Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many women's health hubs have been established in NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB; and what services they provide.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) has established two virtual Women’s Health Hubs, one serving Derby City and one serving Derbyshire County. These operate collectively as the Derby and Derbyshire Women’s Health Hubs, using a mixed delivery model across primary care, community, voluntary sector and digital services. Whilst each hub serves its local population, a number of services and initiatives are delivered across Derby and Derbyshire, providing coordinated access to women's health support, information and clinical services. The hubs have been developed in line with the NHS England Women’s Health Hub core specification, bringing together existing services and strengthening access to core women’s health care through a coordinated hub model.
The hubs provide and support a range of women’s health services and initiatives. This includes assessment and treatment for menstrual health concerns, menopause support, contraceptive counselling and provision, community-based gynaecology services, sexual and reproductive health services, prevention and early intervention programmes, women’s health information and signposting, and initiatives to tackle health inequalities and improve equitable access to care.
The Women’s Health Hub model adopts a coordinating approach, supporting delivery across a range of primary and community settings, making it easier for women to access information, advice, assessment, treatment and onward referral through joined-up pathways across Derby and Derbyshire. Oversight of these services is undertaken by the Integrated Care System's Sexual Health Alliance, which includes representatives from the main NHS provider, public health and the ICB.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether that spousal visa fee reflects the administrative cost of processing such applications in full; and what proportion of the fee represents (a) visa processing costs, (b) the Immigration Health Surcharge and (c) other charges or cross-subsidisation of the wider immigration and borders system.
Answered by Mike Tapp
Published unit costs for processing visa applications can be viewed on Gov.UK through the following link: Visa fees transparency data - GOV.UK. The estimated unit cost of a spousal visa is currently £426, the fee for a spouse visa application is £1407.
Fees for immigration and nationality applications are kept under review. The Home Office does not make a profit from fees and any income from fees set above the cost of processing is utilised for the purpose of running the Migration and Borders system, reducing reliance of taxpayer funding.
For a spouse visa, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is separate from the visa application fee, but both are paid as part of the application process.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is set at £1,035 per person per year and is calculated based on the length of immigration permission granted. For a standard 30‑month spouse visa, applicants pay £2,587.50 for the IHS.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
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 patients referred to psychosexual services under NICE guidance are able to access those services within a reasonable timeframe.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
Responsibility for commissioning psychosexual services is split across upper tier local authorities and integrated care boards (ICBs). Upper tier local authorities are responsible for commissioning comprehensive sexual health services, which includes the sexual health aspects of psychosexual services. ICBs are responsible for commissioning non-sexual health elements of psychosexual health services.
The Department provides funding for sexual health services through the Public Health Grant, which is allocated to local authorities in England. Sexual health is one of a number of public health services funded through the Public Health Grant, and the Department does not specify how much is spent on sexual health specifically. Local authorities are responsible for commissioning sexual health services to meet the needs of their populations. On 9 February 2026, the Government published multi-year Public Health Grant allocations to local authorities in England. This is the first three-year public health settlement in a decade, giving local authorities far greater certainty over their future funding and supporting their ability to plan ahead.
The responsibility for delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for ICB funded non-sexual health elements of psychosexual health services rests with the appropriate National Health Service commissioner, working with NHS providers and other stakeholders. Commissioners are responsible for ensuring that NHS funding is used effectively to improve population health, reduce inequalities, and deliver high-quality, accessible care. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients, and the NHS is required to have due regard to NICE guidance.
The Department does not centrally hold information on the number of NHS psychosexual services operating in each of the last five years. No assessment has been undertaken on the availability of psychosexual services, their impact on the demand for other services, or the impact of their closure on cost savings.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
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 adequacy of the availability of NHS psychosexual services; and what steps he is taking to help reduce regional disparities in access to such services.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
Responsibility for commissioning psychosexual services is split across upper tier local authorities and integrated care boards (ICBs). Upper tier local authorities are responsible for commissioning comprehensive sexual health services, which includes the sexual health aspects of psychosexual services. ICBs are responsible for commissioning non-sexual health elements of psychosexual health services.
The Department provides funding for sexual health services through the Public Health Grant, which is allocated to local authorities in England. Sexual health is one of a number of public health services funded through the Public Health Grant, and the Department does not specify how much is spent on sexual health specifically. Local authorities are responsible for commissioning sexual health services to meet the needs of their populations. On 9 February 2026, the Government published multi-year Public Health Grant allocations to local authorities in England. This is the first three-year public health settlement in a decade, giving local authorities far greater certainty over their future funding and supporting their ability to plan ahead.
