Written questions by Morgan.

Whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of the closure of Crown post offices on rural communities.

Government sets Post Office access criteria, ensuring that nationally, 99% of people live within three miles of their nearest branch, with further specific criteria for rural areas. These ensure that Post Office delivers essential services, including banking, within local reach of all citizens. Due to the Banking Framework, customers will be able to do their everyday banking at post offices across the UK until 2030. Government is working closely with banks to roll out 350 banking hubs, providing access to critical cash and banking services.There are two Directly-Managed Branches (DMBs) located in rural areas. Post Office announced the transition to a fully franchised network. Post Office will ensure all communities currently served by a DMB will have at least one Mains branch within a 1-mile radius of the existing branch.

Whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of (a) high street bank and (b) Crown post office closures on the availability of monetary services in rural communities.

Government sets Post Office access criteria, ensuring that nationally, 99% of people live within three miles of their nearest branch, with further specific criteria for rural areas. These ensure that Post Office delivers essential services, including banking, within local reach of all citizens. Due to the Banking Framework, customers will be able to do their everyday banking at post offices across the UK until 2030. Government is working closely with banks to roll out 350 banking hubs, providing access to critical cash and banking services.There are two Directly-Managed Branches (DMBs) located in rural areas. Post Office announced the transition to a fully franchised network. Post Office will ensure all communities currently served by a DMB will have at least one Mains branch within a 1-mile radius of the existing branch.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the access criteria for Post Office services for rural areas.

Government sets Post Office access criteria, ensuring that nationally, 99% of people live within three miles of their nearest branch, with further specific criteria for rural areas. These ensure that Post Office delivers essential services, including banking, within local reach of all citizens. Due to the Banking Framework, customers will be able to do their everyday banking at post offices across the UK until 2030. Government is working closely with banks to roll out 350 banking hubs, providing access to critical cash and banking services.There are two Directly-Managed Branches (DMBs) located in rural areas. Post Office announced the transition to a fully franchised network. Post Office will ensure all communities currently served by a DMB will have at least one Mains branch within a 1-mile radius of the existing branch.

Whether he has had discussions with Baroness Casey on engaging with political parties (a) individually or (b) collectively in relation to the Independent commission into adult social care.

The commission has now formally begun. Given the commission is independent, it is only right for Baroness Casey to independently build public and cross-party consensus. This includes choosing how and when the voices of political parties are best brought into the conversation.Baroness Casey has the autonomy to convene cross-party talks over the course of her work as she sees fit, with political parties invited as participants.

With reference to his oral contribution of 19 May 2025, on what date his Department plans to hold the first meeting of cross-party talks on social care.

The Government has clearly set out the importance of reaching cross-party consensus on adult social care. Building cross-party consensus is fundamental to the national conversation, and the Prime Minister has tasked Baroness Casey, as Chair of the Independent Commission into adult social care, to facilitate this.Given the commission is independent, it is only right for Baroness Casey to independently build public and cross-party consensus on how best to meet the current and future needs of the population.Baroness Casey has the autonomy to convene cross-party talks over the course of her work as she sees fit, with political parties invited as participants.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) address high turnover and (b) improve management practices in the care sector.

The Government recognises that the adult social care sector faces significant workforce challenges and recognises the scale of the reforms needed to make the adult social care sector attractive, to support sustainable workforce growth, and to improve the retention of the domestic workforce. That is why we are introducing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement to the adult social care sector, so that care professionals are recognised and rewarded for the important work that they do.We are supporting the professionalisation of the adult social care workforce, through expanding the Care Workforce Pathway, including registered manager and deputy manager roles. The pathway will set out how people can develop across a long-term career in adult social care with support and training, attracting people to join and remain in the sector We are also continuing to fund the Learning Development Support Scheme to help people build their skills and careers in care. The scheme is backed by up to £12 million this financial year, and includes qualifications to enhance the quality of care more broadly, as well as opportunities to develop leadership and management skills.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of a foot and mouth disease outbreak on the dairy sector.

The impacts of a reasonable worst-case scenario outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) were assessed in 2023 for the National Risk Register which is available on GOV.UK. These national risks are reviewed on a regular basis, taking into account new developments. Defra has robust contingency plans in place to manage the risk of FMD as set out in the Foot and Mouth Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain supported by the Contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals in England. Defra continues to adapt its policies in response to developments and remains committed to protecting the UK’s biosecurity and livestock sector. In response to the outbreaks of FMD in Europe, this includes working with Dairy UK to update the milk code of practice for FMD, which is a set of guidelines for milk hauliers, processors, and buyers to prevent the spread of FMD through milk and dairy products.

With reference to the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 14 May 2025, Official Report, column 336, whether he plans to provide additional funding to local authorities for social care to enable care providers to increase wages.

