Written questions by Collier.

With reference to the publication of the APPG for Air Ambulances’ report, The Case for Safeguarded 24/7 On-Site Hospital Helipads at Major Trauma Centres and Specialist Hospitals, if he will meet with the APPG to discuss the report’s findings and recommendations, and consider potential next steps in collaboration with relevant Government departments.

Awaiting answer.

Whether his Department has considered ensuring that compliant, needs-led NHS service models are delivered in mainstream schools, including adequate clinical provision and support for children and young people with medical and long-term conditions.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of NHS clinical provision for pupils with medical conditions in mainstream schools.

Awaiting answer.

What discussions his Department has had with the Department for Education on the NHS meeting responsibilities for pupils with medical conditions in schools.

Awaiting answer.

What progress his Department is making to align the UK’s descriptor guidance for low and no alcohol products with that employed by the EU and other international trade partners.

In the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government has committed to consult on raising the upper alcohol limit for drinks labelled as alcohol-free to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) from 0.05% ABV, which would bring the labelling guidance for no and low alcohol drink alternatives for England into alignment with international standards and several EU countries.Departmental officials are progressing work to take forward this commitment, and we will update stakeholders in due course.Alongside the plan, a large multi-year National Institute for Health and Care Research study is underway to examine the public health impacts of NoLo products, and we look forward to the findings the study being available later this year.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that local authorities meet the ambition that 2% of the drug and alcohol treatment population are accessing residential treatment.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing local need for alcohol and drug prevention and treatment in their area, including residential treatment, and for commissioning services to meet these needs. The Department set an ambition that 2% of the drug and alcohol treatment population should be accessing residential treatment. We remain committed to this ambition and continue to work with the sector to achieve this. We have asked every local authority to set a local target that contributes to this ambition.Earlier this year, the Department launched the self-assessment toolkit to help local areas to improve the residential drug and alcohol treatment that they commission, which can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/residential-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-self-assessment-toolkitThe Department of Health and Social Care facilitates a residential treatment provider forum and engages in annual planning for local authorities and partners, including target-setting for residential episodes. The Department also maintains regular engagement with the English Substance Use Commissioners Group and holds joint meetings with the Ministry of Justice to explore improved pathways from the criminal justice system into residential treatment.We are providing local authorities with £3.4 billion ringfenced funding over the next three years for drug and alcohol treatment and recovery. This first multi-year settlement in over a decade gives local authorities the certainty to plan and invest for the medium term.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the (a) adequacy of the eligibility criteria for (i) free covid-19 vaccinations and (ii) access to covid-19 antiviral treatments for people with lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (b) consistency of eligibility criteria used by general practices, community pharmacies and NHS 111 in England.

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 serious illness, resulting in hospitalisations and deaths, arising from COVID-19.The JCVI has advised that population immunity to COVID-19 has been increasing due to a combination of naturally acquired immunity following recovery from infection and vaccine-derived immunity. COVID-19 is now a relatively mild disease for most people, though it can still be unpleasant, with rates of hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 having reduced significantly since COVID-19 first emerged.The focus of the JCVI’s advised programme has therefore moved towards targeted vaccination of the two groups who continue to be at higher risk of serious disease, including mortality. These are the oldest adults and individuals who are immunosuppressed. The Government has accepted the JCVI’s advice for autumn 2025 and in line with the advice, a COVID-19 vaccination is being offered to the following groups:adults aged 75 years old and over;residents in care homes for older adults; andindividuals aged six months old and over who are immunosuppressed.The COVID-19 chapter of the UK Health Security Agency Green Book on immunisation against infectious disease sets out guidance on the eligibility criteria above. This is signposted to all providers to ensure consistency. As for all vaccines, the JCVI keeps the evidence under regular review.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published guidance that recommends several antivirals for the treatment of COVID-19, both in the community and for patients in hospital. This guidance sets out the eligibility criteria and ensures that patients who are at the highest risk of developing severe disease from COVID-19 have access to clinically- and cost-effective treatments.

What steps his Department is taking to support people with long covid.

I know firsthand how complex and debilitating long COVID can be, and I am committed to improving support for people affected.Since 2020, specialist long COVID services have been made available. This includes setting up over 100 long COVID services across England.We have also invested over £57 million in long COVID research, and I recently co-chaired a roundtable on strategies to stimulate further research into treatments.