Written questions by Cooper.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of levels of compliance with the Mental Health Investment Standard by ICBs in each of the last four years.

The following table shows the number of integrated care boards (ICBs), formerly clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), meeting the Mental Health Investment Standard, meaning that their investment in mental health services increased in line with their overall increase in funding for the year, from 2020/21 to 2024/25:YearNumber of CCGs/ICBs meeting the Mental Health Investment Standard2020/21135 out of 135 CCGs2021/22106 out of 106 CCGs2022/2341 out of 42 ICBs2023/2442 out of 42 ICBs2024/25Information not yet availableSource: NHS Mental Health Dashboard, NHS EnglandNote: between 2020/21 and 2021/22 there was a methodology change in how ICB/CCG base allocation was calculated. The calculation of the Mental Health Investment Standard does not include spend on learning disabilities, autism, dementia, and specialised commissioning.

What steps his Department is taking to help safeguard young people from (a) drug and (b) alcohol addiction.

The most effective and sustainable approach to safeguarding children and young people from drug and alcohol harm is by giving them the best start in life, and by keeping them safe, well, and happy. Our mission-based approach will ensure that every child has the best start in life and that we create the healthiest generation of children ever.Statutory guidance on relationships, sex, and health education requires all primary and secondary schools to ensure that pupils know the key facts and risks associated with alcohol and drug use, as well as how to manage influences and pressure, and keep themselves healthy and safe. The Department has worked with the Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education Association to develop lesson plans on alcohol and drugs and has commissioned an update of the resources to be published later this year.The Government also has an alcohol and drug information and advice service called Talk to FRANK, which aims to reduce alcohol and drug use and its harms by providing awareness to young people, parents, and concerned others. Further information is available on the Talk to FRANK website, which is available at the following link:https://www.talktofrank.com/Children and families affected by parental alcohol and/or drug use can experience adverse health, social, and economic outcomes, which can continue for generations without effective interventions to break the cycle. The Department is continuing to invest in improvements to local alcohol and drug treatment services to ensure that those in need can access high quality help and support.In addition to the Public Health Grant, local authorities have had a further £267 million from the Department this year to improve the quality and capacity of treatment. This is alongside the additional investment of £105 million made available by the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to improve treatment pathways and recovery, housing, and employment outcomes for people affected by alcohol and drug use.

What discussions he has had with NHS England on the potential merits of conducting cross-conditional testing in the NHS when assessing for a neurodivergent condition to determine the potential co-occurrence of (a) autism and (b) ADHD to help (i) increase early diagnosis rates and (b) improve outcomes.

It is the responsibility of the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) services, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.On 5 April 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance to help ICBs and the National Health Service to deliver improved outcomes for children, young people, and adults referred to an autism assessment service. The framework notes that autism should not be assessed without also considering the possibility of differential or co-occurring diagnoses.In respect of ADHD, we are supportive of a cross-sector taskforce that NHS England has established to look at ADHD service provision and support across sectors, and their impact on patient experience. The taskforce is bringing together expertise from across a broad range of sectors, including the NHS, education, and justice, to better understand the challenges affecting people with ADHD, including timely access to services and support. The ADHD taskforce will also work closely with the Department for Education’s neurodivergence task and finish group.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a national water fluoridation strategy.

Water fluoridation is an effective population measure that reduces tooth decay. It should be used to complement other effective methods of increasing fluoride use, as set out in the statement by the UK Chief Medical Officers, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-fluoridation-statement-from-the-uk-chief-medical-officers/statement-on-water-fluoridation-from-the-uk-chief-medical-officers.On 7 March 2025, we confirmed plans, following public consultation, to expand provision of water fluoridation in the north east of England. The outcome report is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/community-water-fluoridation-expansion-in-the-north-east-of-englandThere are no current plans for a national water fluoridation strategy. Any decisions on the future expansion of water fluoridation will be based on oral health needs, funding, and will be subject to public consultation.

What steps his Department is taking to tackle health inequalities in (a) Mid Cheshire constituency, (b) Cheshire and (c) England.

The United Kingdom faces significant health inequalities, with life expectancy varying widely across and within communities. The Government is committed to building a fairer Britain by tackling the structural inequalities that contribute to poor health, p...

