Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
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 social prescribing on (a) reducing GP appointments and (b) improving patient wellbeing in (i) mental health and (ii) social isolation.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has underlined its commitment to taking a preventive approach to address health inequalities. We are determined to improve people’s physical and mental health, to support them to live longer and healthier lives, and we recognise the role that social prescribing can play in this. The Department funds the workforce through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, including social prescribing link workers in primary care. In March 2025, the Department agreed to a further year of grant funding for the National Academy for Social Prescribing, securing £1.5 million to advance and expand social prescribing.
The Health Mission specifically cites social prescribing as one of the services that can form part of the multi-disciplinary teams in neighbourhood health centres. The Neighbourhood Health Service has six initial core components, and social prescribing directly relates to both population health management and neighbourhood multidisciplinary teams.
We will soon launch the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme, which will support systems across the country to test new ways of working, share learning, and scale what works, making neighbourhood health the norm, not the exception.
The Department has commissioned national research into different workstreams for social prescribing.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to further integrate social prescribing into the Neighbourhood Health model.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has underlined its commitment to taking a preventive approach to address health inequalities. We are determined to improve people’s physical and mental health, to support them to live longer and healthier lives, and we recognise the role that social prescribing can play in this. The Department funds the workforce through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, including social prescribing link workers in primary care. In March 2025, the Department agreed to a further year of grant funding for the National Academy for Social Prescribing, securing £1.5 million to advance and expand social prescribing.
The Health Mission specifically cites social prescribing as one of the services that can form part of the multi-disciplinary teams in neighbourhood health centres. The Neighbourhood Health Service has six initial core components, and social prescribing directly relates to both population health management and neighbourhood multidisciplinary teams.
We will soon launch the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme, which will support systems across the country to test new ways of working, share learning, and scale what works, making neighbourhood health the norm, not the exception.
The Department has commissioned national research into different workstreams for social prescribing.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support (a) voluntary and (b) community sector organisations delivering social prescribing services.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has underlined its commitment to taking a preventive approach to address health inequalities. We are determined to improve people’s physical and mental health, to support them to live longer and healthier lives, and we recognise the role that social prescribing can play in this. The Department funds the workforce through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, including social prescribing link workers in primary care. In March 2025, the Department agreed to a further year of grant funding for the National Academy for Social Prescribing, securing £1.5 million to advance and expand social prescribing.
The Health Mission specifically cites social prescribing as one of the services that can form part of the multi-disciplinary teams in neighbourhood health centres. The Neighbourhood Health Service has six initial core components, and social prescribing directly relates to both population health management and neighbourhood multidisciplinary teams.
We will soon launch the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme, which will support systems across the country to test new ways of working, share learning, and scale what works, making neighbourhood health the norm, not the exception.
The Department has commissioned national research into different workstreams for social prescribing.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will ensure national access to HIV peer support through (a) in-community, (b) in-clinic and (c) online services in partnership with voluntary sector organisations.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to ending new HIV transmissions in England by 2030, and is developing the new HIV Action Plan, which we aim to publish this year. The plan will address ways to optimise rapid access to treatment and retention in care, and will improve the quality of life for people living with HIV, including consideration of peer support services.
A key component of the Government’s successful HIV emergency department opt-out testing programme includes a recommendation that 10% of the funding allocated to each site should be used to support community and peer support services for individuals diagnosed with a blood borne virus.
NHS England holds overall accountability for the commissioning of HIV services, and since April 2025, commissioning responsibility, including support services for those living with HIV, has been delegated to the integrated care boards. In April 2024, NHS England published the updated national Service Specification for Adult HIV services, which sets out the standards of care that HIV providers are expected to meet, including the availability of community, psychological, and psychosocial support for patients.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's consultation Extending the UK Emissions Trading Scheme cap beyond 2030, published on 12 February 2025, when the Government's response will be published.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The consultation on extending the UK Emissions Trading Scheme cap beyond 2030 closed on the 9th of April 2025. The UK ETS Authority recognises the importance of providing certainty and clarity on the scheme. Responses to the consultation are currently being analysed, and a response, outlining the Authority’s decisions, will be published when ready.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
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 real-term reductions to the public health grant on HIV (a) prevention and (b) support services delivered by the voluntary sector.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In 2025/26 we increased funding through the ring-fenced Public Health Grant to £3.858 billion, providing local authorities with an average 5.4% cash increase and a 3% real terms increase to support the improvement of the delivery of public health services, including sexual and reproductive health services. This marks the biggest real-terms increase after nearly a decade of reduced spending. It is at the discretion of individual local authorities to determine spending priorities based on an assessment of local need, including the role of the voluntary and community sector in the delivery of prevention and support services.
