Written questions by Shannon.

What estimate he has made of the number of deaths in the UK linked to the consumption of ultra-processed foods.

Scientific risk assessment and the United Kingdom’s dietary recommendations are based on robust independent risk assessments by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).No specific assessment has been made of the number of deaths in the UK linked to the consumption of ultra-processed foods. However, the SACN has considered the impact of processed foods on health more generally in position statements published in 2023 and 2025.The SACN has concluded that the observed associations between higher consumption of processed and ultra processed foods and adverse health outcomes, including morbidity and mortality, are concerning.The SACN recommended that on balance, most people are likely to benefit from reducing their consumption of processed foods high in energy, saturated fat, salt, and free sugars, and which are low in fibre. This is based on the nutrient content of many ultra processed foods and concerns raised in relation to health.The SACN will continue to keep the topic under review.

If he will take steps to ensure the RSV vaccine is free of charge for people over 80.

In line with independent expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programmes were introduced in England in September 2024 to protect infants, via maternal vaccination, and older adults at the greatest risk of harm from RSV infection. The routine RSV programme for older adults offers vaccination to those turning 75 years old on or after 1 September 2024, alongside a catch-up programme to vaccinate those aged between 75 and 79 years old on 1 September 2024. These individuals will remain eligible until the day before their 80th birthday, except for people who turn 80 years old in the first year, who have until 31 August 2025 to get vaccinated.When advising on the introduction of the RSV programmes, the JCVI said that an extension to the initial programmes would be considered when there was more certainty about protection for patients at higher risk of severe illness from RSV, including people aged 80 years old and older, and the real-world impact of the programme for 75 to 80 year olds.At its October 2024 main committee meeting, the JCVI agreed that it would need to formally review the evidence for a potential extension to the programme for people aged 80 years old and older, and for those in clinical risk groups. During the main committee meeting of 5 February 2025, the JCVI noted that it planned further discussions on potential advice towards extending the programme to those over 80 years of age. The minutes from JCVI meetings are publicly available online, at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation.The JCVI will continue to review the necessary scientific evidence once it is available, and the Department will consider any further JCVI advice on who should be offered an RSV vaccine in due course.

What progress the NHS has made on the (a) prevention and (b) treatment of breast cancer.

The Government and the National Health Service recognise a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the biggest risk factors of breast cancer. To address risks related to overweight and obesity across the United Kingdom, the Government has laid secondary legislation to restrict advertisements of less healthy food and drink and is taking steps to ensure the Soft Drinks Industry Levy remains effective. In England, to promote physical activity, the NHS’s Better Health Campaign signposts people to digital support like the NHS Active 10 walking app. The Department will continue to work across Government to understand how to reduce alcohol-related harms in England and the UK, including in relation to breast cancer.The NHS in England has made important progress on the treatment of cancer, including breast cancer, delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week to ensure faster treatment for those who need it most. NHS England also funded an audit into primary and metastatic breast cancer to improve treatment. Using routine data collected on patients diagnosed with breast cancer in an NHS setting, the audits bring together information to look at what is being done well, where it is being done well, and what needs to be done better. Findings were published on 12 September 2024 and officials in the Department and NHS England are considering next steps. Further information is available at the following links:https://www.natcan.org.uk/audits/metastatic-breast/https://www.natcan.org.uk/audits/primary-breast/Finally, the National Cancer Plan for England will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology. The plan will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to improve the experience and outcomes for people with cancer, including breast cancer.

What steps he is taking to raise awareness of the symptoms of pneumonia.

NHS England currently has no campaigns designed to raise awareness of the symptoms of pneumonia. The main ‘awareness’ engine of the National Health Service is the NHS website, which holds clear information on pneumonia symptoms, with further information available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pneumonia/The NHS is focusing on protecting those at most risk of pneumonia, including via the provision of pneumococcal vaccines, with further information available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/pneumococcal-vaccine/

What steps he is taking to raise awareness of the uses of different asthma inhalers.

To support the implementation of the updated National Institute for Health and Care Excellence asthma guidelines, NHS England has been engaging with health system partners to coordinate resources and implementation efforts to make sure that patients are on the appropriate treatment regimen, and are using their inhaler at the right time, with the right technique. Updates to patient facing information on asthma management and treatments in line with the updated guidelines are ongoing. For example, the recently published Quality and Outcomes Framework and guidance has been updated to reflect the updated asthma guidelines.The over-prescribing of reliever inhalers amongst people with asthma has seen a steady fall over the past few years. The percentage of patients on the Quality and Outcomes Framework asthma register who received six or more Short Acting Beta-2 Agonist reliever inhaler prescriptions over the previous 12 months fell from 19.8% in April 2022 to 15.9% in February 2025, a percentage change of 19.8%. Further information is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mi-network-contract-des

When the weight loss pill Orforglipron will be available on the NHS.

