Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the combined impact of (a) business rates revaluation, (b) the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure discount and (c) recent changes to employment costs and alcohol duty on small and independent hospitality businesses.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has assessed the cumulative impacts of measures announced over recent Budgets on businesses and households. Taken together, these measures raise revenue to support the public finances in a fair way, whilst providing targeted support. The Government recognises that recent policy changes will have combined effects on some businesses. Where changes are made, relevant assessments and impact notes are published to inform stakeholders. The Treasury continues to engage with affected sectors to understand the challenges they face and to ensure the UK remains a competitive place to do business. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep our policy approach under review, with future tax decisions taken at fiscal events under the normal process.

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 ensure that GP Connect requirements do not adversely impact (a) confidentiality and (b) data integrity.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Cheltenham on 17 December 2025 to Question 98448.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what mechanisms will ensure accountability for primary care outcomes within merged ICBs, particularly where decision-making may be centralised elsewhere.

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

The NHS Oversight Framework will continue to provide the approach to assessing integrated care boards, including in relation to primary care.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of levels of funding for primary care on levels of demand for secondary and urgent care.

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

We are investing an additional £1.1 billion in general practice (GP) to reinforce the front door of the National Health Service, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.4 billion in 2025/26, which is the biggest cash increase in over a decade. The 8.9% boost to the GP Contract in 2025/26 is greater than the 5.8% growth to the NHS budget as a whole. Over six million more GP appointments have been delivered in the 12-months to November 2025 compared to the same period last year, building capacity and improving access so that patients can be seen when they need to be in primary care.

As part of the GP Contract funding, since 1 October, GPs must allow patients to contact them via an online form at any time during core hours to request an appointment or raise a query, in addition to telephone and in-person requests. By expanding ease of contact via online access, we expect to reduce pressure on accident and emergency as we know that many patients seek medical care in accident and emergency if they fail to make contact with their GP.

We are also funding the expansion of Advice and Guidance (A&G) to improve two-way communication between GPs and hospital specialists and ensure care is delivered in the right setting. We expect this to increase the usage of A&G and help patients receive the care they need in primary and community settings where appropriate, reducing referrals to secondary care.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of services that have been permanently cut from community hospitals following temporary trials in each year for which information is available.

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

Decisions about NHS services, including in Cirencester, are best taken at a local level, and the responsibility for the delivery, implementation and funding decisions for services ultimately rests with the appropriate NHS commissioner.

All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. Substantial planned service change should be subject to a full public consultation and meet the Government and NHS England’s ‘tests’ to ensure good decision-making.

The Department does not hold information centrally on the number of services that have been permanently decommissioned from community hospitals following temporary trials.

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 Cirencester Hospital.

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

Decisions about NHS services, including in Cirencester, are best taken at a local level, and the responsibility for the delivery, implementation and funding decisions for services ultimately rests with the appropriate NHS commissioner.

All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. Substantial planned service change should be subject to a full public consultation and meet the Government and NHS England’s ‘tests’ to ensure good decision-making.

The Department does not hold information centrally on the number of services that have been permanently decommissioned from community hospitals following temporary trials.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support small theatres in South Cotswolds constituency.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government values the important role small theatres play in enriching our culture and boosting the economy, and we were pleased to see theatres like Papatango in the South Cotswolds constituency accessing nearly £15,000 of support from ACE last year. We were also pleased to launch the £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund to help grow the cultural sector. £85 million of that will go into the Creative Foundations Fund, which will help improve arts venues across the country, including theatres of all sizes. ACE will notify all applicants of the outcome of their full application, and commit funding by 31 March 2026.

The government primarily supports theatres through Arts Council England (ACE). Through their main funding programme, the 2023-2027 National Portfolio Investment Programme, ACE is providing over £100 million in grants per year to around 195 theatres across the country. Across all their funding programmes, including lottery schemes, for the financial year 2024-25, ACE awarded around £300 million to theatres/theatre based organisations. ACE’s open funding programme, National Lottery Project Grants, is currently accessible to organisations and individuals across the country, including those in the South Cotswolds constituency.

The government is also supporting theatres through the tax system. At the 2024 Autumn Budget, the Government confirmed that from April 2025, Theatre Tax Relief on production costs would be set at the rates of 45 per cent for touring productions and 40 per cent for non-touring productions.

Public health campaign on tackling stigma towards suicide

Loan Charge and settlement terms offered to large companies and individuals

Warm Homes Plan

Deregistration of international non-governmental organisations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Use of UK bases by the United States and international law in relation to Greenland

Earth Action North Devon

Found: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat; Stratford-on-Avon) Martin Rhodes (Labour; Glasgow North) Dr Roz Savage

Found: Davies; Carla Denyer; Barry Gardiner; Sarah Gibson; Alison Griffiths; Manuela Perteghella; Dr Roz Savage

Found: Davies; Carla Denyer; Barry Gardiner; Sarah Gibson; Alison Griffiths; Manuela Perteghella; Dr Roz Savage

Air pollution is a serious threat to both public health and the natural environment. It has been linked to heart disease, strokes, cancer, asthma and impacts on lung development in children. Tens of thousands of lives are being shortened in the UK by air pollution, according to the Chair of the Environment Agency.