The responsibility for delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for ICB funded non-sexual health elements of psychosexual health services rests with the appropriate National Health Service commissioner, working with NHS providers and other stakeholders. Commissioners are responsible for ensuring that NHS funding is used effectively to improve population health, reduce inequalities, and deliver high-quality, accessible care. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients, and the NHS is required to have due regard to NICE guidance.
The Department does not centrally hold information on the number of NHS psychosexual services operating in each of the last five years. No assessment has been undertaken on the availability of psychosexual services, their impact on the demand for other services, or the impact of their closure on cost savings.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS psychosexual services have been decommissioned in each of the last five years; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of those closures on patient outcomes.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
Responsibility for commissioning psychosexual services is split across upper tier local authorities and integrated care boards (ICBs). Upper tier local authorities are responsible for commissioning comprehensive sexual health services, which includes the sexual health aspects of psychosexual services. ICBs are responsible for commissioning non-sexual health elements of psychosexual health services.
The Department provides funding for sexual health services through the Public Health Grant, which is allocated to local authorities in England. Sexual health is one of a number of public health services funded through the Public Health Grant, and the Department does not specify how much is spent on sexual health specifically. Local authorities are responsible for commissioning sexual health services to meet the needs of their populations. On 9 February 2026, the Government published multi-year Public Health Grant allocations to local authorities in England. This is the first three-year public health settlement in a decade, giving local authorities far greater certainty over their future funding and supporting their ability to plan ahead.
The responsibility for delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for ICB funded non-sexual health elements of psychosexual health services rests with the appropriate National Health Service commissioner, working with NHS providers and other stakeholders. Commissioners are responsible for ensuring that NHS funding is used effectively to improve population health, reduce inequalities, and deliver high-quality, accessible care. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients, and the NHS is required to have due regard to NICE guidance.
The Department does not centrally hold information on the number of NHS psychosexual services operating in each of the last five years. No assessment has been undertaken on the availability of psychosexual services, their impact on the demand for other services, or the impact of their closure on cost savings.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the potential cost savings to the NHS from the provision of specialist psychosexual services.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
Responsibility for commissioning psychosexual services is split across upper tier local authorities and integrated care boards (ICBs). Upper tier local authorities are responsible for commissioning comprehensive sexual health services, which includes the sexual health aspects of psychosexual services. ICBs are responsible for commissioning non-sexual health elements of psychosexual health services.
The Department provides funding for sexual health services through the Public Health Grant, which is allocated to local authorities in England. Sexual health is one of a number of public health services funded through the Public Health Grant, and the Department does not specify how much is spent on sexual health specifically. Local authorities are responsible for commissioning sexual health services to meet the needs of their populations. On 9 February 2026, the Government published multi-year Public Health Grant allocations to local authorities in England. This is the first three-year public health settlement in a decade, giving local authorities far greater certainty over their future funding and supporting their ability to plan ahead.
The responsibility for delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for ICB funded non-sexual health elements of psychosexual health services rests with the appropriate National Health Service commissioner, working with NHS providers and other stakeholders. Commissioners are responsible for ensuring that NHS funding is used effectively to improve population health, reduce inequalities, and deliver high-quality, accessible care. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients, and the NHS is required to have due regard to NICE guidance.
The Department does not centrally hold information on the number of NHS psychosexual services operating in each of the last five years. No assessment has been undertaken on the availability of psychosexual services, their impact on the demand for other services, or the impact of their closure on cost savings.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
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 psychosexual services on demand for gynaecology, urology and fertility services.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
Responsibility for commissioning psychosexual services is split across upper tier local authorities and integrated care boards (ICBs). Upper tier local authorities are responsible for commissioning comprehensive sexual health services, which includes the sexual health aspects of psychosexual services. ICBs are responsible for commissioning non-sexual health elements of psychosexual health services.
The Department provides funding for sexual health services through the Public Health Grant, which is allocated to local authorities in England. Sexual health is one of a number of public health services funded through the Public Health Grant, and the Department does not specify how much is spent on sexual health specifically. Local authorities are responsible for commissioning sexual health services to meet the needs of their populations. On 9 February 2026, the Government published multi-year Public Health Grant allocations to local authorities in England. This is the first three-year public health settlement in a decade, giving local authorities far greater certainty over their future funding and supporting their ability to plan ahead.