In the United Kingdom, medicines need to have a licence before they can be marketed. These are granted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Licences confirm the health condition the medicine should be used for and the recommended dosage. To get a licence, the manufacturer of the medicine has to provide evidence which shows that the medicine is safe and effective enough to be used for a specific condition and for a specific group of patients, and that they can manufacture the medicine to the required quality. If the company makes an application for a licence in the UK for orforglipron, it will be evaluated by the MHRA accordingly.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing evidence-based guidance on whether new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of National Health Service resources. The NICE aims wherever possible to issue draft guidance on new medicines close to the time of licensing. The NHS in England is legally required to fund drugs recommended by the NICE, usually within three months of final guidance.

How many people have been diagnosed with rosacea by age since 2016.

This information is not held in the format requested. Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), published by NHS England, provide a count of Finished Admission Episodes with a primary and/or secondary diagnosis of 'Rosacea' by patient age group for each year from 2015/16 to 2024/25. The information is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/services/hospital-episode-statistics

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that people with diabetes have access to free blood glucose kits.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the planning and commissioning of diabetes care. If an individual patient is eligible or deemed suitable for flash, specifically Freestyle Libre, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) or hybrid closed loop (HCL) systems, then a decision is required by the patient’s routine care provider in consultation with their patient.NHS England can confirm over 200,000 eligible people living with diabetes benefit from real-time CGM. However, they are currently unable to differentiate real-time CGM uptake by type 1 and type 2 diabetes populations.Following National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations on access to HCL technology last year, the NICE and NHS England agreed on a phased implementation period for HCL over five-years for people with type 1 diabetes. Therefore, people with type 1 diabetes will be transitioning from CGM to HCL during this five year period.We are developing new reporting systems which are designed to support ICBs to monitor delivery. CGM data for diabetics is now collected as part of the National Diabetes Audit, which suggests that the number of people with type 2 diabetes using CGM is increasing. Metrics that are useful for health systems to monitor access to glucose monitoring will be published later this year.

What steps he is taking to reduce the number of children waiting two years for mental health treatment on the NHS.

We know that too many children and young people are not receiving the mental health care they need and that waits for mental health services are too long. We are determined to change that.Nationally, the Government is providing £7 million of funding to extend support for 24 Early Support Hubs, that have a track record of helping thousands of young people in their community.We will provide access to a specialist mental health professional in every school in England, so that mental health conditions can be identified early on and prevented from developing into more serious conditions in later life. We will also roll out Young Futures Hubs to provide open access mental health support for children and young people.In addition, we plan to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult mental health services in England to ease the pressure on busy mental health services.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the level of ambulance and emergency waiting times in England.

The Government recognises that urgent and emergency care performance has fallen short in recent years and is committed to restoring ambulance response times and accident and emergency waiting times to the National Health Service constitutional standards.A 10-Year Health Plan will be published in the Spring, setting out major NHS reforms, moving healthcare from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention.Additional actions to improve urgent and emergency care performance during 2025/26 will also be set out shortly.

What his plans are for the future (a) scope, (b) role and (c) responsibilities of National Clinical Directors.

NHS England and the Department are strongly supportive of clinical leadership and recognise the critical need to incorporate clinical expertise into our work. The national clinical directors are a key part of this approach and play an important role in policy development and implementation.Ministers and senior Department officials are working with the new executive team in NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to determine the leadership, structure, and requirements needed to support the creation of a new centre for health and care. As part of this process, we are carefully considering the future role of national clinical directors. While no specific decisions have been made yet regarding their scope and responsibilities within the new organisation, their expertise and leadership will continue to be pivotal in shaping the future of healthcare in our country.

Whether he plans to expand the role of National Clinical Directors.

In recent years, the cohort of national clinical directors has expanded and is now supported by an additional cadre of national specialty advisors.Ministers and senior Department officials are working with the new executive team in NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to determine the leadership, structure, and requirements needed to support the creation of a new centre for health and care. As part of this process, we are carefully considering the future role of national clinical directors. While no specific decisions have been made yet regarding their scope and responsibilities within the new organisation, their expertise and leadership will continue to be pivotal in shaping the future of healthcare in our country.

What the (a) role and (b) remit of National Clinical Directors will be following the abolition of NHS England.

Two medical directors have been confirmed in the NHS England transformation executive team. One for secondary care, the other for primary care.Ministers and senior Department officials are working with the new executive team in NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to determine the leadership, structure, and requirements needed to support the creation of a new centre for health and care.

What progress he has made on funding for new research into dementia prevention medication.

The Department delivers dementia research via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR delivers a range of research on dementia prevention, through direct funding of projects as well as investment in wider infrastructure.Research supported by the NIHR’s Oxford Applied Research Collaboration reported that a new shingles vaccine, Shingrex, is protective against dementia. Additional research supported by the NIHR’s Southwest Peninsula Applied Research Collaboration examined health data from over 130 million individuals, and has shown that common medications like anti-inflammatory drugs, antiviral medications, and antibiotics are associated with a reduced risk of people developing dementia.The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including dementia prevention medications. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Welcoming applications on dementia to all NIHR programmes enables maximum flexibility both in terms of the amount of research funding a particular area can be awarded, and the type of research which can be funded.

