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 ensure adequate GP services in areas of high housing development.

We recognise the pressure that housing developments can place upon local health infrastructure. These impacts can be particularly acute for general practice, which is often the first point of contact for people seeking healthcare.

Integrated care boards are responsible for planning and commissioning services to meet the reasonable needs of people in the locality. The National Health Service has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient medical services, including general practices, in each local area. It should take account of population growth and demographic changes.

At a national level, we continue to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure all new and existing developments have an adequate level of healthcare infrastructure for the community. Local planning authorities are responsible for negotiating and agreeing developer contributions to support necessary associated infrastructure when new housing developments are built, including general practices and primary care provision.