Written questions by Hudson.

What steps he is taking to strengthen dementia diagnostic pathways.

To support the implementation of the Dementia Care Pathway, NHS England has developed a dashboard. The aim is to support commissioners and providers of memory services with appropriate data and enable targeted support where needed. NHS England has also supported the development of resources for integrated care boards (ICBs), including an integrated care system self-assessment framework, to support the design of integrated dementia pathways. NHS England's RightCare team has refreshed the RightCare Dementia Scenario. The scenario works through the dementia well pathway journey from diagnosing well through to dying well, detailing optimal and sub optimal approaches, with associated costings for each.NHS England is hosting a series of webinars to share best practice in dementia for staff in memory assessment services, primary care, urgent and emergency care, and ICBs. To aid improvement in dementia diagnosis rate performance, NHS England has also initiated a regional delivery group to address variation and enhance diagnosis rates.The Department delivers research into dementia via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR funds a range of research into diagnosing dementia, including investing in two dementia and neurodegeneration Policy Research Units to further boost evidence for policymaking. One of the units is undertaking a project to investigate the United Kingdom’s healthcare system’s readiness for using blood and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers at scale outside of specialist services.The NIHR-funded CONGA trial is also seeking to improve the diagnostic process for dementia, providing more accurate evidence for clinicians and helping patients to get appropriate treatment quickly.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of creating a cross-government strategy to tackle (a) health and (b) lifestyle factors that increase the risk of developing dementia.

As part of the Government’s Health Mission, we will shift from sickness to prevention, to tackle ill health, prevent premature deaths, and build a fairer United Kingdom where everyone lives longer, healthier lives.We have committed to developing a 10-year plan to deliver a National Health Service fit for the future. We will carefully be considering policies, including those that impact people with dementia care needs, with input from the public, patients, and health staff as we develop the plan. The plan is being co-produced with the health and care sector and the public.

What steps his Department is taking to integrate the work of (a) NICE, (b) NHS England, (c) health industry representatives and (d) the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on adopting new dementia treatments.

The Government wants patients to benefit from rapid access to safe and effective new medicines in a way that represents value to the taxpayer. The Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reviews medicinal products for quality, safety and efficacy and if satisfied, will provide an appropriate marketing authorisation or licence for the United Kingdom, detailing the safe use and target population. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. Wherever possible the NICE aims to publish recommendations on new medicines around the time of licensing. With the consent of the marketing authorisation holders, the NICE and the MHRA have piloted enhanced information sharing arrangements for the new disease modifying treatments for dementia. The pilots have enabled the organisations to fully align their processes and announce marketing authorisation decisions and draft recommendations on the same day for the first two licensed disease modifying treatments. The MHRA, the NICE, NHS England, and counterparts in the other UK nations are working closely together to ensure that the NHS is prepared for the rollout of any licensed and NICE-recommended new dementia treatments.

Whether his Department is taking steps to refine the NHS Health Check to better identify dementia brain health risks.

The NHS Health Check raises awareness of the actions people can take to reduce their risk of dementia and, for people aged 65 to 74 years old, the signs and symptoms of dementia, with signposting to memory services where appropriate. The Department will continue to work with NHS England to ensure the advice and guidance on dementia in the NHS Health Check is up to date.

What steps he is taking to help protect older people from health impacts of cold weather.

The UK Health Security Agency publishes the Adverse Weather and Health Plan for England, which sets out a framework for action to protect the population, including the elderly, from harm to their health from adverse weather, including excess cold.With hospitals facing record pressures this winter, we advise elderly and vulnerable people to be careful if heading out in the snow and ice, and to try and keep as warm as possible. We urge people to continue to use NHS 111 if they need advice and support for health conditions, and only use 999 or attend accident and emergency in life-threatening emergencies.The Government is committed to a preventative approach to the public’s health. Keeping people warm and well at home, and improving the quality of new and existing homes, will play an essential part in enabling people to live longer, healthier lives, and thereby reduce pressure on the National Health Service.The 2021 fuel poverty strategy is currently under review. In the meantime, the Government has kickstarted delivery of our Warm Homes Plan, including an initial £1.8 billion to support fuel poverty schemes over the next three years. Support is also available through the Warm Home Discount schemes which provide eligible low-income households across Great Britain with a £150 rebate off their winter energy bill.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to winter fuel payments on hospital admissions of older people in (a) Epping Forest constituency and (b) nationally.

An impact assessment of the cut in winter fuel payments on hospital admissions of older people in Epping Forest and nationally this winter has not been produced. The Government has taken action to ensure low-income households are protected this winter.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of increases in cases of flu on NHS healthcare provision.

