Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for independent hospices.

While there have been no specific discussions, the Government recognises the important role that the hospice sector played in the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic which is reflected by the provision of up to £280 million of additional funding from March 2020 to March 2021. Most hospices are independent, charitable organisations that receive some statutory funding, mainly from clinical commissioning groups, for providing local services.