Funding for future work will be determined by the Spending Review. Although we have reached an overall settlement for the Department, the details of the budget allocations are still being determined. The Department is working to provide the detail and certainty needed on future funding and spending plans as soon as possible.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of funding provided to HIV charities on (a) HIV health outcomes and (b) the delivery of the HIV Action Plan for England target of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
As part of the development of the new HIV Action Plan, the Department, through its HIV Prevention England Programme (HPE), recently hosted engagement sessions with approximately 60 voluntary and community Sector (VCS) and external partners. Professor Kevin Fenton, the Government’s Chief Advisor on HIV, has also hosted a series of engagement workshops with approximately 250 system partners, including the VCS and people with lived experience. These discussions highlighted the impact of trends in the level of funding provided to HIV charities, and are being considered as we develop the new HIV Action Plan, which we aim to publish this year.
In 2025/26, the Department is investing £1.5 million to fund HPE, which is being delivered by the Terrence Higgins Trust. Furthermore, a key component of the Government’s successful HIV emergency department opt-out testing programme includes a recommendation that 10% of the funding allocated to each site should be used to support community and peer support services for individuals diagnosed with a blood borne virus. The Department does not hold detailed financial information on locally commissioned HIV services.
Funding for future work will be determined by the Spending Review. Although we have reached an overall settlement for the Department, the details of the budget allocations are still being determined. The Department is working to provide the detail and certainty needed on future funding and spending plans as soon as possible.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding has (a) the Department for Health and Social Care and (b) NHS England given to voluntary, community and social enterprises organisations for the commissioning of HIV services in the last 12 months.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
As part of the development of the new HIV Action Plan, the Department, through its HIV Prevention England Programme (HPE), recently hosted engagement sessions with approximately 60 voluntary and community Sector (VCS) and external partners. Professor Kevin Fenton, the Government’s Chief Advisor on HIV, has also hosted a series of engagement workshops with approximately 250 system partners, including the VCS and people with lived experience. These discussions highlighted the impact of trends in the level of funding provided to HIV charities, and are being considered as we develop the new HIV Action Plan, which we aim to publish this year.
In 2025/26, the Department is investing £1.5 million to fund HPE, which is being delivered by the Terrence Higgins Trust. Furthermore, a key component of the Government’s successful HIV emergency department opt-out testing programme includes a recommendation that 10% of the funding allocated to each site should be used to support community and peer support services for individuals diagnosed with a blood borne virus. The Department does not hold detailed financial information on locally commissioned HIV services.
Funding for future work will be determined by the Spending Review. Although we have reached an overall settlement for the Department, the details of the budget allocations are still being determined. The Department is working to provide the detail and certainty needed on future funding and spending plans as soon as possible.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of setting a two-year direct spending target with the HIV voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
As part of the development of the new HIV Action Plan, the Department, through its HIV Prevention England Programme (HPE), recently hosted engagement sessions with approximately 60 voluntary and community Sector (VCS) and external partners. Professor Kevin Fenton, the Government’s Chief Advisor on HIV, has also hosted a series of engagement workshops with approximately 250 system partners, including the VCS and people with lived experience. These discussions highlighted the impact of trends in the level of funding provided to HIV charities, and are being considered as we develop the new HIV Action Plan, which we aim to publish this year.
In 2025/26, the Department is investing £1.5 million to fund HPE, which is being delivered by the Terrence Higgins Trust. Furthermore, a key component of the Government’s successful HIV emergency department opt-out testing programme includes a recommendation that 10% of the funding allocated to each site should be used to support community and peer support services for individuals diagnosed with a blood borne virus. The Department does not hold detailed financial information on locally commissioned HIV services.
Funding for future work will be determined by the Spending Review. Although we have reached an overall settlement for the Department, the details of the budget allocations are still being determined. The Department is working to provide the detail and certainty needed on future funding and spending plans as soon as possible.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is planning to take steps to the next HIV Action Plan for England with the principles of the forthcoming Civil Society Covenant.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the importance of the Civil Society Covenant’s four key principles: recognition; partnership; participation; and transparency. These principles will be reflected in the new HIV Action Plan, which we aim to publish this year.
These are already at the core of the new plan, and we are therefore engaging a wide range of system partners in its development, including the voluntary and community sector (VCS), and people with lived experience. In order to recognise our strong and experienced civil society and to ensure that communities and people can be heard, we recently hosted engagement sessions with approximately 60 VCS and external partners to discuss what the next action plan should look like. Professor Kevin Fenton, the Government’s Chief Advisor on HIV, has also hosted a series of engagement workshops with approximately 250 system partners, including the VCS, industry, primary care, and integrated care board colleagues, to inform our plan.
Department officials have also engaged with officials from across the Government to align resources and efforts in relation to the next HIV Action Plan for England, all of which is being considered in the new plan’s development.