During winter there is an increase in hospital admissions from seasonal respiratory conditions such as flu. This can impact hospital occupancy and the flow of patients through hospitals, which in turn impacts on accident and emergency, and ambulance services. Respiratory conditions can also impact the number of staff absences, which can further increase pressure on the provision of health care. This year the number of beds occupied with flu has been higher than last year. The latest data shows there were, on average, 4,693 patients in hospital with flu in the week ending 12 January 2025, above the peak figure of 2,478 reported during winter 2023/24.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure rural and semi-rural communities have access to pharmacies.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for understanding the health needs of their areas and for commissioning services to meet those needs. Local authorities are required to undertake a pharmaceutical needs assessment every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served and must keep these assessments under review. These assessments inform ICBs when reviewing applications for National Health Service pharmacies.The Pharmacy Access Scheme provides additional funding to further support pharmacies in more remote areas. Additionally, in rural areas where there is no pharmacy, general practitioners are permitted to dispense medicines. Patients can also choose to access medicines and pharmacy services through any of the nearly 400 NHS online pharmacies that are contractually required to deliver prescription medicines free of charge to patients.

What information his Department holds on how many abattoirs there were in (a) England and (b) the UK in (i) 2023 and (ii) 2024.

On 1 April 2023, there were 207 approved abattoirs in England, and a further 42 in Wales and Northern Ireland. On 1 April 2024, there were 200 approved abattoirs in England, and a further 41 in Wales and Northern Ireland. The Food Standards Agency does not hold information on the number of abattoirs in Scotland, as the competent authority is Food Standards Scotland.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure hospitals are able to meet increased demand as a result of increased hospital admissions for flu.

The national approach on priorities for winter planning was issued by NHS England on 16 September, setting out the key steps to be taken to support the delivery of high-quality care for patients this winter. The Minister of State for Health also made a statement on winter preparedness in the House of Commons on 18 December 2024.The National Health Service is supporting vaccination efforts for COVID-19, flu, and the respiratory syncytial virus, ensuring that local partners promote population uptake, and that NHS trusts ensure eligible staff have access to vaccinations.In addition, due to the action taken by the Government this winter, NHS hospitals will be free of strikes and focused on caring for patients.

What steps he is taking to tackle the sale of illegal vapes.

The Government is taking concerted effort to tackle the import and sale of illicit vapes. This includes investing up to £3 million over 2023/24 and 2024/25 to support National Trading Standards to deliver a range of enforcement interventions, including the removal of illicit products from the market and intervention at ports. The Government will expand on this by investing a further £30 million in 2025/26 to support tobacco and vapes enforcement action, £10 million of which will go towards bolstering Trading Standards’ ability to tackle illicit tobacco and vapes.Alongside additional investment we are also taking legislative steps to tackle the illicit market. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill provides powers to introduce a new retail licensing scheme in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland for tobacco, vapes and nicotine products and to establish a new registration system for tobacco, vaping and nicotine products entering the United Kingdom market. We are also introducing a ban on the sale and supply of single use vapes under environmental legislation.

What steps he is taking to tackle the import of illegal vapes.

The Government is taking concerted effort to tackle the import and sale of illicit vapes. This includes investing up to £3 million over 2023/24 and 2024/25 to support National Trading Standards to deliver a range of enforcement interventions, including the removal of illicit products from the market and intervention at ports. The Government will expand on this by investing a further £30 million in 2025/26 to support tobacco and vapes enforcement action, £10 million of which will go towards bolstering Trading Standards’ ability to tackle illicit tobacco and vapes.Alongside additional investment we are also taking legislative steps to tackle the illicit market. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill provides powers to introduce a new retail licensing scheme in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland for tobacco, vapes and nicotine products and to establish a new registration system for tobacco, vaping and nicotine products entering the United Kingdom market. We are also introducing a ban on the sale and supply of single use vapes under environmental legislation.

What assessment he has made of (a) the adequacy of funding for mental health services and (b) the potential impact of the level of that funding on waiting lists for such services.

Adequate funding for mental health services is important. While funding for reforms and improvements to mental health services will be decided at the Spending Review, the Autumn Budget provided an extra £26 million to open new mental health crisis centres, and funding to provide NHS Talking Therapies services for an extra 380,000 patients.We remain committed to recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health workers to reduce delays and provide faster treatment, which will also help ease pressure on busy mental health services.

