Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will discuss with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities steps to encourage local authorities to use their powers under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to develop new health facilities such as GP practices.

We are working with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on the proposed reforms in the ‘Planning For The Future’ white paper and how it can support growing demand on the healthcare system, including how the National Health Service can access infrastructure funds and developer contributions.

We are reviewing the NHS’s capability to navigate the planning system and access funding where available, establishing dedicated expertise in NHS England, the production of guidance for NHS organisations and supporting the sharing of best practice. In addition, integrated care systems will play a role in strategic infrastructure planning to improve facilities, including in primary care, by encouraging collaboration between partners, in particular local authorities, to plan public services, secure available funding and improve health outcomes for communities.