Written questions by Betts.

Whether the funding for local authority stop smoking services announced in the National Cancer Plan is a one‑off allocation for 2026-27.

To help people quit, the Government has invested an additional £70 million in both 2024/25 and 2025/26 to support local authority led Stop Smoking Services in England. We are already seeing the impact this has made, as the first year of additional funding, 2024/25, resulted in a 23% increase in the number of people supported to quit compared to the previous year, 2023/24.From April, we are investing an additional £260 million over three years, from 2026/27 to 2028/29, in Stop Smoking Services within the Public Health Grant, meaning at least £150 million per year will be ringfenced for these services. This will give local authorities greater certainty on their funding for the next three years.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the support available to ambulance staff who attend traumatic callouts.

The mental health of all National Health Service staff is a high priority, including ambulance staff as responders to emergency incidents.Significant work is underway to strengthen the quality and consistency of suicide training across the health system. NHS England published Staying Safe from Suicide: Best Practice Guidance for Safety Assessment, Formulation and Management to support the Government’s work to reduce suicide and improve mental health services.  This guidance is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/staying-safe-from-suicide/At a national level ambulance staff have access to the SHOUT helpline for crisis support alongside the Practitioner Health service for more complex mental health wellbeing support, including trauma and addiction. Additionally, ambulance trusts and the Association of Ambulance Trust Chief Executives have worked closely with NHS England to develop an ambulance sector specific suicide prevention pathway to provide immediate support 24/7 for staff experiencing suicidal ideation.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of collecting data on the number of attempted suicides attended by ambulance staff.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Brigg and Immingham on 1 December 2025, to Question 84585.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of suicide prevention training provided to ambulance staff.

The mental health of all National Health Service staff is a high priority, including ambulance staff as responders to emergency incidents.Significant work is underway to strengthen the quality and consistency of suicide training across the health system. NHS England published Staying Safe from Suicide: Best Practice Guidance for Safety Assessment, Formulation and Management to support the Government’s work to reduce suicide and improve mental health services.  This guidance is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/staying-safe-from-suicide/At a national level ambulance staff have access to the SHOUT helpline for crisis support alongside the Practitioner Health service for more complex mental health wellbeing support, including trauma and addiction. Additionally, ambulance trusts and the Association of Ambulance Trust Chief Executives have worked closely with NHS England to develop an ambulance sector specific suicide prevention pathway to provide immediate support 24/7 for staff experiencing suicidal ideation.

Whether he has made an assessment of (a) the quality of commissioning of social care services by local authorities and (b) the development of high-quality markets of service providers in local areas; and what steps he is taking to ensure factors other than volume and price are used by local authorities when commissioning social care services.

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care markets to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes commissioning a diverse range of care and support services that enable people to access quality care.In delivering their duties, local authorities should work closely with local providers to promote best practice and achieve a sustainable balance of quality, effectiveness, and value for money.To ensure high standards of care, local authorities are assessed by the Care Quality Commission in how well they are delivering these commissioning and market shaping duties. Local authority assessment reports are published by the Care Quality Commission at the following link:https://www.cqc.org.uk/care-services/local-authority-assessment-reports

Whether integrated care boards have issued best practice guidance on the provision of health and social care services for those with a learning disability.

There are clear expectations of integrated care boards (ICBs) in relation to the commissioning of health services for people with a learning disability. The Model ICB Blueprint sets out the direction of travel for their role and functions in relation to commissioning services for the needs of their local population. Further information on the Model ICB Blueprint is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/strategic-commissioning-framework/Each ICB is expected to have an Executive Lead for learning disability and autism to support the Board in addressing health inequalities, supporting equal access to health services, and planning to meet the needs of its local population of people with a learning disability and autistic people. NHS England has published guidance on expectations for Executive Lead roles which sets out further information, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/executive-lead-roles-on-integrated-care-boards/There is a range of best practice guidance available to support ICBs to commission services for people with a learning disability, including guidance on Dynamic Support Registers and Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews, a service model for adults, and guidance for developing support and services for children and young people. Further information on all three guidance documents is available, respectively, at the following three links:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/dynamic-support-register-and-care-education-and-treatment-review-policy-and-guide/#heading-1https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/service-model-for-commissioners-supporting-people-with-a-learning-disability-andor-autism-who-display-behaviour-that-challenges-including-those-with-a-mental-health-condition/https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/developing-support-and-services-for-children-and-young-people-with-a-learning-disability-autism-or-both/ICBs can also utilise NHS Futures, a digital collaboration platform which supports people working in health and social care to connect, share, and learn across organisations. NHS Futures has dedicated workspaces to support good practice, including resources on learning disability and autism.The recently published NHS Medium Term Planning Framework emphasises the importance of improving outcomes for people with a learning disability, and our 10-Year Health Plan makes clear that people with disabilities are a priority group for more holistic, ongoing support from neighbourhood health services.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Adult Social Care Digital Transformation Fund; and what plans he has for the future of the fund.