To enable local authorities to deliver key services such as adult social care, the Government has made available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in 2025/26, which includes an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant.The Government is also introducing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement to the adult social care sector, so that care professionals are recognised and rewarded for the important work that they do. As we work towards a Fair Pay Agreement, the Government will engage all those who draw upon care, as well as those that work to provide care and support. We will also consult local authorities, unions, and others from across the sector.Decisions on local authority funding for future years will be made as part of the 2025 multi-year Spending Review and local government finance settlement processes.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has produced a risk assessment in relation to the potential spread of foot and mouth by hostile actors.

Maintaining biosecurity is a key priority for the Government and biosecurity risks are assessed on a regular basis, including through the National Risk Register, to ensure preparedness plans align with the threat landscape. The Biological Security Strategy provides an effective framework to ensure UK resilience against a range of malicious and naturally occurring biosecurity risks. Defra possesses effective measures to detect new and emerging threats, including the incursion of FMD and actively works with other government departments and the sector through the Veterinary Risk Group (VRG) and the Human and Animal Infections Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) Group. Defra continues to adapt its policies as required and remains committed to protecting the UK’s biosecurity and livestock sector. Robust measures to maintain and improve Defra’s ability to understand, detect, prevent, respond and recover from foot and mouth disease outbreaks are set out in the Foot and Mouth Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain supported by the Contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals in England.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support dairy farmers in North Shropshire constituency.

This Government recognises that food security is national security, and that it requires a resilient and healthy food system that works with nature and supports farmers. That is why we are introducing new deals for farmers to boost rural economic growth and strengthen food security. Ensuring fairness in supply chains is key for UK dairy farmers in supporting the sustainability of the sector. The Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024 apply to new dairy contracts from 9 July 2024 and all dairy contracts from 9 July 2025. These regulations improve fairness and transparency, requiring clear terms on pricing, termination, and prohibiting unilateral changes.

Whether his Department undertook a risk assessment before making full medical records available to social care providers through the Devon and Cornwall Care Record.

Responsibility for delivering shared care records sits with local integrated care boards (ICBs).The health and care organisations which participate in the Devon and Cornwall Care Record are joint controllers for the shared care record system and are responsible for determining who is authorised to access medical records in the system, the process for authorising users, how those users access records and the purposes for which the records can be accessed.Every ICB which shares records is required to look after an individual’s information in accordance with the Information Governance Framework for shared care records published by NHS England, to ensure that only authorised users access relevant information, and that access is governed by appropriate access controls. The framework is available at the following link:https://transform.england.nhs.uk/information-governance/guidance/summary-of-information-governance-framework-shared-care-records/information-governance-framework-for-integrated-health-and-care-shared-care-records/There are safeguards in place to keep information confidential. All care organisations accessing information via the Devon and Cornwall Care Record must be compliant with the Data Security and Protection Toolkit and sign a data sharing agreement. To access, a user needs an account which must be requested by an authorised sponsor in their organisation. Each time a shared record is accessed in the Devon and Cornwall Care Record, it is recorded in an audit trail.The registered managers of any care home are responsible legally for the safe management of information and ensuring all staff receive training and must agree to the terms and conditions of use, of which they are reminded on the login page.

Which Community Diagnostic Centres patients could attend after being referred for a scan as of 30 April 2025; and what the addresses are of these locations.

The local community diagnostic centre (CDC) for patients in Shropshire is the Shrewsbury, Telford and Wrekin CDC. The CDC is located at Hollinswood House in Telford, TF3 3BD. Patients requiring tests will also be referred to other settings as appropriate, including local hospital sites. A list of all operational CDCs is published and available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/cdc-management-information/The Department and NHS England do not directly inform local providers or general practices (GPs) when CDCs open for referrals in the nearby area, but it is the expectation that each CDC and their host National Health Service trust does local engagement, including with local providers and GPs.

Whether his Department informs all (a) GPs and (b) care providers when a new Community Diagnostic Centre opens for referrals in the nearby area.

The local community diagnostic centre (CDC) for patients in Shropshire is the Shrewsbury, Telford and Wrekin CDC. The CDC is located at Hollinswood House in Telford, TF3 3BD. Patients requiring tests will also be referred to other settings as appropriate, including local hospital sites. A list of all operational CDCs is published and available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/cdc-management-information/The Department and NHS England do not directly inform local providers or general practices (GPs) when CDCs open for referrals in the nearby area, but it is the expectation that each CDC and their host National Health Service trust does local engagement, including with local providers and GPs.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the abolition of NHS England on this years’ planned revision of the Long-Term Workforce Plan.

The Government has committed to publishing a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again. No set date has been agreed for publication, as the wider work of the 10-Year Health Plan and the forthcoming Spending Review will influence the timing of the revised workforce plan later this year.Sir Jim Mackey will lead the transition team bringing the work of NHS England and the Department together over the next two years. This work will not impact the forthcoming publication of the 10-Year Health Plan and the subsequent reconsideration of the long-term workforce needs of the National Health Service, which will follow.The curricula for postgraduate training are set by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges for foundation training, and by individual royal colleges and faculties for specialty training. The General Medical Council approves curricula and assessment systems for each training programme.NHS England launched an extensive engagement and listening exercise to help shape the future of postgraduate medical training in February. The review will: hear about best practice; listen to concerns, including issues around training pathways and the capacity, quality, and inclusivity of training; and explore ideas and thoughts about how postgraduate medical training could evolve for the future. An engagement exercise will run through to June this year, with findings reported in the summer.

