Written questions by Mayhew.

What estimate his Department has made of the number of newly qualified dentists that will be required to ensure the future of NHS dentistry in the next five to ten years.

Later this year we will publish a 10-Year Workforce Plan to create a workforce ready to deliver a transformed service. They will be more empowered, more flexible and more fulfilled.As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will now make it a requirement for newly qualified dentists to practice in the National Health Service for a minimum period, intended to be at least three years. We will consult on the detail of this proposal in due course.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of a tie-in period for newly qualified dentists on NHS dental patients in Norfolk.

As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will make it a requirement for newly qualified dentists to practice in the National Health Service for a minimum period which we intend to be at least three years. That will mean more NHS dentists, more NHS appointments and better oral health.Later this year we will publish a 10-Year Workforce Plan to create a workforce ready to deliver a transformed service. They will be more empowered, more flexible and more fulfilled.

What his planned timetable is for publishing the dentistry budget.

The Department’s settlement announced at Spending Review (SR) 2025 means that annual National Health Service day-to-day spending will increase by £29 billion in real terms (£53 billion cash increase) by 2028-29 compared to 2023-24. This will take the NHS resource budget to £226 billion by 2028-29, equivalent to a 3.0% average annual real terms growth rate over the SR period.The detail of SR budget allocations within departments is still being determined and we are working to provide the detail and certainty needed on future funding and spending plans.This includes preparing for the first medium-term planning round for the NHS in more than half a decade, which will give local leaders the certainty they need to deliver.

How many new dentists have been given one-off welcome payments in (a) Broadland and (b) Norfolk in the last 12 months.

Integrated care boards have started to recruit posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.We do not hold Golden Hello data at constituency level, but as of 22 September 2025, in England there were 97 dentists in post with a further eight dentists who have been recruited but are yet to start in post under this scheme. A further 224 posts are currently being advertised. Golden Hello data on regional allocations and posts filled will be published in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that children can access cannabinoid medications through the NHS; and what assessment he has made of trends in the level of families using non-prescribed cannabis to treat their children.

No assessment has been made on the trends in the level of families using non-prescription cannabis to treat children. Cannabis is a class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the unlawful supply carries a maximum sentence of up to 14 years in prison, a fine, or both, while unlawful possession is up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.Like all medicines, prescribing on the National Health Service is restricted to products which have been proven safe and effective. Licensed cannabis-based medicines are routinely funded by the NHS where there is clear evidence of their quality, safety, and effectiveness. Epidyolex is used for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare forms of epilepsy, namely Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex. However, clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence demonstrate a clear need for more evidence on the safety and effectiveness of unlicensed cannabis-based medicines to support routine prescribing and funding decisions in the NHS. NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) have agreed funding for two trials relating to the use of cannabis-based medicines for the treatment of difficult-to-treat epilepsies. These will be world-first trials and will be crucial in informing future NHS funding decisions.Manufacturers are responsible for generating evidence to support the use of their products and for seeking regulatory approval. The Government encourages manufacturers to do so and offers scientific and research advice from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the NIHR.

How many patients were (a) held informally under the Mental Health Act 1983 and (b) otherwise detained in assessment and treatment units in December (i) 2024, (ii) 2023, (iii) 2022 and (iv) 2021.

The Assuring Transformation data set records information about people with a learning disability and autistic people who are receiving treatment or care as inpatients in a mental health hospital. Patients in assessment and treatment units (ATUs) in England are recorded in the Assuring Transformation data set under the bed type Acute Mental Health Unit for Adults with a Learning Disability and/or Autism.We are only able to identify ATUs in Assuring Transformation from April 2024. Therefore, we are unable to determine the how many patients were in ATUs, including those detained under the Mental Health Act and informal patients, for the requested periods of December 2023, 2022, and 2021.In December 2024 there were 160 inpatients detained in Acute Mental Health Units for Adults with a Learning Disability and/or Autism under the Mental Health Act. In addition to this, there were 15 informal patients in such settings at this time. These figures include patients in in ATUs, but may also include some patients who were in other inpatient mental health settings.

How many patients were detained in assessment and treatment units in England in December (a) 2023, (b) 2022 and (c) 2021.

The Assuring Transformation data set records information about people with a learning disability and autistic people who are receiving treatment or care as inpatients in a mental health hospital.Patients in assessment and treatment units (ATUs) in England are recorded in the Assuring Transformation data set under the bed type Acute Mental Health Unit for Adults with a Learning Disability and/or Autism.We are only able to identify ATUs in Assuring Transformation from April 2024. Therefore, we are unable to determine the how many patients were in ATUs, including those detained under the Mental Health Act and informal patients, for the requested periods of December 2023, 2022, and 2021.

How many patients are detained in assessment and treatment units in England.

Patients in assessment and treatment units in England are recorded in the Assuring Transformation data set, under the bed type Acute Mental Health Unit for Adults with a Learning Disability and/or Autism.In December 2024, there were 160 inpatients detained in Acute Mental Health Units for Adults with a Learning Disability and/or Autism. This figure includes patients detained in assessment and treatment units, but may also include some patients who are held in other inpatient mental health settings. Patients held informally under the Mental Health Act, those that are not detained, have been excluded from the count.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of introducing means-testing for the Winter Fuel Payment on hospital admissions.

This is not a decision any Government would want to make, but we inherited a £22 billion black hole in the nation’s finances. Difficult decisions are required.We continue to stand behind vulnerable households by:Increasing the state pension by around £460 for over 12 million pensioners in April, because of our commitment to protect the triple lock.Delivering the £150 Warm Home Discount for low-income households and providing £421 million to extend the Household Support Fund.We are encouraging pensioners to check their eligibility for Pension Credit to ensure as many people as possible have access to support they’re entitled to. We have seen a 152% increase in claims since announcement.An equality assessment was published by DWP on the 13th of September.