Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make additional funding available to hospices to help them meet increases in the cost of nurses' salaries.

Palliative and end of life care, including hospice care, is commissioned locally by integrated care boards in response to the needs of their local population. Most hospices are independent, charitable organisations that remain free to set salary rates along with other terms and conditions at a level that reflects the skills and experience of their staff.