Whether the revised Long-Term Workforce Plan will contain guidance on how the NHS will (a) train and (b) supervise new doctors.

The Government has committed to publishing a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again. No set date has been agreed for publication, as the wider work of the 10-Year Health Plan and the forthcoming Spending Review will influence the timing of the revised workforce plan later this year.Sir Jim Mackey will lead the transition team bringing the work of NHS England and the Department together over the next two years. This work will not impact the forthcoming publication of the 10-Year Health Plan and the subsequent reconsideration of the long-term workforce needs of the National Health Service, which will follow.The curricula for postgraduate training are set by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges for foundation training, and by individual royal colleges and faculties for specialty training. The General Medical Council approves curricula and assessment systems for each training programme.NHS England launched an extensive engagement and listening exercise to help shape the future of postgraduate medical training in February. The review will: hear about best practice; listen to concerns, including issues around training pathways and the capacity, quality, and inclusivity of training; and explore ideas and thoughts about how postgraduate medical training could evolve for the future. An engagement exercise will run through to June this year, with findings reported in the summer.

When the revised Long-Term Workforce Plan will be published.

The Government has committed to publishing a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again. No set date has been agreed for publication, as the wider work of the 10-Year Health Plan and the forthcoming Spending Review will influence the timing of the revised workforce plan later this year.Sir Jim Mackey will lead the transition team bringing the work of NHS England and the Department together over the next two years. This work will not impact the forthcoming publication of the 10-Year Health Plan and the subsequent reconsideration of the long-term workforce needs of the National Health Service, which will follow.The curricula for postgraduate training are set by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges for foundation training, and by individual royal colleges and faculties for specialty training. The General Medical Council approves curricula and assessment systems for each training programme.NHS England launched an extensive engagement and listening exercise to help shape the future of postgraduate medical training in February. The review will: hear about best practice; listen to concerns, including issues around training pathways and the capacity, quality, and inclusivity of training; and explore ideas and thoughts about how postgraduate medical training could evolve for the future. An engagement exercise will run through to June this year, with findings reported in the summer.

Whether he plans to reduce the number of integrated care boards in England.

As part of the necessary changes to support the National Health Service to recover, NHS England has indicated that integrated care boards (ICBs) should reduce their running cost allowance by 50%. The Government is supportive of NHS England’s decision and will work with NHS England to make the necessary choices that are needed to get the NHS back on its feet. We expect ICBs to continue delivering their responsibilities, including the planning and delivery of health and care services.ICBs are asked to develop plans by the end of May setting out how they will manage their resources to deliver across their priorities. NHS England will be working closely with the ICBs to support the development of these plans, ensuring that the implementation of these reduces duplication whilst supporting patient care. Further information is available at the following link:NHS England » Working together in 2025/26 to lay the foundations for reform

When he expects the functional output of the Model ICB work to be published.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) have a critical role to play as strategic commissioners, improving population health, reducing inequalities, and ensuring access to high quality care. NHS England has circulated a draft of The Model ICB - blueprint document to all ICBs, to assist them in shaping their future plans, including which functions they should focus on, as indicated in Sir James Mackey’s letter to National Health Service trusts, foundation trusts, and ICBs, which is available at the following link:NHS England » Working together in 2025/26 to lay the foundations for reform

What guidance he has issued to integrated care boards on reasonable running costs per had of population.

As part of the necessary changes to support the National Health Service to recover, NHS England has indicated that integrated care boards (ICBs) should reduce their running cost allowance by 50%. The Government is supportive of NHS England’s decision and the necessary choices that are needed to get the NHS back on its feet. We expect ICBs to continue to deliver their responsibilities, including the planning and delivery of health and care services in community diagnostic centres.ICBs are asked to develop plans by the end of May setting out how they will manage their resources to deliver across their priorities. NHS England will be working closely with the ICBs to support the development of these plans, ensuring that their implementation reduces duplication whilst supporting patient care. Further information is available in the letter at the following link:NHS England » Working together in 2025/26 to lay the foundations for reform

What steps he is taking to reduce the prevalence of infant brain injuries at childbirth.

The Department has invested £7.8 million to develop the Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth programme, which will reduce the number of avoidable brain injuries that occur during childbirth. This will be implemented by NHS England and will provide staff with the tools and training to identify, intervene, and manage obstetric emergencies, as well as better identify signs that a baby is showing distress during labour.Additionally, the Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigations (MNSI) Programme investigates certain cases of potential severe brain injury that occur in the first seven days of life. The MNSI investigations seek to improve maternity safety and reduce the prevalence of adverse outcomes through providing learning to the health system via reports at a local, regional, and national level.