Written questions by Morgan.

How many covid-19 vaccinations were available for use in England in winter (a) 2025-6, (b) 2024-5 and (c) 2023-4.

We are unable to provide the information requested, as it is commercially sensitive, however adequate doses were available to deliver the programmes.

What steps he is taking to protect household contacts of the immunosuppressed from covid-19 infection.

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of severe illness, involving hospitalisation and/or death, arising from COVID-19.The JCVI’s advice for autumn 2024 noted that in the era of high population immunity to COVID-19, and with all cases due to highly transmissible Omicron sub-variants, any protection offered by the vaccine against the transmission of infection from one person to another was expected to be extremely limited. On this basis, the JCVI did not advise offering vaccination to household contacts of people with immunosuppression. The Government accepted the JCVI’s advice for autumn 2024, with both the advice and the Government’s response available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-accepts-advice-on-2024-autumn-covid-vaccine-programmeHousehold contacts were therefore not offered vaccination in the autumn 2024 campaign. On 13 November 2024, the JCVI published advice on the COVID-19 vaccination programme covering vaccination in 2025 and spring 2026. In line with its advice for the autumn 2024 campaign, the JCVI did not advise COVID-19 vaccination for household contacts of people with immunosuppression. This advice is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026The Government accepted the JCVI’s advice on eligibility for the spring and autumn 2025 COVID-19 vaccination programme. The Government is considering the advice for spring 2026 carefully and will respond in due course.Those with concerns are advised to discuss these with their general practitioner or healthcare professional.

How much capital funding her Department has allocated for the rollout of neighbourhood health centres (a) in England and (b) for each eligible integrated care board.

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future, and we recognise that delivering high quality NHS healthcare requires the right infrastructure in the right places.That is why over the course of our 10-Year Health Plan, we aim to establish a neighbourhood health centre in every community, transforming healthcare access by bringing historically hospital-based services into communities and addressing wider determinants of health through services like debt advice, employment support, and obesity management programmes.Nationwide coverage will take time, and we will start by using public capital to update and refurbish existing, under-used buildings, targeting places where healthy life expectancy is lowest and delivering healthcare closer to home for those that need it the most.Capital funding for neighbourhood health centres will become available from 2026/27, with detailed planning guidance for local systems to be communicated before the end of the year.As outlined in the Government’s 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy, a decision on whether to proceed with the use of Public Private Partnerships for neighbourhood health centres will be made by HM Treasury and relevant ministers by the 2025 Autumn Budget.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) training and (b) support provided to volunteers who help maintain public use defibrillators.

Charities which provide automated external defibrillators (AED) have clear guidance in place on the use and ongoing maintenance of the devices they provide.The Circuit, the national defibrillator registry independently operated by the British Heart Foundation, notifies the guardian of the defibrillator when it has been used and action to replace the pads is required.In addition, the Department for Education has published guidance on AEDs for schools, including on maintenance and registration with The Circuit. A copy of this guidance is attached.NHS England provides training sessions on first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of AEDs both in the community and in schools, under the Restart a Heart initiative. NHS England has trained over 35,800 adults and children in CPR and defibrillation.

Whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of (a) guidance and (b) other protocols provided to properties with public use defibrillators.

Charities which provide automated external defibrillators (AED) have clear guidance in place on the use and ongoing maintenance of the devices they provide.The Circuit, the national defibrillator registry independently operated by the British Heart Foundation, notifies the guardian of the defibrillator when it has been used and action to replace the pads is required.In addition, the Department for Education has published guidance on AEDs for schools, including on maintenance and registration with The Circuit. A copy of this guidance is attached.NHS England provides training sessions on first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of AEDs both in the community and in schools, under the Restart a Heart initiative. NHS England has trained over 35,800 adults and children in CPR and defibrillation.

Whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the maintenance process of public use defibrillators.

