Written questions by Newbury.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of routine sperm health testing as an indicator of wider physiological health conditions.

The Government is committed to putting patients first. This means making sure that patients are seen on time and ensuring that people have the best possible experience during their care. We are committed to transforming diagnostic services and will support the National Health Service to increase diagnostic capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services.The 2025 Spending Review confirmed over £6 billion in additional capital investment over five years across new diagnostic, elective, and urgent care capacity. Further details and allocations will be set out in due course.No assessment has been made of the potential merits of routine sperm health testing as an indicator of wider physiological health conditions.All people undergoing fertility treatment in a United Kingdom licenced fertility clinic must, by law, be offered a suitable opportunity for counselling before they begin treatment. Further information can be found on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology website, at the following link:https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/explore-all-treatments/getting-emotional-support/

What steps he is taking to improve access to mental health support for people undergoing fertility treatment.

The Government is committed to putting patients first. This means making sure that patients are seen on time and ensuring that people have the best possible experience during their care. We are committed to transforming diagnostic services and will support the National Health Service to increase diagnostic capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services.The 2025 Spending Review confirmed over £6 billion in additional capital investment over five years across new diagnostic, elective, and urgent care capacity. Further details and allocations will be set out in due course.No assessment has been made of the potential merits of routine sperm health testing as an indicator of wider physiological health conditions.All people undergoing fertility treatment in a United Kingdom licenced fertility clinic must, by law, be offered a suitable opportunity for counselling before they begin treatment. Further information can be found on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology website, at the following link:https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/explore-all-treatments/getting-emotional-support/

What steps he is taking to ensure that men accessing fertility services are routinely offered comprehensive diagnostic testing.

The Government is committed to putting patients first. This means making sure that patients are seen on time and ensuring that people have the best possible experience during their care. We are committed to transforming diagnostic services and will support the National Health Service to increase diagnostic capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services.The 2025 Spending Review confirmed over £6 billion in additional capital investment over five years across new diagnostic, elective, and urgent care capacity. Further details and allocations will be set out in due course.No assessment has been made of the potential merits of routine sperm health testing as an indicator of wider physiological health conditions.All people undergoing fertility treatment in a United Kingdom licenced fertility clinic must, by law, be offered a suitable opportunity for counselling before they begin treatment. Further information can be found on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology website, at the following link:https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/explore-all-treatments/getting-emotional-support/

Whether he has had discussions with private fertility clinics on their profit levels.

No such discussions have taken place with private fertility clinics.The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is the UK-wide regulator for fertility treatment but has no powers over the commissioning of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or the cost of fertility treatment. All fertility clinics are free to set their own costs.The Competition and Markets Authority produced guidance for patients and clinics explaining more about the costs of fertility treatment. It states that costs should be clearly set out to a patient before starting treatment, in order to comply with consumer law. More information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fertility-clinics-compliance-with-consumer-law-findings-published

What recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the performance of NHS-commissioned fertility clinics.

The Government recognises that fertility treatment across the National Health Service in England is subject to variation in access. Work continues between the Department and NHS England to better understand NHS-funded fertility services and the effectiveness of these services.All fertility clinics offering licensed fertility treatment are regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and must comply with related legislation and guidance. All licensed clinics must be physically inspected every two years to assess their compliance with the law and guidance and inspections ensure the clinic’s services are up to standard. The success rates of HFEA-licensed clinics are published by the HFEA.Following each inspection, a report identifying both areas of good practice and those that require improvement is presented to a separate licensing committee, to review and make a final decision. The report and committee decision is then published on the HFEA website, on the clinic’s individual Choose a Fertility Clinic webpage, available at the following link:https://www.hfea.gov.uk/choose-a-clinic/clinic-search/The HFEA publishes an annual snapshot of regulatory work for the year. The most recent report is available at the following link:https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/publications/research-and-data/state-of-the-fertility-sector-2023-2024/

What proportion of vehicles rented by his Department are electric vehicles.

None of the 14 vehicles hired by the Department during the 2023/24 financial year were fully electric. The Department is setting up a vehicle hire contract with a new supplier that will increase the availability of electric hire vehicles for staff.

If he will introduce mandatory labelling on alcoholic drinks with information for consumers on (a) ingredients, (b) calories and (c) sugar content.

