Every parliamentary written question tabled by Beccy Cooper this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 81–100 of 138 · this parliament
When his Department plans to publish updated (a) life expectancy and (b) healthy life expectancy statistics for (i) electoral wards and (ii) middle layer super output areas.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Question of 11th November is attached.
If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the provision of advice on plant-based diets by clinicians in primary care settings on (a) achieving the aim in the NHS Long Term Plan of supporting patients to adopt improved healthy behaviours and (b) the cost of health care.
The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) discussed the topic of plant-based diets at its horizon scan meetings in 2022 and 2024. The SACN concluded it is an important topic and will continue to grow in interest, particularly from a sustainability viewpoint. The SACN agreed to keep the topic on its watching brief. Meeting papers are available on the SACN’s website, at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/scientific-advisory-committee-on-nutrition#sacn-meetingsGovernment advice on a healthy, balanced diet is encapsulated in the United Kingdom’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide. The Eatwell Guide depicts a diet that is based on fruit, vegetables, and higher fibre starchy carbohydrates. It divides the foods and drinks we consume into five main groups and illustrates that both animal products and plant-based products can be part of a healthy balanced diet. Further information on the Eatwell Guide is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-eatwell-guideThese Eatwell Guide nutrition principles underpin the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services (GBSF). Hospitals, the Government, and their agencies are required to apply the GBSF, with other public sector settings also encouraged to follow. Further information on the GBSF is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sustainable-procurement-the-gbs-for-food-and-catering-servicesAdherence to the Eatwell Guide has been shown to significantly improve both health and environmental outcomes, as per the 2020 Scheelbeek et al. study, with appreciably lower environmental impact than the current UK diet, as noted in 2016 by the Carbon Trust. Further information on the Scheelbeek et al. study and the Carbon Trust’s analysis is available, respectively, at the following two links:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/8/e037554https://www.carbontrust.com/our-work-and-impact/guides-reports-and-tools/the-eatwell-guide-a-more-sustainable-dietGiven that most people in the UK do not currently follow a diet in line with Government’s dietary recommendations, moving the population to dietary intakes in line with the Eatwell Guide remains the priority.The Government recognises the valuable contribution that plant-based foods and drinks can make to people’s diets, alongside the contribution that fish and animal-based foods and drinks can make. Health care professionals in primary care settings are expected to provide a wide range of advice and support to patients that is based around their clinical needs. This advice should be based on robust clinical evidence and should allow patients freedom of choice over the way their care is planned and delivered, which includes individual dietary requirements and preferences where appropriate.
With reference to Lord Darzi's Independent investigation of the NHS in England, published on 12 September 2024, what steps his Department is taking to support integrated care boards to increase capital expenditure in the primary care estate.
The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future, which means we require world class NHS infrastructure across the entire NHS estate. Beyond hospitals, we know we need the right infrastructure in the right place to deliver on our commitments of creating a true Neighbourhood Health Service and ensuring that patients receive the care they deserve.At the Autumn Budget, we established a dedicated capital fund of £102 million to deliver approximately 200 upgrades to general practice surgeries across England, supporting improved use of existing buildings and space, boosting productivity, and enabling delivery of more appointments. This funding represents a first step in delivering the additional capital the primary care sector needs. It responds directly to issues highlighted by Lord Darzi’s independent review of the NHS and is the first dedicated national capital fund for primary care since 2020.The Department and NHS England are working with integrated care boards to prioritise high-impact projects where investment can unlock significant productivity gains and additional usable space from existing buildings. Capital budgets for 2026/27 onwards will be considered through Phase 2 of the Spending Review process, concluding in Spring 2025.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 5.149 of Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, how long discounts on the Right to Buy scheme will be reduced for.
The discount levels in question will remain in place until further notice.
If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of developing a National GP Retention Strategy backed by ring-fenced funding.
The Government has committed to increasing the number of general practitioners (GPs), and this includes doing more to address GP retention and the reasons why GPs leave the profession. The 10-Year Health Plan, which will be published in spring 2025, will set out a long-term vision to train and retain the staff the National Health Service needs to be fit for the future. The plan will be shaped by responses from the public, NHS staff, and experts to the biggest national conversation about the future of the NHS since its birth, launched by the Department and NHS England in October.
Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with Premier League clubs on gambling sponsorship on their websites.
