

The Department is closely engaged with the work of the Deputy Prime Minister, who is leading a cross-Government agenda on improving outcomes for men and boys. The Deputy Prime Minister is convening departments and partners to deliver coordinated action, focusing on three core themes: education and employment; health and wellbeing; and masculinities and connection. The Deputy Prime Minister recently chaired the first Inter-Ministerial Group on this issue, to which the Department of Health and Social Care heavily contributed and a minister attended.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) NHS England and (b) integrated care boards on the potential impact of the adequacy of physical therapy services on patients' cognitive ability.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Department officials hold regular discussions with NHS England on how integrated care boards are commissioning and delivering community health services, which includes physical therapy.

Access to sufficient, high-quality physical therapy is important in supporting patients’ physical function and overall wellbeing. Appropriate, individualised therapy can help to improve mobility, manage pain, and support participation in day-to-day activities. These outcomes may also contribute to maintaining independence and promoting engagement in activity, which can be beneficial for cognitive health and wider quality of life.

The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it. The plan will articulate the changes for different professional groups.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2026 to Question 110068, when the reprioritisation exercise is due to complete.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The reprioritisation exercise is ongoing. In the meantime, the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) is currently focused on delivering Remediable Pension Savings Statements (RPSS) for members in scope of the McCloud remedy, with about 21,000 cases still pending.

Pension Savings Statements (PSS) for the 2024/25 tax year have been issued for cases that could be handled automatically which resulted in roughly 14,000 successful statements.

The NHSBSA is providing the Pensions Regulator with monthly updates on the provision of RPSS’ and PSS’ due to the delays. The NHSBSA also holds regular meetings with the Pensions Regulator on McCloud remedy progress.

If a member requires an urgent PSS they can contact the NHSBSA directly via the member helpline.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 119478 on General Practitioners: Contracts, how he defines ‘avoiding’ in the context of avoiding 1.3 million patients being added to a waiting list.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Advice and Guidance (A&G) is a pre‑referral service used to enable general practitioners (GPs) and hospital specialists, including consultants, to work together to make the best care plans for patients, ensuring patients receive care in the most appropriate setting. A&G requests are distinct from hospital referrals, whereby a patient is added onto a waiting list. A&G does not take away a GP’s right to refer, which remains a matter of clinical judgement.

“Avoiding” being added to a waiting list reflects when, following an A&G request, a patient is deemed not to require a secondary care referral at that time. Without A&G, these patients might otherwise have had to wait for an unnecessary appointment and instead are expected to receive more timely care with earlier specialist input. In these cases, the GP may still subsequently refer their patient at any point if they have concerns.

Between April 2025 and December 2025, there were nearly 16 million referrals for Referral to Treatment services. For the same period there were over 1.2 million pre-referral A&G requests directed to treatment that is not a secondary care referral at that time, or 45.9% of total A&G requests, and this figure has been updated to reflect the latest data.

Additionally, the National Director for Primary Care and Community Services set out further information here:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/letter-specialist-advice-elective-single-point-of-access/

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he has made an assessment of the impact on his Department’s policies of Community Pharmacy England’s recently commissioned survey on abuse in pharmacies.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department and NHS England condemn any form of abuse directed at healthcare workers. Pharmacy teams should be able to go to work without fear and have a fundamental right to be safe at work.

NHS England has met with Community Pharmacy England to discuss the findings of the survey and how we can further support community pharmacies and their staff.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to publish a response to Community Pharmacy England’s recently commissioned survey on abuse in pharmacies.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department and NHS England condemn any form of abuse directed at healthcare workers. Pharmacy teams should be able to go to work without fear and have a fundamental right to be safe at work.

NHS England has met with Community Pharmacy England to discuss the findings of the survey and how we can further support community pharmacies and their staff.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to monitor the work of the Fraud Prevention Centre to help ensure investigations are completed in a timely and efficient manner.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Fraud Prevention Centre (FPC) has been set up to strengthen defences against identity‑based fraud and improve coordination of prevention, detection and response across the department. It is bringing together previously decentralised activity into a single, accountable function, to improve oversight, consistency of investigations, and support for affected customers. As the capability matures, the operation of the FPC continues to be monitored as it embeds within HMRC’s wider fraud response.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in relation to the Neighbourhood Health Framework's aim to have 25% of GP referrals diverted back to GPs via amendments to advice and guidance by 2027 for 10 high volume specialties, what estimate his Department has made of (a) the total number of referrals that is likely to be and (b) the increase in time and resources required in general practice to support diverted patients.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

As set out in the Medium-Term Planning Framework, National Health Service providers of Referral to Treatment consultant-led care are expected to prioritise Advice and Guidance (A&G) across at least ten specialties where it will have the greatest overall benefit. The ten specialties are selected locally at provider-level. General practice should be involved in discussions to decide on which are the most appropriate and we expect integrated care boards (ICBs) to support the use of A&G through their strategic commissioning for 2026/27. We do not centrally hold information regarding which specialties providers have selected.