The Government is committed to building a National Health Service fit for the future, with a greater emphasis on the prevention of avoidable health harms, supporting people to live well for longer. The Department will continue to work across Government to determine the best ways to reduce alcohol-related harms.The Department commissioned a National Institute for Health and Care Research study on understanding the impact of alcohol calorie labelling on alcohol and calorie selection, purchasing, and consumption. This study is underway and due to end in 2026.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the planned increase in meat inspection charges by the Food Standards Agency on smaller abattoirs.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has calculated annual charge rates for controls conducted in meat premises in 2025/26 for England and Wales and has indicated that charges will continue to be offset by a taxpayer-funded discount scheme in that financial year. As in previous years it is the FSA’s intention that the discount for 2025/26 will provide the greatest proportional support to smaller businesses. The FSA is engaging with industry representative bodies on the charge rates and full details of these will be communicated to stakeholders and published on the FSA website at the end of February 2025. A separate exercise is being conducted in relation to Northern Ireland.

What steps his Department is taking to help support people with type 1 diabetes with disordered eating in (a) Staffordshire and (b) other areas that are not included in the pilot scheme.

To support improved treatment and care for people with type 1 diabetes with disordered eating (T1DE) across the National Health Service, NHS England will:- provide another year of funding for the five T1DE pilot sites, up to March 2026, to ensure sufficient patient numbers to support evaluation;- review the pilot evaluation findings to inform future national strategy;- seek additional national investment for T1DE treatment and care through the multi-year Spending Review, from 2026 to 2030;- share pilot evaluation findings with all integrated care boards (ICBs) and make the case for local investment in T1DE from ICB baseline budgets, including support with potential commissioning approaches, which will be important if further national funding is not secured, and reflective of the fact that treating the consequences of T1DE is already a cost being funded by all ICBs, with the opportunity to improve both treatment and care and reduce activity and costs if the right care model and commissioning arrangements can be agreed; and- share evidence with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and collaborate with a range of partner organisations on providing wider support for the NHS on T1DE. In addition, each of the five new pilot areas is submitting quarterly data to the evaluation. The analysis of this data is to be included in a final evaluation report which NHS England expects to be able to publish, once complete, in September 2025.In Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent there are structured education programmes for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. All patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are invited to join the programme, along with any carers they may have.The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB was not part of the T1DE pilot project funded by NHS England. The ICB will work with NHS colleagues to build upon the outcomes from the T1DE pilot.

Whether his Department plans to publish the outcomes of NHS England trials of bespoke services for patients with type 1 diabetes with disordered eating.

To support improved treatment and care for people with type 1 diabetes with disordered eating (T1DE) across the National Health Service, NHS England will:- provide another year of funding for the five T1DE pilot sites, up to March 2026, to ensure sufficient patient numbers to support evaluation;- review the pilot evaluation findings to inform future national strategy;- seek additional national investment for T1DE treatment and care through the multi-year Spending Review, from 2026 to 2030;- share pilot evaluation findings with all integrated care boards (ICBs) and make the case for local investment in T1DE from ICB baseline budgets, including support with potential commissioning approaches, which will be important if further national funding is not secured, and reflective of the fact that treating the consequences of T1DE is already a cost being funded by all ICBs, with the opportunity to improve both treatment and care and reduce activity and costs if the right care model and commissioning arrangements can be agreed; and- share evidence with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and collaborate with a range of partner organisations on providing wider support for the NHS on T1DE. In addition, each of the five new pilot areas is submitting quarterly data to the evaluation. The analysis of this data is to be included in a final evaluation report which NHS England expects to be able to publish, once complete, in September 2025.In Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent there are structured education programmes for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. All patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are invited to join the programme, along with any carers they may have.The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB was not part of the T1DE pilot project funded by NHS England. The ICB will work with NHS colleagues to build upon the outcomes from the T1DE pilot.

What assessment his Department has made of the length of time taken to provide equipment for children with disabilities.

The integrated care boards (ICBs) in England are responsible for commissioning services to meet the health needs of their local population. NHS England Specialised Commissioning commissions complex disability equipment services, including communication aids, environmental controls, and prosthetics.We expect ICBs to follow guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). In 2022, NICE published the guidance, Disabled children and young people up to 25 with severe complex needs: integrated service delivery and organisation across health, social care and education, which is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng213/chapter/Recommendations-on-service-organisation-integration-and-commissioningThe Children and Families Act 2014 requires that education, health, and social care services must work together to meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).Local authorities are responsible for providing social care services for disabled children, which can include specialist equipment. The guidance on supporting disabled children and their carers is available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/669e7501ab418ab055592a7b/Working_together_to_safeguard_children_2023.pdfFurther guidance on the roles and responsibilities of different organisations in meeting the needs of children with SEND can be found in the SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25Since July 2015, NHS England has collected data quarterly from clinical commissioning groups, now ICBs, on wheelchair provision. This data looks at waiting times across the pathway to enable targeted action if improvement is required. NHS England is taking several steps to reduce regional variation in the quality and provision of National Health Service wheelchairs, and to support ICBs to reduce delays in people receiving timely intervention and wheelchair equipment.Data on the length of time taken to provide other equipment for disabled children is not collected centrally.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that children with disabilities receive equipment in a timely manner.