All major sporting bodies, including the Premier League, have published their gambling sponsorship Codes of Conduct, setting minimum standards for socially responsible gambling sponsorships. As part of the Code of Conduct, clubs must ensure that no gambling sponsor logos or other promotional materials relating to gambling sponsorship appear on sections of their website which are designed to be viewed and used specifically by children. The Premier League’s decision to ban front-of-shirt sponsorship by gambling firms will also commence by the end of the 2025/26 season.The Department will closely monitor the implementation of the Codes to ensure they have a meaningful impact.
With reference to paragraph 2.71 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October, what support his Department plans to give to GP practices unable to access the fund for GP surgery upgrades.
There is no additional national funding for those not prioritised by their local systems to access the capital fund of £102m for GP upgrades allocated in the 2024 Autumn Budget.This capital fund is in addition to annual capital allocations to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). Since 2022/23, the Department includes a substantial proportion of primary care business as usual estates and GP IT capital in ICB capital funding envelopes. This allows ICBs to take a more cohesive approach to capital investment decisions across all organisations within that system. In addition, ICBs are responsible for commissioning - planning, securing, and monitoring – GP services within their health systems through delegated responsibility from NHS England.
What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help reduce the potential impact of socio-economic disadvantage on future earnings.
Through the Opportunity Mission and the Child Poverty Taskforce we will build opportunity for all by giving every child the best start in life, helping them achieve and thrive, building skills for opportunity and growth; and ensuring family security, so background is no barrier to success.
Whether he plans to provide additional support for people with (a) arthritis and (b) musculoskeletal conditions.
Services for those with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, including arthritis, are commissioned locally by integrated care boards (ICBs). The Department expects MSK services and fragility fracture to be fully incorporated into integrated care system planning and decision-making.At a national level, NHS England is working to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with MSK conditions, such as arthritis, and increase support for patients with arthritis through its Getting It Right First Time rheumatology programme. In January 2023, NHS England also published an improvement framework to reduce community MSK waits while delivering the best outcomes and experience. This supports integrated care systems to improve timely access to commissioned MSK triage and therapy services.To support health and care professionals in the early diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, and in the provision of services for people living with arthritis, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published expert guidance for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, with further information on the two available, respectively, at the following two links:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng100https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng226The Department funds research into MSK conditions, including arthritis, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Through the NIHR, the Department spent approximately £26.3 million on MSK research in 2023/24 and £79.2 million since 2019/20. Six NIHR Biomedical Research Centres have MSK conditions as a research theme. In particular, the Leeds Biomedical Research Centre aims to improve treatment for osteoarthritis. The NIHR, in collaboration with Versus Arthritis, also funds a dedicated UK Musculoskeletal Translational Research Collaboration, aligning investment in MSK translational research, and creating a United Kingdom-wide ambition and focus to drive cutting edge research and improve outcomes for patients.
Whether he plans to provide additional funding to (a) community musculoskeletal services and (b) physiotherapy.
The Government recognises the importance of improving health for the 20 million people in the United Kingdom who live with a musculoskeletal condition. This forms a key part of the Government’s mission to build a National Health Service fit for the future.Financial allocations will be confirmed through NHS Planning Guidance. In the meantime, we are working with NHS England and other stakeholders to explore options to increase access to, and improve support for, those living with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions.We will publish a 10-Year Health Plan for the NHS in the spring which will focus on increasing productivity and ensuring that every pound of taxpayer money is spent wisely, by reforming how healthcare is delivered.
With reference to paragraph 2.71 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October, how many new surgical hubs will focus solely on orthopaedic procedures.
The Department, in collaboration with NHS England, will outline details of the funding allocation for surgical hubs at the earliest opportunity. This will include the number of hubs to be established, and their specialty focus. Each hub will be developed based on the needs of patients and the current waiting list pressures in the areas that they cover.
If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring NHS Trusts to amalgamate patient data across primary care.
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has announced the intention for there to be a single patient record, including primary care and hospital data, so professionals have the data they need when treating patients and are able to make better informed decisions and deliver more preventative health and care.We are in the early stages of engaging with the public and stakeholders to understand their views about the use of health and care data. We will use the findings to form the basis of any future plans regarding a single patient record.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure super trawlers report marine mammal by-catch to the Marine Management Organisation.