Regarding the 25% aim, the National Director for Primary Care and Community Services made clear there is no national target. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/letter-specialist-advice-elective-single-point-of-access/

The 2026/27 GP Contract embeds the £82 million of funding from the previous A&G enhanced service, into core practice funding. Embedding A&G in the core contract recognises it as routine clinical practice, removes annual signups, and provides more predictable funding while supporting consistent patient pathways. A general practitioner’s (GP’s) clinical decision to refer remains unchanged and GPs should continue to make a clinical decision to refer for specialist care where that is in the patient’s best interest.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in relation to the Medium Term Planning Framework published by NHS England in October 2025, which 10 specialities each ICB has identified as the most effective for the use of Advice and Guidance.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

As set out in the Medium-Term Planning Framework, National Health Service providers of Referral to Treatment consultant-led care are expected to prioritise Advice and Guidance (A&G) across at least ten specialties where it will have the greatest overall benefit. The ten specialties are selected locally at provider-level. General practice should be involved in discussions to decide on which are the most appropriate and we expect integrated care boards (ICBs) to support the use of A&G through their strategic commissioning for 2026/27. We do not centrally hold information regarding which specialties providers have selected.

Regarding the 25% aim, the National Director for Primary Care and Community Services made clear there is no national target. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/letter-specialist-advice-elective-single-point-of-access/

The 2026/27 GP Contract embeds the £82 million of funding from the previous A&G enhanced service, into core practice funding. Embedding A&G in the core contract recognises it as routine clinical practice, removes annual signups, and provides more predictable funding while supporting consistent patient pathways. A general practitioner’s (GP’s) clinical decision to refer remains unchanged and GPs should continue to make a clinical decision to refer for specialist care where that is in the patient’s best interest.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2026 to WPQ 122758, what professionals will be allowed to triage in the Elective Single Point of Access Model.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England has published technical guidance to secondary care providers and integrated care boards (ICBs) regarding the Elective Single Point of Access Model (SPoA). This sets out governance, quality assurance, and clinical oversight requirements for SPoA. Existing local processes and structures for quality assurance, performance management, and clinical governance remain in place, for instance through National Health Service trusts and ICBs, including specialty-level clinical leadership and senior oversight to ensure this change is implemented safely and appropriately, and that patients who require specialist assessment are referred without delay.

Specialist clinical assessment is undertaken within robust clinical governance arrangements, with senior clinical oversight at specialty level to ensure that referrals are managed safely and appropriately, and that patients who require a hospital appointment are referred without delay.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2026 to WPQ 122758, whether there will be any limitations on what qualifications staff will be required to have in order to triage in the Elective Single Point of Access Model.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England has published technical guidance to secondary care providers and integrated care boards (ICBs) regarding the Elective Single Point of Access Model (SPoA). This sets out governance, quality assurance, and clinical oversight requirements for SPoA. Existing local processes and structures for quality assurance, performance management, and clinical governance remain in place, for instance through National Health Service trusts and ICBs, including specialty-level clinical leadership and senior oversight to ensure this change is implemented safely and appropriately, and that patients who require specialist assessment are referred without delay.

Specialist clinical assessment is undertaken within robust clinical governance arrangements, with senior clinical oversight at specialty level to ensure that referrals are managed safely and appropriately, and that patients who require a hospital appointment are referred without delay.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with [i] the NHS and [ii] baby loss organisations about the [a] impact of baby loss on fathers and [b] support services needed to support those fathers.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, What consultation did his Department undertake before NHS England's decision to cease central funding for the EMIS Web dispensing module from 1 April 2026

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, How much central funding does NHS England currently provide to fund the EMIS Web dispensing module

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Whether he has held recent discussions with NHS England on the future of their centralised funding for the EMIS Web dispensing module

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, For how long he expects NHS England to continue central funding for the EMIS Web dispensing module

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2026 to WPQ 122758, if his Department will publish a list of all the (a) professional and (b) clinical criteria which staff will need to meet in order to triage in the Elective Single Point of Access Model.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2026 to WPQ 122758, whether his Department will stipulate who should be triaging in the Elective Single Point of Access Model.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2026 to Question 120986 on General Practitioners: Contracts, if he will publish the evidence that shows that patients had improved care as a result of changes to Advice and Guidance.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2026 to Question 120986 on General Practitioners: Contracts, what evidence his Department holds which shows that patients had improved care as a result of changes to Advice and Guidance.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, What recent discussions he has had with (a) the Dispensing Doctors Association (b) the British Medical Association, and (c) NHS England on NHS England ceasing to centrally fund the EMIS Web dispensing module from 1 April 2026.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.