Charities which provide automated external defibrillators (AED) have clear guidance in place on the use and ongoing maintenance of the devices they provide.The Circuit, the national defibrillator registry independently operated by the British Heart Foundation, notifies the guardian of the defibrillator when it has been used and action to replace the pads is required.In addition, the Department for Education has published guidance on AEDs for schools, including on maintenance and registration with The Circuit. A copy of this guidance is attached.NHS England provides training sessions on first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of AEDs both in the community and in schools, under the Restart a Heart initiative. NHS England has trained over 35,800 adults and children in CPR and defibrillation.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring organisations with public use defibrillators to be provided with a log of use.

Charities which provide automated external defibrillators (AED) have clear guidance in place on the use and ongoing maintenance of the devices they provide.The Circuit, the national defibrillator registry independently operated by the British Heart Foundation, notifies the guardian of the defibrillator when it has been used and action to replace the pads is required.In addition, the Department for Education has published guidance on AEDs for schools, including on maintenance and registration with The Circuit. A copy of this guidance is attached.NHS England provides training sessions on first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of AEDs both in the community and in schools, under the Restart a Heart initiative. NHS England has trained over 35,800 adults and children in CPR and defibrillation.

Will he take steps to provide an interim pay increase for social care workers in advance of the implementation of fair pay agreement outcomes in 2028.

We want to get the process of establishing Fair Pay Agreements right to ensure meaningful reform for the adult social care sector. The public consultation launched recently is an important milestone and we encourage all interested parties to respond.In the interim, the Plan to Make Work Pay is already delivering changes to the National Living Wage. A full-time care worker on the National Living Wage received an increase to their gross annual earnings of £1,400 a year from April 2025. The Spending Review 2025 allows for an increase of over £4 billion in additional funding available for ASC in 2028-29 compared to 2025-26. This includes other sources of income available to support adult social care, additional grant funding and an increase in the National Health Service’s contribution to adult social care via the Better Care Fund, in line with the Department’s Spending Review settlement.Additionally, the Government has committed to reforms which will mitigate the growing pressures on local government services and achieve better value for money.Finally, we are taking forward other significant reforms to the social care sector directly, including expanding the Care Workforce Pathway – the first ever national career structure for adult social care – and providing £12 million of funding for eligible care staff to complete courses and qualifications, such as the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the system used to alert volunteers when a defibrillator is used.

The Department has not made an assessment. The Circuit, the national defibrillator registry, is independently operated by the British Heart Foundation. The Circuit notifies the guardian of the defibrillator when it has been used and action to replace the pads is required.

What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of commissioning arrangements for (a) Molecular Radiotherapy, (b) Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy and (c) Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapies.

The National Health Service delivers a range of treatments for cancer, with expert clinicians working with patients to determine the most appropriate option. The Government is working with NHS England to ensure that the most effective treatments are available to patients across the country when they need them.Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) is routinely available to treat several types of cancer, including some types of lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and liver cancer. Every NHS trust that is commissioned to provide radiotherapy services in England can offer SABR. However, not all cancer types can be treated with SABR in every radiotherapy service, because some trusts may not host the relevant specialist multi-disciplinary team.No assessment has been made of the potential for systemic anti-cancer therapies to be delivered via primary care in the community or at home. However, in line with the Government’s Health Mission shift from hospital to community, the 10-Year Health Plan committed to deliver more urgent care in the community, in people’s homes, or through neighbourhood health centres by 2035.

What assessment he has made of the potential for systemic anti-cancer therapies to be delivered via primary care in the community or at home.

The National Health Service delivers a range of treatments for cancer, with expert clinicians working with patients to determine the most appropriate option. The Government is working with NHS England to ensure that the most effective treatments are available to patients across the country when they need them.Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) is routinely available to treat several types of cancer, including some types of lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and liver cancer. Every NHS trust that is commissioned to provide radiotherapy services in England can offer SABR. However, not all cancer types can be treated with SABR in every radiotherapy service, because some trusts may not host the relevant specialist multi-disciplinary team.No assessment has been made of the potential for systemic anti-cancer therapies to be delivered via primary care in the community or at home. However, in line with the Government’s Health Mission shift from hospital to community, the 10-Year Health Plan committed to deliver more urgent care in the community, in people’s homes, or through neighbourhood health centres by 2035.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of clinical oncology workforce shortages on the adoption of innovative cancer treatments by NHS trusts.

