Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review the November 2025 decrease to the Agenda for Change mileage payments for community staff.

As set out in NHS Terms and Conditions of Service (TCS) Handbook, which is ratified by the NHS Staff Council, mileage reimbursement rates are reviewed twice a year in April and November.

The outcome of the November 2025 review resulted in a reduction of reimbursement rates due to sustained decreases in fuel prices for the 12-month period ending in October 2025. Reimbursement rates will drop to 56 pence per mile up to 3,500 miles claimed before dropping to 21 pence per mile thereafter. The revised rates will apply to mileage incurred from 1 January 2026.

These changes apply to all staff directly employed under Agenda for Change terms and conditions and Resident Doctors. There are no specific rates for community staff.

The NHS Staff Council, which is responsible for maintaining the NHS TCS, is currently negotiating a new mechanism that will determine a fair reimbursement rate for miles incurred by these staff. Further updates on their work will be made in due course.