Written questions by Robertson.

When he plans to publish data collected by his Department on the use of corridor care.

The provision of clinical care in corridors is unacceptable, and we are committed to ending its practice in the National Health Service. Furthermore, our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26 commits to publishing data on the prevalence of corridor care for the first time.NHS England has been working with trusts to put in place new reporting arrangements regarding the use of corridor care to drive improvement and data transparency. The data quality is currently being reviewed, and we expect to publish the information shortly.We are introducing new clinical operational standards for the first 72 hours of care, setting clear expectations for timely reviews and specialist input, further supporting our efforts to eliminate corridor care and improve patient experience.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact on the roll-out of Best Start Family Hubs and wider neighbourhood health integration if local authorities without existing Start for Life funding are unable to establish core services.

Delivering integrated, joined-up health, education, and family support is at the heart of our ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.Healthy Babies, formerly Start for Life, funding is helping families during the critical 1,001 days, and as a result parents have said they are more confident in feeding their babies and have better perinatal mental health because of this support. We continue to assess how we can best support early-years service integration across the country and remain committed to working with delivery partners locally to achieve this.Healthy Babies is one element of our broader commitment to supporting babies, children and families. From April 2026, Best Start Family Hubs will expand to every single local authority, backed by over £500 million to reach up to half a million more children and families. This funding will help all local authorities to integrate a range of statutory and non-statutory health and family services.Best Start Family Hubs will form part of the architecture of the Neighbourhood Health Service. Through the shifts from hospital to community and treatment to prevention, we will further strengthen integration and join-up of services, helping to ensure that babies and their families can get the support they need, when and where they need it.

What recent discussions he has had with local authorities about the funding of hospice services, including those providing end-of-life care for dementia patients.

The Department has not had any recent discussions with local authorities about the funding of hospice services.Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications. The statutory guidance states that ICBs must work to ensure that there is sufficient provision of care services to meet the needs of their local populations, which can include hospice services available within the ICB catchment.Local authorities don't have direct responsibility for end of life care. However, statutory guidance encourages local authorities to prioritise integration activity in areas where there is evidence that effective integration of services materially improves people’s wellbeing, for example, end of life care.As the majority of hospices are independent charitable organisations, neither the Government nor NHS England collect data on their financial accounts. As such, we do not hold data on the proportion of the total income that hospices receive that is provided by central Government.In December 2024, we announced a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices in England. We are pleased to say that this capital funding has just been increased by a further £25 million. The Government will consider contracting and commissioning as part of developing the forthcoming Palliative Care and End of Life Care Modern Service Framework for England. We recognise that there is currently a mix of contracting models in the hospice sector. By supporting ICBs to commission more strategically, we can move away from grant and block contract models. In the long term, this will aid sustainability and help hospices’ ability to plan ahead.

What proportion of hospice funding for dementia end-of-life care is provided by central government and local authorities; and whether he plans to increase statutory funding for hospices.

The Department has not had any recent discussions with local authorities about the funding of hospice services.Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications. The statutory guidance states that ICBs must work to ensure that there is sufficient provision of care services to meet the needs of their local populations, which can include hospice services available within the ICB catchment.Local authorities don't have direct responsibility for end of life care. However, statutory guidance encourages local authorities to prioritise integration activity in areas where there is evidence that effective integration of services materially improves people’s wellbeing, for example, end of life care.As the majority of hospices are independent charitable organisations, neither the Government nor NHS England collect data on their financial accounts. As such, we do not hold data on the proportion of the total income that hospices receive that is provided by central Government.In December 2024, we announced a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices in England. We are pleased to say that this capital funding has just been increased by a further £25 million. The Government will consider contracting and commissioning as part of developing the forthcoming Palliative Care and End of Life Care Modern Service Framework for England. We recognise that there is currently a mix of contracting models in the hospice sector. By supporting ICBs to commission more strategically, we can move away from grant and block contract models. In the long term, this will aid sustainability and help hospices’ ability to plan ahead.

How many NICE appraisals were terminated in the five-year period from 2019 to 2024, and how this compares with the preceding five-year period.

The following table shows the number of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) appraisals that were terminated between 2019 and 2024, and between 2014 and 2019:PeriodNumber of terminated appraisalsTerminated appraisals as a percentage of total appraisals2019 to 20248219%2014 to 2019267%Source: NICE.NICE data shows that terminated appraisals increased in 2019/20 and stabilised with no increasing trend thereafter. This followed NICE’s 2019 commitment to review all new active substances and significant indications. This required industry to submit topics which might otherwise not have been in NICE's work programme. NICE’s data shows that the proportion of terminations has been stable over the last five years, and that terminations reflect that not all products/indications will likely be clinically and cost effective. NICE will continue to monitor terminations with a view to best continuing to support access to clinically and cost-effective medicines for patients in England.