The Digitising Social Care programme, which ended in April 2025, aimed to improve the digitisation of the adult social care sector. As part of this programme, the Digital Transformation fund enabled integrated care boards to support care providers to adopt digital social care records (DSCRs) and other care technologies. 80% of Care Quality Commission registered adult social care providers now use a DSCR, up from 41% in December 2021, benefitting 89% of people who draw on care. DSCRs have been shown to deliver significant productivity benefits, releasing at least 20 minutes of admin time per care worker, per shift. The widespread rollout of DSCRs also provides the foundation for more joined up and better-informed care. An independent report evaluating the impact of the Digitising Social Care programme is planned for publication in Spring 2026. Building on the work of the Digitising Social Care programme, we are investing in the development of national data infrastructure for social care to lay the foundations for improved integration with National Health Service systems. We are also working to set new national standards for care technologies so that people can confidently buy and use technology which supports them or the people they care for.

Whether he plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a Government-backed social care investment fund to offer low-cost loans to support the development of the (a) infrastructure and (b) services of not-for-profit care providers, including digital approaches to (i) social care services and (ii) back-office functions; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of capital investment in social care.

A Government-backed social care investment fund is not an idea that we are currently considering. Funding for adult social care is provided by central Government to local authorities through the Local Government Finance Settlement. The Spending Review allows for an increase of over £4 billion of funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements. Local authorities have discretion over how to best use this funding in order to meet the diverse needs of all local people.We know that digital transformation has the potential to drive improvement in adult social care, improving experiences and outcomes for people seeking and receiving care. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is funding projects that support the adoption and use of advanced technologies in social care settings. DSIT’s £44 million 5G Innovation Regions Programme has funded ten regions across the United Kingdom to demonstrate the benefits of adopting technologies and solutions that rely on advanced connectivity services in a range of sectors, including health and social care.The Department has not carried out a specific assessment on the adequacy level of capital investment in social care.To build consensus on plans for a National Care Service, Baroness Casey is chairing an Independent Commission to shape the medium- and longer-term reforms needed, with phase 1 reporting next year. Details about how to engage with the Commission are available at the following link:https://caseycommission.co.uk/

If he will consult people in South Yorkshire about the potential fluoridation of drinking water.

The 10-Year Health Plan for England confirmed that we will assess the feasibility of the further rollout of water fluoridation where oral health outcomes are worst.The National Dental Epidemiology Programme (NDEP) for England: oral health survey of 5 year old schoolchildren 2024 showed Yorkshire and the Humber to have the second highest prevalence of tooth decay by region in England.We are currently engaging with Yorkshire Water on whether water fluoridation arrangements would be operable and efficient. This requirement must be completed before any subsequent decision and public consultation to fluoridate drinking water in South Yorkshire.

Whether he plans to require that mandatory alcohol labels include a warning about the risk of cancer associated with alcohol consumption.

In the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government committed to strengthen and expand on existing voluntary guidelines for alcohol labelling by introducing a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display consistent nutritional information and health warning messages.Departmental officials are progressing this work, and at the appropriate time we will consult with stakeholders on the best ways to communicate the necessary information on the health risks to consumers through alcohol labels. As we take forward this work, we will consider emerging evidence and practice from other countries, including Ireland.

What his planned timeline is for the implementation of mandatory health labelling on alcohol products in England; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of delays to similar labelling legislation in Ireland.

In the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government committed to strengthen and expand on existing voluntary guidelines for alcohol labelling by introducing a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display consistent nutritional information and health warning messages.Departmental officials are progressing this work, and at the appropriate time we will consult with stakeholders on the best ways to communicate the necessary information on the health risks to consumers through alcohol labels. As we take forward this work, we will consider emerging evidence and practice from other countries, including Ireland.

Whether the forthcoming alcohol labelling regulations will include warnings on the link between alcohol and cancer.

In the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government committed to strengthen and expand on existing voluntary guidelines for alcohol labelling by introducing a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display consistent nutritional information and health warning messages.Departmental officials are progressing this work, and at the appropriate time we will consult with stakeholders on the best ways to communicate the necessary information on the health risks to consumers through alcohol labels. As we take forward this work, we will consider emerging evidence and practice from other countries, including Ireland.

What cross-government work his Department is undertaking to prevent alcohol-related cancers.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh South West on 28 July 2025 to Question 63912.

How many patients are in medical trials at (a) Sheffield Teaching Hospital Trust, (b) Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust and (c) Nottingham University Hospital Trust.

The Department funds research and research infrastructure via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which supports patients and the public to participate in high-quality research. The NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) supports the delivery of health and social care research, including recruitment to clinical trials and other types of research study, in all National Health Service trusts in England.Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust currently has 57,581 participants enrolled in open studies on the NIHR RDN portfolio, with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust currently having 27,033 participants enrolled in such studies, and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust with 51,654 participants. This data covers both interventional and observational studies eligible for NIHR support which are recruiting at the relevant trusts.