What (a) financial and (b) other steps his Department is taking to increase access to NHS dentistry in (i) Mid Cheshire constituency, (ii) Cheshire and (iii) England.

The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild den...

What steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for NHS treatment in (a) Mid Cheshire constituency, (b) Cheshire and (c) England.

Tackling waiting lists is a key part of our Health Mission and a top priority for the Government, as we get the National Health Service back on its feet. This means making sure that patients are seen on time and ensuring that people have the best possible...

What steps his Department is taking to increase the number of face-to-face GP appointments in Mid Cheshire constituency.

We know that patients are finding it harder than ever to see a general practitioner (GP). Patients can’t get through the front door of the National Health Service, so they aren’t getting the timely care they need.Mid-Cheshire sits within the NHS Cheshire ...

What (a) financial and (b) other steps his Department is taking to support the work of Air Ambulance charities.

The Department and the National Health Service continue to support the work of air ambulance charities, including through NHS ambulance trusts’ provision of key clinical staff and medical equipment, which supports the operation of air ambulances.

What recent estimate he has made of the average waiting time for mental health treatment in (a) Mid Cheshire constituency, (b) Cheshire and (c) England in each of the last five years.

The following table shows both the mean and median average waiting times, measured in days, for mental health treatment for adults in the Cheshire East local authority, for the last five years:Waiting time between referral and second contact for adults in...

What steps he is taking to improve waiting times for cancer treatment in (a) Mid Cheshire constituency, (b) Cheshire and (c) England.

The Government is committed to improving cancer survival rates and hitting all National Health Service cancer waiting time targets within five years, so that no patient waits longer than they should.NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsib...

What steps he is taking to improve access to mental health services in (a) Mid Cheshire constituency, (b) Cheshire and (c) England.

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board is responsible for providing health and care services to meet the needs of the people of Mid Cheshire constituency and Cheshire, taking into account local considerations.Nationally, we recognise that many ...

What steps his Department is taking to improve the early (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of pancreatic cancer in (a) Mid Cheshire constituency, (b) Cheshire and (c) England.

The Department is working with NHS England to deliver interventions to improve outcomes for those with pancreatic cancer across England, including Cheshire and mid-Cheshire.Early diagnosis is imperative to improving outcomes for all types of cancer, espec...

If he will make an estimate of what the average time was to diagnose pancreatic cancer in (a) Mid Cheshire constituency, (b) Cheshire and (c) England in each of the last five years.

The Department is working with NHS England to deliver interventions to improve outcomes for those with pancreatic cancer across England, including Cheshire and mid-Cheshire.Early diagnosis is imperative to improving outcomes for all types of cancer, espec...

What steps his Department is taking to help improve outcomes for patients who have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in (a) Mid Cheshire constituency, (b) Cheshire and (c) England.

The Department is working with NHS England to deliver interventions to improve outcomes for those with pancreatic cancer across England, including Cheshire and mid-Cheshire.Early diagnosis is imperative to improving outcomes for all types of cancer, espec...

What steps his Department is taking to help improve research into treatments for pancreatic cancer; and how much funding his Department has allocated to pancreatic cancer research in each of the la

Research is crucial in tackling cancer. The Department spends £1.5 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), with cancer the largest area of spend at more than £121.8 milli...

What steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for children requiring an autism assessment in (a) Mid Cheshire constituency, (b) Cheshire and (c) England.

The Department is currently considering next steps to improve access to autism assessments. It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, incl...

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of offering potential foster carers the required health assessment free of charge on the NHS.

Foster carers must undergo a full assessment and be approved by a fostering service provider before any child can be placed in their care. This includes a medical assessment. These assessments are not part of the GP contract with the National Health Servi...

What recent estimate he has made of the number of people in (a) Mid Cheshire constituency, (b) Cheshire and (c) England who have unmet care needs; and what steps his Department is taking to help en

Local authorities are responsible for assessing individuals’ care and support needs and, where eligible, for meeting those needs. Where individuals do not meet the eligibility threshold, they can get support from their local authorities in making their ow...

What steps he is taking to improve patient access to primary care in (a) Mid Cheshire constituency, (b) Cheshire and (c) England.

We are committed to fixing the crisis in primary care to secure the long-term sustainability of the National Health Service and increase access to local services across the country.We are also committed to moving towards a Neighbourhood Health Service, wi...