We are building out the cancer workforce. As of June 2025, there are over 1,800 full time equivalent doctors working in the speciality of clinical oncology in National Health Service trusts and other core organisations in England. This is almost 440, or 31.5%, more than in 2020.Following additional investment through recent Spending Review settlements, trainees across 16 cancer-related specialties, including clinical and medical oncology, increased from 623 to 773 per year, a 24% increase.To grow the workforce, NHS England has been expanding specialty training places in key cancer professions. Targeted national campaigns and outreach activities, for example in clinical oncology, also promote cancer career pathways, with a focus on increasing applications to under-supplied professions.Training academies in imaging, endoscopy, and genomics are being delivered across regions to provide intensive skills development and to support new models of care, including for cancer patients. Ongoing investment in practice education enhances clinical supervision, education, and training across the cancer and diagnostic workforces, increases placement capacity, supports staff retention, and contributes to high-quality patient care.The adoption of innovative cancer treatments is often clinician-led and self-identified, with doctors seeking out specialist training opportunities themselves. This may include overseas fellowships or short courses, after which skills are cascaded locally through continuing professional development, multidisciplinary teams, and peer-to-peer learning. NHS England supports this through centrally underwritten study leave budgets. In addition, through curriculum reform, selected innovations are incorporated into formal training programmes, ensuring that some advances move from self-directed uptake into nationally standardised education.

In which NHS trusts Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy is available in England .

The National Health Service delivers a range of treatments for cancer, with expert clinicians working with patients to determine the most appropriate option. The Government is working with NHS England to ensure that the most effective treatments are available to patients across the country when they need them.Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) is routinely available to treat several types of cancer, including some types of lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and liver cancer. Every NHS trust that is commissioned to provide radiotherapy services in England can offer SABR. However, not all cancer types can be treated with SABR in every radiotherapy service, because some trusts may not host the relevant specialist multi-disciplinary team.No assessment has been made of the potential for systemic anti-cancer therapies to be delivered via primary care in the community or at home. However, in line with the Government’s Health Mission shift from hospital to community, the 10-Year Health Plan committed to deliver more urgent care in the community, in people’s homes, or through neighbourhood health centres by 2035.

What steps he is taking to encourage NHS trusts to take part in clinical trials for innovative treatments.

The Department is committed to turbocharging clinical research and encouraging National Health Service trusts to take part through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and a four-nation UK Clinical Research Delivery Programme (UKCRD).The Department-funded NIHR funds research and research infrastructure, which supports patients, the public, and NHS settings to participate in high-quality research, including clinical trials for innovative treatments. NIHR infrastructure provides world-class research expertise, specialist facilities, a research delivery workforce, and support services. Through the NIHR’s Research Delivery Network (RDN), the NIHR supports all NHS trusts in England to deliver research, operating across 12 regions throughout the country.In April 2025, the Department began publishing monthly key performance indicators on commercial clinical trial set up performance for NHS trusts in England, as part of the UKCRD programme, Study Set Up Plan. This report provides a monthly snapshot of site-level commercial study set-up performance, with the expectation that this will encourage NHS trusts to improve study set-up performance and therefore increase their participation in clinical trials for innovative treatments.

What consideration he has given to introducing an innovation incentive payment to facilitate the adoption of innovative treatments by NHS trusts.

No consideration has been given to introducing an innovation incentive payment to National Health Service trusts to facilitate the adoption of innovative treatments. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing authoritative, evidence-based recommendations for the NHS on whether new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of resources. The NHS in England is legally required to fund NICE-recommended medicines, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance. The 2025/26 NHS Standard Contract, which applies to all contracts between NHS commissioners and providers, stipulates that, where any service involves or may involve the prescribing of medicines, the provider must ensure that its formulary reflects all relevant positive NICE technology appraisals.

What steps he is taking to help protect livestock from botulism disease in Shropshire.