The integrated care boards (ICBs) in England are responsible for commissioning services to meet the health needs of their local population. NHS England Specialised Commissioning commissions complex disability equipment services, including communication aids, environmental controls, and prosthetics.We expect ICBs to follow guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). In 2022, NICE published the guidance, Disabled children and young people up to 25 with severe complex needs: integrated service delivery and organisation across health, social care and education, which is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng213/chapter/Recommendations-on-service-organisation-integration-and-commissioningThe Children and Families Act 2014 requires that education, health, and social care services must work together to meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).Local authorities are responsible for providing social care services for disabled children, which can include specialist equipment. The guidance on supporting disabled children and their carers is available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/669e7501ab418ab055592a7b/Working_together_to_safeguard_children_2023.pdfFurther guidance on the roles and responsibilities of different organisations in meeting the needs of children with SEND can be found in the SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25Since July 2015, NHS England has collected data quarterly from clinical commissioning groups, now ICBs, on wheelchair provision. This data looks at waiting times across the pathway to enable targeted action if improvement is required. NHS England is taking several steps to reduce regional variation in the quality and provision of National Health Service wheelchairs, and to support ICBs to reduce delays in people receiving timely intervention and wheelchair equipment.Data on the length of time taken to provide other equipment for disabled children is not collected centrally.

If his Department will take steps to issue guidance on the (a) roles and (b) responsibilities of (i) health, (ii) education, (iii) social care, (iv) education services and (v) the charitable sector for the provision of specialist equipment for disabled children.

The integrated care boards (ICBs) in England are responsible for commissioning services to meet the health needs of their local population. NHS England Specialised Commissioning commissions complex disability equipment services, including communication aids, environmental controls, and prosthetics.We expect ICBs to follow guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). In 2022, NICE published the guidance, Disabled children and young people up to 25 with severe complex needs: integrated service delivery and organisation across health, social care and education, which is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng213/chapter/Recommendations-on-service-organisation-integration-and-commissioningThe Children and Families Act 2014 requires that education, health, and social care services must work together to meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).Local authorities are responsible for providing social care services for disabled children, which can include specialist equipment. The guidance on supporting disabled children and their carers is available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/669e7501ab418ab055592a7b/Working_together_to_safeguard_children_2023.pdfFurther guidance on the roles and responsibilities of different organisations in meeting the needs of children with SEND can be found in the SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25Since July 2015, NHS England has collected data quarterly from clinical commissioning groups, now ICBs, on wheelchair provision. This data looks at waiting times across the pathway to enable targeted action if improvement is required. NHS England is taking several steps to reduce regional variation in the quality and provision of National Health Service wheelchairs, and to support ICBs to reduce delays in people receiving timely intervention and wheelchair equipment.Data on the length of time taken to provide other equipment for disabled children is not collected centrally.

Whether his Department will take steps to work with the Lead Ministers for Disability to help ensure disabled children receive specialist equipment in a timely manner.

On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024, the Minister for Social Security and Disability announced new Lead Ministers for Disability in every Government department. I am the Lead Minister for Disability for the Department of Health and Social Care.The Lead Ministers for Disability will break down barriers to opportunity across the Government’s long-term missions. They will meet regularly to make sure that the Government is delivering on the commitment to put the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of everything we do, right across every department.The Government is committed to ensuring that all children, including children with special educational needs and disability, receive the support they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives. The Department of Health and Social Care continues to work closely with NHS England and the Department for Education to achieve this.

How much was lost to fraud in the NHS in each of the last five years.

The following table shows fraud losses in the National Health Service in England, for each of the last five years:YearFraud loss2019/20£17,400,0002020/21£12,400,0002021/22£20,700,0002022/23£26,400,0002023/24£24,200,000Source: NHS Counter Fraud Authority Consolidated Data Report.Notes:figures shown in this table are gross losses that do not include monies subsequently recovered as a result of loss recovery activity; andfigures shown relate to cases closed in the relevant year.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of single-use items used by the National Health Service.