What assessment he has made of the impact of Activity Management Plans issued by NHS Integrated Care Boards on the commitment made in the NHS/Independent Sector Partnership Agreement signed in January 2025 to enable increased independent sector elective activity to reduce waiting times.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) have existing contractual powers to manage activity by providers, which were enhanced in 2025/26 with central support for setting and managing activity. The NHS Standard Contract includes the ability to set Indicative Activity Plans (IAPs) to help providers and commissioners plan demand, capacity, and expenditure. While not binding, if activity exceeds the agreed plan, and therefore the funding agreed, an Activity Management Plan (AMP) can be agreed to bring activity back in line.The provision and use of IAPs and AMPs is designed to deliver the activity levels required to achieve the goal of at least 65% of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks for treatment by March 2026 whilst also living within financial budgets set for 2025/26.Any planning assumptions based on waiting times need to support commissioners’ overall duties to the populations they serve and our waiting time targets, including our commitment to return to the 18-week standard. AMPs allow commissioners and providers to work together to manage elective activity within agreed performance and financial targets, all whilst working towards improving patient waiting times overall. Patients have a legal right to choose where they go for their first appointment when referred to consultant-led care as an outpatient. ICBs are responsible for ensuring that their processes comply with the legal right to choose. Since the publication of the Partnership Agreement in January 2025, the independent sector has delivered approximately 200,000 additional treatments compared to the same period last year.

What assessment he has made of Activity Management Plans issued by NHS Integrated Care Boards and their impact on the NHS’ adherence with its constitutional access standards and patient choice rules.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) have existing contractual powers to manage activity by providers, which were enhanced in 2025/26 with central support for setting and managing activity. The NHS Standard Contract includes the ability to set Indicative Activity Plans (IAPs) to help providers and commissioners plan demand, capacity, and expenditure. While not binding, if activity exceeds the agreed plan, and therefore the funding agreed, an Activity Management Plan (AMP) can be agreed to bring activity back in line.The provision and use of IAPs and AMPs is designed to deliver the activity levels required to achieve the goal of at least 65% of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks for treatment by March 2026 whilst also living within financial budgets set for 2025/26.Any planning assumptions based on waiting times need to support commissioners’ overall duties to the populations they serve and our waiting time targets, including our commitment to return to the 18-week standard. AMPs allow commissioners and providers to work together to manage elective activity within agreed performance and financial targets, all whilst working towards improving patient waiting times overall. Patients have a legal right to choose where they go for their first appointment when referred to consultant-led care as an outpatient. ICBs are responsible for ensuring that their processes comply with the legal right to choose. Since the publication of the Partnership Agreement in January 2025, the independent sector has delivered approximately 200,000 additional treatments compared to the same period last year.

How many NICE positive recommendations in each year since 2023 were issued as optimised decisions; and what proportion of the eligible patient population was able to access those medicines on the NHS.

The following table shows the number of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations since 2023 that have been issued as optimised decisions:YearNumberPercentage of all publications excluding terminations2023/243748%2024/253343%2025/262144%Source: NICENotes:the data for 2025/26 is for the year so far; anddata includes all Cancer Drugs Fund and Innovative Medicines Fund recommendations.The Government does not hold data on the proportion of the eligible patient population able to access those medicines on the National Health Service. Some data may be available via the innovation scorecard and estimates report, available at the following link:https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiOWVkZmY1MDEtOWQzMS00YzU1LWJkZmYtMTc2NGQ2MTZkYjc2IiwidCI6ImNmNmQwNDgyLTg2YjEtNGY4OC04YzBjLTNiNGRlNGNiNDAyYyJ9This is a publication which reports on the use of medicines and medicine groupings in the NHS in England which have been positively appraised by NICE, including some NICE optimised decisions.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of implementing the recommendations in the National Audit Office’s report entitled Costs of clinical negligence, published on 17 October 2025.

We welcome the report by the National Audit Office (NAO) entitled Costs of clinical negligence. As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan for England, David Lock KC is providing expert policy advice on the rising legal costs of clinical negligence and how we can improve patients’ experience of claims. The review is ongoing, following initial advice to ministers and the recent NAO report.The results of David Lock’s work will inform future policymaking in this area. No decisions on policy have been taken at this point, and the Government will provide an update on the work done and next steps, in due course.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the level of legal costs associated with lower value clinical negligence claims.

We welcome the report by the National Audit Office (NAO) entitled Costs of clinical negligence. As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan for England, David Lock KC is providing expert policy advice on the rising legal costs of clinical negligence and how we can improve patients’ experience of claims. The review is ongoing, following initial advice to ministers and the recent NAO report.The results of David Lock’s work will inform future policymaking in this area. No decisions on policy have been taken at this point, and the Government will provide an update on the work done and next steps, in due course.

If he will publish the findings of David Lock KC’s review into clinical negligence costs.

We welcome the report by the National Audit Office (NAO) entitled Costs of clinical negligence. As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan for England, David Lock KC is providing expert policy advice on the rising legal costs of clinical negligence and how we can improve patients’ experience of claims. The review is ongoing, following initial advice to ministers and the recent NAO report.The results of David Lock’s work will inform future policymaking in this area. No decisions on policy have been taken at this point, and the Government will provide an update on the work done and next steps, in due course.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of implementing the recommendations in the APPG on Pharmacy’s report entitled The Future of Community Pharmacy in England, published in November 2025.

