Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will work with Versus Arthritis to improve work-related support for people with arthritis.

The Department will continue to work with Versus Arthritis as we consider how best to address ill-health related economic inactivity, including improving work-related support for people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions such as arthritis.

The Get Britain Working White Paper set out that the Government is investing £240 million to tackle the root causes behind why people are not working and join up help and support, based on the needs of local people and places.

In terms of the wider provision of work-related support for people with MSK, and as part of the localism agenda, the WorkWell service is piloting low-intensity work and health support. This support is led by local partnerships of health systems, local authorities, and job centres in 15 areas of England. By spring 2026, WorkWell pilots aim to support 56,000 disabled people and people with health conditions, including MSK conditions, to get into work and to get on at work.

The Government is also mobilising eight inactivity trailblazers in England and Wales that will lead the way in delivering a joined-up local work, health and skills offer. Three of these areas will receive a share of £45 million to become Health and Growth Accelerators. The Accelerators will focus on prevention and early intervention to improve population health outcomes and reduce health-related economic inactivity. MSK is one of the key drivers of health-related inactivity and integrated care boards will consider targeted interventions as part of their plans.