What information his Department holds on how many (a) abattoirs and (b) food processing plants in (i) England and (ii) the UK are family-owned businesses.

This information is not held by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). There are 232 abattoirs approved by the FSA in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The FSA is aware of which are sole traders, partnerships, and which are incorporated companies, but it does not hold any central list indicating which are family-owned. This level of detail is not required to facilitate the delivery of Official Controls.The majority of food processing plants are overseen by local authorities, and while their trading names are published by the FSA and Food Standards Scotland, this does not give an indication of the makeup of ownership.

What steps he is taking to encourage GPs to proactively discuss (a) prostate cancer risk and (b) the option to have a prostate-specific antigen test with (i) Black men aged 45 and over and (ii) men aged 45 and over with a family history of prostate cancer.

The Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme (PCRMP) provides general practitioners (GPs) with information and guidance to counsel men who have no symptoms, but who wish to have a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test. It highlights the potential benefits and harms of PSA testing so that men, including those at higher risk, can make an informed decision about whether to have the test.Based on the current evidence, the PCRMP’s guidance is for GPs not to proactively offer a PSA to men without symptoms. This is because of the high level of inaccuracy of the PSA test, which could lead to unnecessary tests and treatments that carry risks of life-changing harm such as urinary and faecal incontinence, sexual dysfunction, as well as a smaller but serious risk of sepsis. Additionally, some prostate cancers may not produce elevated PSA levels, leading to false-negative results that provide deceptive reassurance.

What steps his Department is taking to improve access to primary care in Epping Forest constituency.

We know that patients are finding it harder than ever to see a general practitioner (GP) and access other primary care services, and we are committed to fixing the 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.We will provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to areas that need them most. Additionally, to rebuild dentistry in the long term and increase access to National Health Service dental care, we will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.We are also committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, including by cutting red tape. That encompasses making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists, as we shift care from the hospital to the community.

What steps his Department is taking to increase the number of GP surgeries in Epping Forest constituency.

The Government wants everyone to be able to access a primary care professional when they need to. NHS England has overall responsibility for ensuring that there are sufficient primary medical services to meet the reasonable requirements of patients throughout the country. To do so, they will contract providers such as general practices (GPs) to provide these services.It is for local commissioners to determine what services and care pathways to put in place to best serve the needs of their patient population.  We expect commissioners to act if services are not meeting the reasonable needs of their patients. In the event of a closure, commissioners will assess the need for a replacement provider before transferring patients to alternative practices when a GP surgery closes.

What steps his Department is taking to help improve access to GP appointments in (a) Epping Forest constituency and (b) England.

We know that patients across the country are finding it harder than ever to see a general practitioner (GP), and we are committed to fixing the crisis in GPs. Our plan to restore GPs will require both investment and reform. We will increase the proportion of funding for GPs and are already investing £82 million to recruit 1,000 newly qualified GPs. This will increase the number of GP appointments delivered, secure the future pipeline of GPs, and take pressure off those currently working in the system.Additionally, we will introduce Neighbourhood Health Centres to bring together vital health and care services, ensuring healthcare is closer to home and that patients receive the care they deserve. The Government will also bring back the family doctor by incentivising GPs to see the same patient.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of removing the cap on adult social care costs on the cost of adult social care.

We inherited a commitment to implement charging reform in October 2025, which included the cap on care costs. The full policy would have cost government an additional £4bn by 2030 on adult social care spend per year.Public finances are in their worst position since the Second World War. Funding was not guaranteed by the previous government and preparations for full rollout were not on track, therefore the cap on care costs would have been impossible to deliver by next October.We are 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 he is taking to help facilitate access to to Omnipod 5 insulin pumps for people with type 1 diabetes.

Omnipod 5 is one of several insulin pumps that are available through the Insulin Pumps, Continuous Glucose Monitoring, Closed Loop Insulin Delivery Systems and Associated Products Framework hosted by NHS Supply Chain. NICE Technology Appraisal TA943 recommends Hybrid Closed Loop (HCL) systems to eligible type 1 patients. More information on the appraisal is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta943HCL links a continuous glucose monitor to an insulin pump, via a computer-based algorithm, to automatically adjust the insulin dosages given and help people with diabetes keep their blood sugar levels stable. Omnipod 5 is available as part of two HCL combinations that are currently included on the NHS Supply Chain framework. NHS England has agreed cost-effective prices with industry suppliers, is promoting the NHS Supply Chain framework for integrated care boards and National Health Service trusts to call off and is offering ICBs reimbursement funding in contributing towards the incremental costs of delivering HCL to their local population.