Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will hold discussions with Telford and Wrekin Clinical Care Commissioning Group on its funding for the Severn Hospice for 2019-2020; and if he will make a statement.

In the previous financial year Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) was able to maintain a £1 million grant but this year has taken the very difficult decision to reduce it to £750,000. The CCG has been having discussions with their Chief Executive since June 2018 about possible schemes which the CCG could commission to offset the loss from 1 April 2019 onwards. The CCG remains committed to continuing to explore alternatives with the Hospice and they are engaging with them to find solutions together.