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 (a) support the recruitment and training of midwives and (b) increase the availability of employment opportunities for newly qualified midwives.

We are working with NHS England and the Nursing and Midwifery Council to ensure that midwifery training consistently delivers modern maternity care that respects a woman’s choice and individual circumstances. We are also introducing a new set of professional standards for modern employment in spring 2026, to deliver our ambition to make the National Health Service the best place to work.

The Graduate Guarantee in 2025, backed by £8 million, delivered more than 850 additional roles for newly qualified midwives. NHS England is working closely with universities and employers to align graduate numbers with vacancies through improved workforce planning, enhanced support for students, and coordinated local recruitment.