This Government are committed to protecting our wildlife and putting nature on the road to recovery. Defra are working to improve monitoring and understanding of bycatch incidences as part of the Bycatch Mitigation Initiative. This includes continued annual estimates of marine mammal bycatch mortality through the Bycatch Monitoring Programme and work to look at barriers to bycatch reporting under the Clean Catch project.
What assessment he has made of the impact of surgical hubs on waiting times for (a) trauma and (b) orthopaedic treatment.
No formal assessment has been made on the impact of surgical hubs on waiting times for trauma and orthopaedic treatment.Surgical hubs enable trusts to increase resilience for elective procedures and minimise cancellations during periods of high pressure. This can reduce uncertainty for patients around last-minute cancellations, maximise the use of available capacity, and helps to reduce waiting times. In the Budget, we committed additional funding to set up new surgical hubs to help with our commitment to get the waiting lists down.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to take steps to introduce a national phase-out of the use of pesticides in public areas under local authority control.
It is for each local authority to decide the best way of delivering effective and cost-effective weed control in its operations without harming people or the environment. We are working with stakeholders in the sector to increase awareness and uptake of Integrated Pest Management to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides.
What steps she is taking to help support local authorities to reduce the waiting times for education, health and care plans to be processed.
For too long the education system has not met the needs of all children, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), with parents struggling to get their children the support they need and deserve.The department wants to ensure that, where required, education, health and care (EHC) plan assessments are progressed promptly and, if needed, plans are issued as quickly as possible so that children and young people can access the support they need.The department publishes annual data from the SEN2 survey in relation to the processes associated with EHC plans, including the timeliness of assessments and, where agreed, the issuing of an EHC plan. The department also closely monitors the information from the annual SEN2 data release and uses it to inform discussions with local areas.Local authorities identified as having issues with EHC plan timeliness are subject to additional monitoring by the department, who work with the specific local authority. Where there are concerns about the local authority’s capacity to make the required improvements, the department can secure specialist SEND Adviser support to help identify the barriers to EHC plan process timeliness and put in place practical plans for recovery.The department knows that local authorities have been impacted by increased demand for EHC plans and workforce capacity to meet this demand, so more efficient and effective service delivery, alongside communication with schools and families, is central to the recovery.When inspections indicate that there are significant concerns with local authority performance, the department will intervene directly. This may mean issuing an improvement notice, statutory direction and/or appointing a commissioner, the deployment of which is considered on a case-by-case basis. We also provide support and challenge, for example from SEND Improvement Advisers and Sector-Led Improvement Partners to address the challenges local authorities face and improve services for children.
If she will take steps to amend the eligibility criteria for Universal Credit so that people on temporary employment contracts are able to make claims as soon as their contract ends.
A person on a temporary contract can claim UC at any time and the amount of UC will adjust depending on their earnings. The Government is committed to reviewing Universal Credit. Details of the review will be set out in due course.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of increases in levels of demand for patient care on the capacity of the nursing workforce.
We are committed to training the staff we need to ensure that patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. The Long Term Workforce Plan, which included assessments of nursing demand and supply, will be reviewed following the recommendations of 10-Year Health Plan.
What steps he is taking to support the (a) mental health and (b) wellbeing of nursing staff.
It is important that National Health Service staff are able to work in a supportive and compassionate environment that prioritises their health and wellbeing. NHS England has a wide-ranging package of mental health and wellbeing support for all staff, including nurses, which includes access to counselling services, a self-check wellbeing tool, free access to a range of wellbeing apps, and a health and wellbeing guardian role to provide board level scrutiny within NHS organisations. NHS England is also leading work with partner organisations to strengthen occupational health and wellbeing services for NHS staff.
What steps he is taking to help increase the uptake of NHS stop smoking services amongst underage smokers.
On 5 November 2024, the Government introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which stands to be the most significant public health intervention in a generation. It will create the first smoke-free generation, as children turning 15 years old this year or younger can never legally be sold tobacco, whilst those who currently legally smoke are able to continue doing so. The bill sits alongside wider support across the health service to assist smokers in quitting for good.We remain committed to helping existing smokers to quit with effective support, which is three times as effective as making an unassisted quit attempt. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends nicotine replacement therapy for young people aged 12 years old and over, and if prescribed, that behavioural support is also provided. Local authority funding has been boosted with an additional £70 million in 2024/25 to build capacity and demand for local stop smoking support.