As set out in the Delivering a Net Zero National Health Service report, published in October 2020, the NHS is committed to reducing its environmental impact, including by increasing the reuse and recycling of medical equipment. This report is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/wp-content/uploads/sites/51/2022/07/B1728-delivering-a-net-zero-nhs-july-2022.pdfIn October 2024, the Government published the Design for Life roadmap, a new strategy to transition away from all avoidable single-use medical technology products towards a functioning circular system by 2045. This roadmap is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/design-for-life-roadmapThe programme is expected to support the NHS by improving resilience, reducing waste, delivering cost savings, and achieving the NHS commitment to be net zero by 2045. The Design for Life roadmap provides examples of where NHS organisations are already achieving cost, waste, and carbon savings through reusing, remanufacturing, and recycling medical devices and equipment, in line with their local Green Plans.In addition, NHS England collaborates with NHS Supply Chain to increase the availability of reusable products, and supports local NHS organisations to use more reusable medical devices and products, where it is safe to do so. For example, NHS England supported the Royal Surgical Colleges to develop the evidence-based Green Theatre Checklist to encourage sustainable theatre approaches, including promoting the use of reusable or remanufactured equipment, where appropriate. Further information on the checklist is available at the following link:https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcsed.ac.uk%2Fprofessional-support-development-resources%2Fenvironmental-sustainability-and-surgery%2Fgreen-theatre-Additionally, NHS England is supporting innovation through the Small Business Research Initiative Healthcare programme, which has funded a project to support reuse of surgical textiles, with further information available at the following link:https://sbrihealthcare.co.uk/impact-case-studies/case-studies/revolution-zero

What steps he is taking to increase the number of qualified pharmacists working in (a) community pharmacy, (b) general practice, (c) hospitals and (d) mental health services.

The Government will make sure the National Health Service has the staff it needs to be there for all of us when we need it and reform the way we deliver care, so more care is delivered in the community.NHS England and the General Pharmaceutical Council have been working with education providers to increase pharmacy training places. Recent announcements include the establishment of new schools of pharmacy at Plymouth University, Teesside University, and the University of Leicester, which will improve training opportunities and build resilience across all pharmacy settings.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of general practice capacity in the Cannock Chase constituency.

We know that patients are finding it harder than ever to see a general practitioner (GP). This was highlighted in Lord Darzi’s review, and we are committed to fixing this crisis in GPs.Our plan to increase the number of GP appointments delivered will require both investment and reform. We have already invested £82 million to recruit over 1,000 newly qualified GPs through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme. This will increase the number of appointments delivered in GPs and take pressure off those currently working in the system. We will also train thousands more GPs, securing the future of the workforce, and will end the 8:00am scramble for GP appointments by introducing a modern booking system.Cannock Chase sits within the NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board, where 486,000 appointments were delivered in August 2024. In August 2023, they delivered 507,000 appointments. This is a decrease of 4.3%.

What steps he is taking to help ensure areas with high levels of housebuilding have adequate capacity in (a) general practice and (b) dentistry.

The Government recognises the challenges facing areas of significant housing and population growth. We understand the pressure such growth can place on primary care infrastructure. While we have big ambitions to further boost house building, we recognise it must be sensitive to local needs. The Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) are currently analysing the results from a recent consultation on making changes to the National Planning Policy Framework to make sure better account is taken of local healthcare infrastructure requirements. Also, additional capital funding for ICSs and GP Practices to meet increased demand as a result of housing developments in their locality may be available through Section 106 (s106) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended), or the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including general practice and NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) across England. For Cannock Chase constituency, this is NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB.The NHS has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient medical services – including general practice – in each local area, with funding and commissioning reflecting population growth and demographic changes. The National Health Service (NHS) contracts with independent dental providers to deliver NHS dental treatment in primary care settings. NHS England and ICBs across England work together to ensure that patients have access to the dental care they need. This includes an assessment to identify potential gaps in NHS dental service provision and to consider what actions may be required.

How much and what proportion of funding available through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme has been spent on mental health practitioners since 2019.

Funding available through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) for mental health practitioners accounts for 50% of the costs of these roles, with the other 50% provided by mental health trusts. Mental health practitioners were not introduced into the ARRS until 2021/22. The following table shows the spend on mental health practitioners through the ARRS, and that spend as a proportion of overall ARRS funding, for 2021/22 to 2023/24:YearMental health practitioner spend through the ARRSProportion of overall ARRS funding2021/22£3,402,0000.5%2022/23£18,281,0001.8%2023/24£31,000,0002.2%