What steps he is taking to help tackle obesity.

Supporting people to stay healthier for longer is at the heart of the Government’s Health Mission. We face a childhood obesity crisis, and the Government will take action to tackle the root causes of obesity head on, easing the strain on our National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever.We are committed to tackling the obstacles driving obesity. We have already laid secondary legislation to restrict the advertisements of less healthy food and drink to children on television and online, we have announced changes to the planning framework for fast food near schools, and we are taking steps to ensure the Soft Drinks Industry Levy remains effective and fit-for-purpose. We are also committed to banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16 year olds.While prevention will be key to addressing obesity, so is ensuring appropriate treatment is accessible. Over 28% of adults in England are living with obesity and even modest weight loss can benefit health and reduce the risk of developing obesity-related diseases. The NHS and local government provide a range of services to help people living with obesity to manage their weight. These range from 12-week behavioural programmes, including the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme, to specialist services for those living with severe obesity and associated co-morbidities, which can include obesity medicines or surgery.We are also working collaboratively across Government to deliver a resilient food system that promotes health and food security. The Food Strategy will work to provide healthier, more easily accessible food to help people live longer, healthier lives.Further action on obesity under the Government’s Health Mission will be set out in due course.

What steps he is taking to improve cancer testing across the UK.

The Government is focused on reducing waiting times for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in England. The Department has invested approximately £1.5 billion of capital funding in 2025/26 for new surgical hubs and diagnostic scanners, creating capacity for over 30,000 more procedures and 1.25 million diagnostic tests. Furthermore, the National Health Service has hit its pledge early to deliver over two million more elective care appointments.The National Cancer Plan for England will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology. It has the overarching goal to ultimately bring England’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world and provide an NHS that is there when patients need it.

How many people under 50 have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the last 12 months.

Information is not held in the format requested. However, using Hospital Episode Statistics data, the following table shows a count of Finished Admission Episodes (FAEs) for patients under 50 years old with a primary diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, for 2023/24 and provisionally for February 2024 to January 2025:ICD-10 diagnosis codeDescription2023/242024/25J41Simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis2414J42Unspecified chronic bronchitis186183J43Emphysema530551J44Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease3,7273,640J47Bronchiectasis1,7411,834 An FAE is the first period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are typically counted against the year or month in which the admission episode finishes, which is the approach we have used here. Admissions do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the period.

How many registered chiropractors there are in the UK.

The General Chiropractors Council (GCC) is responsible for collecting data on the numbers of chiropractors in the United Kingdom. They publish an annual report which provides the number of chiropractors in the UK, which is available at the following link:https://www.gcc-uk.org/about-us/publicationsIn the GCC 2023 annual report, it states that there were 3,752 chiropractors on the register.

What steps his Department is taking to help tackle regional differences in (a) timely and (b) accurate diagnostic rates for dementia.

We are committed to recovering the dementia diagnosis rate (DDR) to the national ambition of 66.7%, which in England, at the end of February 2025, was 65.4%. To support the implementation of the Dementia Care Pathway, we have developed a memory service dashboard to support commissioners and providers with appropriate data on the diagnostic pathway and enable targeted support where needed.To reduce variation in diagnosis rates, OHID’s Dementia Intelligence Network has developed a tool for local systems, which includes an assessment of population characteristics such as rurality and socio-economic deprivation. This enables systems to investigate local variation in diagnosis and take informed action to enhance their diagnosis rates. The tool has been released and is available via the NHS Futures Collaboration platform.To aid dementia diagnosis and the provision of support in care homes, NHS England funded an evidence-based improvement project to fund two Trusts in each region, which is 14 sites, to pilot the Diagnosing Advanced Dementia Mandate (DiADeM) protocol. Learning is currently being shared and promoted with regional and local partners following an impact assessment of the pilots. The Department delivers dementia research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR funds a range of research into dementia, for example investing nearly £11 million to develop new digital approaches for the early detection and diagnosis of dementia. The NIHR is also partnering with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Alzheimer’s Society to support a £5.5 million investment in four Dementia Network Plus research grants. One of the Networks, EQUADEM, seeks to address inequalities in dementia diagnosis and care.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that new treatments for (a) Alzheimer’s disease and (b) other dementias are made available to people in the UK.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service in England on whether new medicines should be routinely funded, based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. The NICE evaluates all new medicines, including medicines for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and aims to publish guidance for the NHS as close as possible to licensing. The NHS in England is legally required to fund recommended treatments, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance.The NICE and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have piloted enhanced information sharing arrangements for the new disease modifying dementia treatments, which have enabled the organisations to fully align their processes and will enable faster decision making for future treatments that may come to market.To prepare for the new generation of dementia treatments in development, NHS England is working to ensure the diagnostic and treatment capacity, clinical pathway redesign and investment are in place to support the adoption of any new licensed and NICE-recommended treatments as soon as possible.Health is a devolved matter and decisions on the availability of medicines are a matter for the respective devolved administrations.