Written questions by Blundell.

What steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to improve working conditions for people living with endometriosis.

The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health. Tackling the barriers that women face in the workplace, including those around managing their health and wellbeing, is at the heart of the growth mission. As part of the Employment Rights Bill, we are taking the first steps towards requiring large employers to produce action plans outlining the steps that they are taking on the gender pay gap and menopause support. In formulating plans, we want to recognise that there are actions that can help people in a range of circumstances, including women managing reproductive health conditions such as endometriosis, for example providing and promoting flexible working. They will also open up space to have discussions about health, and in particular women's health, more broadly in the workplace. The Employments Rights Bill will also strengthen the existing day 1 right to request flexible working, and will improve access to Statutory Sick Pay by removing the Lower Earnings Limit and removing the waiting period. Also, an Office for National Statistics research project is investigating the impact of endometriosis on women’s participation and progression in the workforce. This vital project will improve our understanding of the issue and inform future Government policy.

What discussions he has had with the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board on steps to reduce the number of patients awaiting treatment in Heywood and Middleton North constituency.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are accountable to NHS England. The NHS Oversight Framework outlines NHS England’s approach to overseeing and monitoring ICB performance, and NHS England regional teams have regular review meetings with ICBs, the frequency of which will vary according to the governance arrangements, but they should be at least quarterly.More broadly, the Government is working to reduce the number of patients awaiting treatment across the country, including those in Heywood and Middleton North. The Elective Reform Plan, launched as part of the Government’s Plan for Change, sets out how we will get back to the NHS Constitutional Standard, that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from Referral to Treatment (RTT) by the end of this Parliament, and will also ensure patients have the best possible experience of care.We have set an ambition for 2025/26 that we reach 65% of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks nationally, and for all trusts to deliver a minimum 5% improvement by March 2026. We will also publish minimum standards of care that patients can expect to experience, and will make digital improvements, including to the NHS App, to provide patients with greater choice, control, and flexibility.Across the country, dedicated and protected surgical hubs are transforming the way the National Health Service provides elective care, by focussing on high volume low complexity surgeries. In the Heywood and Middleton North constituency, there are two such surgical hubs serving patients, the Fairfield General Hospital Elective Surgical Hub, and the Rochdale Infirmary Elective Surgical Hub.

If he will take steps to provide funding for respite care for people with disabilities away from their care setting.

The Government is providing at least £600 million of new grant funding for social care, as part of the broader estimated real-terms uplift to core local government spending power of approximately 3.2%. Local authorities are responsible for how they use the available funding to fulfil their duties under the Care Act (2014).