Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of proposed NHS pay increases on voluntary sector hospices.

The proposed Agenda for Change pay framework, which includes contract reform and pay awards over three years, is currently out to consultation with the National Health Service trades unions and the outcome will be known in June.

We are considering carefully the impact of the agreement on non-NHS organisations such as hospices that may be affected by the proposed deal however no decisions have been made.

Staff in hospices do a fantastic job in delivering world-class care and the Department remains fully committed to improving palliative and end of life care.