The responsibility for delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for ICB funded non-sexual health elements of psychosexual health services rests with the appropriate National Health Service commissioner, working with NHS providers and other stakeholders. Commissioners are responsible for ensuring that NHS funding is used effectively to improve population health, reduce inequalities, and deliver high-quality, accessible care. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients, and the NHS is required to have due regard to NICE guidance.
The Department does not centrally hold information on the number of NHS psychosexual services operating in each of the last five years. No assessment has been undertaken on the availability of psychosexual services, their impact on the demand for other services, or the impact of their closure on cost savings.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
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 financial and workforce impact on GP practices of the requirement to deliver same-day responses to all clinically urgent requests under the 2026/27 GP contract.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
The 2026/27 GP Contract makes clear that requests identified by practices as clinically urgent should be responded to on the same day. This builds on NHS England’s Medium Term Planning Framework, which set an expectation that urgent appointments should be delivered on the same day so that patients with urgent needs are prioritised.
We recognise that practices will need the right capacity and flexibility to deliver this. That is why we are investing an additional £601 million in general practices (GPs) in 2026/27, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to approximately £14 billion. This builds on the £1.1 billion increase in 2025/26, the largest uplift in over a decade. Since October 2024 we have recruited 2,000 more GPs. We now have the highest number of GPs by headcount since 2015. The 2026/27 contract also introduces a practice-level GP reimbursement scheme, backed by £292 million of ringfenced funding, to help practices recruit more GPs or expand sessions.
This will support practices to manage demand, improve access for patients, strengthen GP employment, and continue to improve patient satisfaction.
Same-day appointment levels have remained broadly steady. In May 2026, 44.9% of appointments were booked and attended on the same day, up 0.3% from April 2026 and 0.7% from May 2025. This represents approximately 13 million appointments taking place on the day of booking.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the total value of payments made to With-Profits Annuitants under the Equitable Life Payments Scheme as of 30 May 2026.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
In 2010 the then government chose to allocate £1.5 billion to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme. Before it ceased operations in 2016, the Scheme had issued £1.12 billion in tax-free payments to nearly 933,000 policyholders. The remainder of the £1.5 billion has been set aside for future payments to the With-Profits Annuitants. Further information is available in the Final Report on the Scheme. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equitable-life-payment-scheme-final-report).
The total value of payments made by the Scheme stood at £1.395 bn as of 31 May 2026, and the Scheme is on track to pay out the remainder.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to invest in evidence-based training, guidance and resources to improve health and education professionals' understanding of neurodevelopmental conditions and support neurodivergent children and adults.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
Under the Health and Care Act 2022, from 1 July 2022, all providers registered with the Care Quality Commission must ensure their staff receive learning disability and autism training appropriate to their role. This will ensure staff have the right confidence, knowledge, and skills to provide safe and informed care. To guide providers on how to meet the statutory training requirement, a Code of Practice was published and laid in Parliament, becoming final on 6 September 2025. To support this, the Government is rolling out the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism to the health and adult social care workforce.
NHS England has also published guidance and operational frameworks to improve the quality of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) services, including guidance to support clinicians and services in providing appropriate assessment, diagnosis, and care. The Medium-Term Planning Framework sets clear expectations for integrated care boards (ICBs) and providers to improve access to services and the quality of assessments by implementing existing and new guidance, as published.
As part of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms, we are investing approximately £1.8 billion over the next three years for local area partnerships, including local authorities and ICBs, to develop a new ‘Experts at Hand’ offer. This offer is designed to strengthen the capability of mainstream education settings by providing access to support from key services and health and specialist education practitioners, including speech and language therapists and support workers or assistants, occupational therapists and support workers or assistants, educational psychologists and trainees, and specialist teachers, both local authority-based and those based in specialist or alternative provision settings.
We are also investing over £40 million in the specialist workforce, including £26 million to train more educational psychologists and £15 million to support more speech and language therapists to work in education settings. This new offer is designed to strengthen the capability of mainstream education settings so that more specialist expertise can be accessed by mainstream settings to support all children and young people thrive, including those with SEND.
In December 2025, the Government launched an Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism. This review will inform a new approach that reduces waiting times, improves the quality of care, and promotes prevention and early intervention. The review’s final report is due to be published in the summer.