Whether the National Cancer Plan will include specific targets for improving the early diagnosis rates of blood cancers.

The Government has announced that the National Cancer Plan will be published later this year, following the recent publication of the 10-Year Health Plan. The National Cancer Plan will ensure that all cancer patients, including patients with blood cancer, will have access to the best cancer care and treatments. It will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care.The Department is supporting the National Health Service to reduce the number of cancers diagnosed in emergency care settings, by improving waiting times for cancer diagnosis and treatment, starting by delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week.Alongside improving cancer waiting time performance, the NHS has implemented non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with vague and non-site-specific symptoms, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. This includes blood cancer, which is one of the most common cancers diagnosed via these pathways.Further actions on improving the survival of all cancers, including blood cancer, will be outlined in the forthcoming National Cancer Plan.

Whether the NHS Workforce Plan will take steps to increase the number of clinical academics dedicated to blood cancer research.

The 10 Year Workforce Plan will be published later this year. It would not be right to pre-empt the details that will be in the plan. We will work with partners to make sure we have the right people, in the right places, with the right skills.The Department, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is the largest funder of clinical academic training in the United Kingdom, delivering a comprehensive research career pathway for the full range of clinicians. The NIHR welcomes applications for training awards from the clinical and non-clinical academic workforce conducting research into any aspect of human health, including blood cancer. The NIHR continuously reviews the training offer to identify and address gaps across specialism, geography, and profession, in line with the Department’s priorities.

Whether the NHS Workforce Plan will include policies on blood cancer healthcare professionals.

The 10 Year Workforce Plan will be published later this year. It would not be right to pre-empt the details that will be in the plan. We will work with partners to make sure we have the right people, in the right places, with the right skills.The Department, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is the largest funder of clinical academic training in the United Kingdom, delivering a comprehensive research career pathway for the full range of clinicians. The NIHR welcomes applications for training awards from the clinical and non-clinical academic workforce conducting research into any aspect of human health, including blood cancer. The NIHR continuously reviews the training offer to identify and address gaps across specialism, geography, and profession, in line with the Department’s priorities.

What steps his Department is taking to improve the (a0 monitoring and (b) management of individuals diagnosed with Monoclonal Gammopathy of an Undetermined Significance.

It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes for all patients across England. This includes the monitoring of patients with pre-cancerous conditions like monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) who carry a small risk of progressing to multiple myeloma or other related cancers.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced that a National Cancer Plan for England will be published this year, supporting the Prime Minister’s mission to build an NHS fit for the future and reduce the number of lives lost to cancer. As part of the National Cancer Plan, we are committed to working closely with partners and patient groups to shape the long-term vision for cancer.Patients diagnosed with MGUS must be appropriately and effectively monitored both in primary care and secondary care, with regular blood tests to check for any change in their condition and to ensure that any need for treatment can be met as soon as possible.Our 10 year plan commits to shifting care from the hospital to the community, including diagnostic tests, and to ensuring care is more integrated across primary and secondary care. Diagnostic tests, such as blood tests, should be more easily accessible and located in the community where possible, which is more convenient for patients than going to hospital. In addition to diagnostic capacity in traditional settings such as general practices and hospitals, we have committed to build upon the current 170 community diagnostic centres that are open across the country by expanding a number of these and by building up to five new ones, as well as expanding the number that are open 12 hours a day, seven days a week.Our Elective Reform Plan commits to more integrated working between primary and secondary care, including diagnostics. Further investment and improvement of the NHS electronic referral service will support effective joint clinical decision making and improve the quality of information shared between primary and secondary care.Healthcare services provided by general practice, including phlebotomy and blood tests, are commissioned locally by integrated care boards based on population need.

What assessment his Department has made of the (a) consistency and (b) quality of blood cancer data collection in England.

The Department remains committed to ensuring that the cancer workforce and healthcare professionals collect and have access to the most up-to-date data available. Cancer data collection is crucial in identifying areas of variation and disparity within cancer services, informing health strategies, and improving patient care.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients in England, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment. It will ensure patients, including those with blood cancer, have access to the latest treatments and technology. It will consider all aspects of cancer care, including data collection.

Whether the National Cancer Plan will include commitments to (a) improve diagnostic pathways and (b) reduce delays in identifying blood cancers at an early stage.

The Government has announced that the National Cancer Plan will be published later this year, following the recent publication of the 10-Year Health Plan. The National Cancer Plan will ensure that all cancer patients, including patients with blood cancer, will have access to the best cancer care and treatments. It will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care.The Department is supporting the National Health Service to reduce the number of cancers diagnosed in emergency care settings, by improving waiting times for cancer diagnosis and treatment, starting by delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week.Alongside improving cancer waiting time performance, the NHS has implemented non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with vague and non-site-specific symptoms, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. This includes blood cancer, which is one of the most common cancers diagnosed via these pathways.Further actions on improving the survival of all cancers, including blood cancer, will be outlined in the forthcoming National Cancer Plan.