I am grateful to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Pharmacy for its report. I agree that pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system and recognise the challenges the sector faces. The Department will consider the recommendations set out by the report, some of which overlap with commitments already set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, such as introducing an independent prescribing service in community pharmacy.For 2025/26, funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework was increased to £3.1 billion. This represented the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service at the time, over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26. As is custom and practice, the Department will consult Community Pharmacy England on any proposed or future changes to reimbursement and remuneration of pharmacy contractors.

Whether he plans to increase funding for community pharmacies; and whether there are plans for a long-term, inflation-linked funding settlement for the sector.

I am grateful to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Pharmacy for its report. I agree that pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system and recognise the challenges the sector faces. The Department will consider the recommendations set out by the report, some of which overlap with commitments already set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, such as introducing an independent prescribing service in community pharmacy.For 2025/26, funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework was increased to £3.1 billion. This represented the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service at the time, over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26. As is custom and practice, the Department will consult Community Pharmacy England on any proposed or future changes to reimbursement and remuneration of pharmacy contractors.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of banning cigarette filters on smoking prevalence.

We are not aware of clear evidence to show that a ban on filters would lead to reductions in smoking rates. We are confident the best way to protect people’s health is to reduce the prevalence of smoking. That is why we are taking decisive action through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to create a smoke-free generation alongside continuing with evidence-based approaches to supporting smokers to quit. We therefore have no current plans to ban cigarette filters.

What support his department is making available for trusts to help reduce bed occupancy to the RCEM recommended level of 85% occupancy.

As part of our winter preparations, we are asking trusts to place a special focus on reducing bed occupancy ahead of Christmas, creating additional capacity and improving patient flow.The Urgent and Emergency Care plan, published in July, focuses on those improvements that will see the biggest impact on urgent and emergency care (UEC) performance this winter and on making UEC better every day. The plan is backed by almost £450 million of capital investment for Same Day Emergency Care, Mental Health Crisis Assessment Centres, and new ambulances, avoiding unnecessary admissions to hospital and supporting the diagnosis, treatment, and discharge on the same day for patients. The plan supports a permanent shift in how we manage demand and patient flow.

With reference to the latest report on Corridor Care from the APPG on Emergency Care, what plans his department has to tackle delayed discharges.

The Government recognises that delayed discharges contribute to shortages of hospital beds and is committed to reducing delayed discharges to free up beds for those who need them.The 2025/26 Urgent and Emergency Care plan prioritises reducing hospital discharge delays. Hospitals must eliminate in-hospital delays of over 48 hours and work with local authorities to address the longest delays, starting with those exceeding 21 days.For 2025/26, approximately £9 billion is being provided through the Better Care Fund (BCF), which requires the National Health Service and local authorities to set joint goals for improving discharge performance and preventing unnecessary admissions. From 2026/27, the BCF will be reformed to provide consistent joint funding for key services such as discharge, rehabilitation, and reablement.

Whether his department will put in place constitutional standards for hospital discharges.

There are no immediate plans to introduce additional constitutional standards at this time, including for the timeliness of discharge from hospital.However, the Urgent and Emergency Care plan for 2025/26 set as a priority that hospitals should tackle the delays in patients waiting to be discharged. They should profile discharges by pathway to support local planning, eliminate discharge delays of more than 48 hours caused by in-hospital issues, and work with local authorities to tackle the longest delays, starting with those over 21 days.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the early flu season on corridor care, hospital capacity, and patient outcomes.

The Department is continuing to take key steps to ensure the health service is prepared for the colder months. This includes taking actions to try and reduce demand pressure on accident and emergency, increasing vaccination rates, and offering health checks to the most vulnerable, as well as stress-testing integrated care boards and trust winter plans to ensure they are able to meet demand and ensure patient flow. Ministers meet every week on winter and consider flu levels as part of this.Flu is a recurring pressure that the NHS faces every winter. There is particular risk of severe illness for older people, the very young, pregnant, and those with certain underlying health conditions. The flu vaccine remains the best form of defense against influenza, particularly for the most vulnerable, and continues to be highly effective at preventing severe disease and hospitalisation.

What his policy is on the banning of cigarette filters, in the context of the upcoming eleventh Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

We are confident that the best way to tackle tobacco litter and to protect people’s health is to reduce the prevalence of smoking. That is why we are taking decisive action through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to create a smoke-free generation alongside continuing with evidence-based approaches to supporting smokers to quit. We therefore have no current plans to ban cigarette filters.

If he will take steps to issue guidance to NHS Trusts to discourage them from supporting City of Sanctuary.

There are no plans to issue guidance on this matter. National Health Service organisations are required to use their resources in the interests of patients and to secure value for money for taxpayers.