Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to tackle the backlog in disabled children’s health services.

On 6 September, the Government announced plans to spend over £8 billion over the Spending Review period 2022/23 to 2024/25 for a programme to provide elective care delayed by the pandemic. We have also announced an additional £5.4 billion to support the National Health Service COVID-19 response over the next six months, bringing the total Government support to over £34 billion in 2021/22. This includes £2 billion to reduce the elective backlog and waiting times for patients, including disabled children.