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 cost of using the independent sector in his plan for elective care; and whether he has costed NHS alternative provision for elective care.

We have provided £2 billion in 2021/22 to increase elective care activity and committed a further £8 billion over the next three years. Detailed planning guidance on the use of this funding will be published by NHS England and NHS Improvement in due course, including delivering additional activity through the independent sector.