The risk posed by botulism from poultry litter and other sources are well established in the agricultural industry. Farmers and their advisors know what measures can be taken to mitigate the risk. In some situations where risk analysis has been undertaken, several farmers opt to vaccinate cattle against the disease. There is advice available on GOV.UK on botulism in livestock at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/botulism-in-farmed-ruminants/botulism-in-farmed-ruminants The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has published review articles in veterinary journals such as In Practice, which is available at the following link: https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1136/inpract.30.7.392 The APHA Surveillance Unit also present on the subject with food safety lecture to undergraduates at veterinary schools in the United Kingdom and at conferences for livestock vets.

If he will take steps to ensure the NHS Find a dentist online service contains accurate information.

It is a contractual requirement for National Health Service dentists to update their NHS website profiles at least every 90 days to ensure patients have up-to-date information on where they can access care. This includes information on whether they are accepting new patients. Integrated care boards review which practices in their area have not updated their profile in a 90-day period, and work with practices to ensure websites are up to date.

What steps he is taking to increase access to Givinostat for patients in North Shropshire constituency.

The Department understands the impact that Duchenne muscular dystrophy has on those living with it and their families, and the urgent need for new treatment options.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS independently, based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance. NICE is currently evaluating givinostat for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and its independent Appraisal Committee met to consider the evidence in July 2025.The committee identified specific areas where additional evidence is required to support a fully informed decision prior to draft guidance for consultation being published. As a result, NICE has launched a four-week targeted call for evidence from stakeholders, ahead of a further committee meeting in October.

What steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for gynaecological referrals in Shropshire.

We are committed to driving down waiting times in England, including for gynaecological services in Shropshire. We have wasted no time in getting to work cutting National Health Service waiting lists and ensuring people have the best possible experience during their care.We promised change, and we’ve delivered early, with a reduction in the national waiting list between June 2024 and June 2025 of over 252,000, despite over 21 million referrals onto the list since July 2024.We have fulfilled our pledge to deliver over two million more elective care appointments early. More than double that number, 4.9 million more appointments, have now been delivered as of June 2025.This marks a vital First Step to delivering on the commitment that 92% of patients will wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment, in line with the NHS constitutional standard, by March 2029.Between July 2024 and June 2025, the gynaecology waiting list at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust fell by 17.9%, dropping from 4,197 patients to 3,445. During the same period, the percentage of patients starting treatment within 18 weeks of referral rose significantly from 43.8% to 64.4%, marking an improvement of 20.6%.The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, committed to providing quicker access for patients to common surgical hub procedures by ramping up the number of surgical hubs over the next three years.There are currently 120 elective surgical hubs that are operational across England as of September 2025. This includes three surgical hubs within the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin​​ Integrated Care System. The most recent to open in the region was the Princess Royal Hospital Elective Surgical Hub, which opened in June 2024 and offers gynaecological services.These dedicated and protected surgical hubs transform the way the NHS provides elective care by focusing on providing high volume low complexity surgery, as recommended by the Royal College of Surgeons of England.The Elective Reform Plan also commits to transform and expand diagnostic services and speed up waiting times for tests, a crucial part of reducing overall waiting times and returning to the referral to treatment 18-week standard. There is currently one community diagnostic centre (CDC) in the region, the Shrewsbury Telford and Wrekin Community Diagnostic Centre in Telford. This CDC is providing additional diagnostic capacity to see patients away from hospital sites, providing key diagnostic tests such as computed tomography and ultrasound, thereby reducing unnecessary hospital visits.

Whether he plans to implement the recommendations of the Stroke Association’s report entitled Unlocking Potential: A Bold Vision for Stroke Care in England.

We welcome the report of the Stroke Association and its recommendations, which are closely aligned with the 10-Year Health Plan’s three big shifts of hospital to community, analogue to digital and treatment to prevention.This Government is committed to ensuring fewer lives are lost to the biggest killers, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). That is why this Government has set an ambition to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% in the next 10 years.To deliver on this ambition, the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England are working together to understand both the scale of the challenge and the opportunities for progress across the prevention, treatment and management of CVD.We are engaging with stakeholders to put the best available evidence and expert opinion at the heart of this ambition and to gather a diverse range of views.We have committed in the 10-Year Health Plan to publish a Modern Service Framework for CVD in 2026. This will identify and set standards for the best evidenced interventions, drive innovation in CVD prevention and management, and reduce unwarranted variation in healthcare.