Written questions by Duncan-Jordan.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a maximum number of appointments each GP can undertake in one day.

We hugely value the critical role that general practitioners (GPs) play, and GPs are delivering more appointments than ever before. No evaluation has been conducted to determine the merits of introducing a maximum number of appointments each GP can undertake. GPs are independent businesses who are contracted by National Health Service commissioners to perform essential medical services. As a result, individual practices are responsible for the daily operations of their business outside of their contractual obligations, including determining the number of clinics and appointments offered to patients. This is because each practice is best placed to understand their own workforce and workloads.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of publishing a National Carers Strategy.

This Government is committed to ensuring that families have the support that they need. The Government has heard the calls for a National Carers Strategy. This must be addressed in the wider context of the urgent need for a renewed vision for adult social care.As part of that renewed vision, we will consider how best to support unpaid carers. As we move forward, we will collaborate with our counterparts across Government, unpaid carers, and sector partners, to make sure that unpaid carers are visible, valued, and supported.

If he will make it his policy to implement the recommendations of Blood Cancer UK's Action Plan.

It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including blood cancer, as quickly as possible to treat it faster and to improve outcomes. This is supported by NHS England’s key ambition on cancer to meet the Faster Diagnosis Standard, which sets a target of 28 days from urgent referral by a general practitioner or screening programme to patients being told that they have cancer, or that cancer is ruled out.The Department is committed to implementing the recommendations of the Lord O'Shaughnessy review into commercial clinical trials making sure that the United Kingdom leads the world in clinical trials, and to ensure that innovative, lifesaving treatments are accessible to NHS patients, including those with blood cancer.Professor Lord Darzi has undertaken an independent investigation into the state of the NHS, the findings of which will feed into the Government’s 10-year plan to build a health service that is fit for the future. The Government will therefore set out any further priorities on cancer and health in due course.I would be happy to meet the Hon. member to discuss the Blood Cancer UK Action Plan.

What steps he is taking to help improve NHS health and social care services.

We have made it our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future. We aim to shorten the time people spend in ill health, reduce health inequalities, and support economic growth.Reform is at the heart of this mission and will be delivered by the upcoming 10 Year Plan for Health. We will shift our NHS away from a model focussed on delivering healthcare in hospital, to one which delivers more care in local communities, effectively utilises digital approaches and prioritises prevention over treatment.We are also committed to building consensus on the long-term reform needed to create a National Care Service based on consistent national standards. We will set out next steps for a process that engages with adult social care stakeholders, including cross-party and people with lived experience of care.

What steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of sunscreen to help prevent (a) melanoma and (b) other skin cancers.

The Department would advise people to the follow the National Health Service guidance on using sunscreen. This advice is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/