Written questions by Gibson.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of awarding Good choice endorsements to (a) artificially sweetened drinks, (b) energy drinks and (c) highly processed snacks on children's health.

The primary function of the NHS Food Scanner app is to show how much sugar, saturated fat, and salt is in the everyday food and drink consumed by families in England. The app helps families see what's in their food and drinks and gives choices of products that can help them cut down on sugar, saturated fat, and salt, including alternatives to family favourites such as biscuits, crisps, and fizzy drinks. For a food or drink to be eligible for a Good Choice badge they must comply with robust criteria covering 54 food and drink categories. Each category includes relevant nutrient cut off points based on front of pack labelling criteria for saturated fat, sugar, and salt, and takes account of the total calories and the Government’s food and drink reduction and reformation programme. A copy of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ Good Choice badge guidelines is attached. Diets high in ultra-processed foods are also high in calories, sugar, saturated fat, and salt. The app does not include levels of processing or additives when assessing the eligibility of a food or drink for a Good Choice badge. It is unclear whether ultra-processed foods are unhealthy due to processing or because a large majority of processed foods are high in sugar, calories, saturated fat, and/or salt, and are low in fibre. All additives used in the United Kingdom undergo a rigorous safety assessment before they can be used in food and drink. The app is undergoing further updates to ensure it also contains information for consumers on artificial sweeteners, and links to further advice and support on healthy eating for families is available at the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/ Data collected from the NHS Food Scanner app is not shared with third parties.

What criteria are used to determine what food choices qualify NHS Food Scanner app users for a Good Choice badge.

The primary function of the NHS Food Scanner app is to show how much sugar, saturated fat, and salt is in the everyday food and drink consumed by families in England. The app helps families see what's in their food and drinks and gives choices of products that can help them cut down on sugar, saturated fat, and salt, including alternatives to family favourites such as biscuits, crisps, and fizzy drinks. For a food or drink to be eligible for a Good Choice badge they must comply with robust criteria covering 54 food and drink categories. Each category includes relevant nutrient cut off points based on front of pack labelling criteria for saturated fat, sugar, and salt, and takes account of the total calories and the Government’s food and drink reduction and reformation programme. A copy of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ Good Choice badge guidelines is attached. Diets high in ultra-processed foods are also high in calories, sugar, saturated fat, and salt. The app does not include levels of processing or additives when assessing the eligibility of a food or drink for a Good Choice badge. It is unclear whether ultra-processed foods are unhealthy due to processing or because a large majority of processed foods are high in sugar, calories, saturated fat, and/or salt, and are low in fibre. All additives used in the United Kingdom undergo a rigorous safety assessment before they can be used in food and drink. The app is undergoing further updates to ensure it also contains information for consumers on artificial sweeteners, and links to further advice and support on healthy eating for families is available at the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/ Data collected from the NHS Food Scanner app is not shared with third parties.

If he has made an assessment of the potential merits of setting a national target to reduce the proportion of ultra-processed foods in the UK diet by 2030.

UK dietary recommendations are based on robust independent risk assessments by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). The SACN considered processed foods and health in 2023 and 2025. 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. Diets high in ultra-processed foods (UPF) are often energy dense, high in saturated fat, salt, or free sugars, high in processed meat and/or low in fruit, vegetables, and fibre. The SACN’s recommendations align with our existing policies for supporting healthier diets and our advice to consumers. Therefore, the Government does not currently have plans to introduce a national target to reduce the proportion of UPF in the diet of the United Kingdom’s population.The Government is taking action to support people to make healthier choices. As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan, we will introduce mandatory healthy food sales reporting for all large companies in the food sector, and will set new targets to increase the healthiness of sales in all communities. This more strategic, outcomes-based approach aims to reduce less healthy food consumption, in line with UK dietary guidelines.

Whether integrated care boards will be asked to report local baseline (a) data and (b) progress on reducing ultra-processed food consumption; and if he will publish a breakdown for (i) Wiltshire and (ii) other local authority areas.

UK dietary recommendations are based on robust independent risk assessments by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). The SACN considered processed foods and health in 2023 and 2025. 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. Diets high in ultra-processed foods (UPF) are often energy dense, high in saturated fat, salt, or free sugars, high in processed meat and/or low in fruit, vegetables, and fibre. The SACN’s recommendations align with our existing policies for supporting healthier diets and our advice to consumers. Therefore, the Government does not currently have plans to introduce a national target to reduce the proportion of UPF in the diet of the United Kingdom’s population.The Government is taking action to support people to make healthier choices. As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan, we will introduce mandatory healthy food sales reporting for all large companies in the food sector, and will set new targets to increase the healthiness of sales in all communities. This more strategic, outcomes-based approach aims to reduce less healthy food consumption, in line with UK dietary guidelines.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the evidence base underpinning the Good Choice badge criteria in the NHS Food Scanner app.

The Department has a series of digital tools to support adults and families to eat better and move more, including the food scanner app and the National Health Service weight loss plan app, email programmes, and websites. These tools are evidence-based and regularly reviewed to ensure alignment with current Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition guidance, including recommendations on non-sugar sweeteners and ultra-processed foods. Updates are ongoing to reflect the latest Government advice.We are always looking to improve the app experience, including extending and personalising messaging, and we welcome feedback from parents as well as organisations to aid us in this process.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) the NHS Food Scanner app and (b) other NHS-endorsed public health tools align with Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition advice on (i) non-sugar sweeteners and (ii) ultra-processed foods.

The Department has a series of digital tools to support adults and families to eat better and move more, including the food scanner app and the National Health Service weight loss plan app, email programmes, and websites. These tools are evidence-based and regularly reviewed to ensure alignment with current Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition guidance, including recommendations on non-sugar sweeteners and ultra-processed foods. Updates are ongoing to reflect the latest Government advice.We are always looking to improve the app experience, including extending and personalising messaging, and we welcome feedback from parents as well as organisations to aid us in this process.

Whether he plans to set a clear timetable for confirming and implementing the final proposals arising from the NHS dental contract quality and payment reforms 2026 consultation; and if he will publish a deadline by which (a) NHS dental professionals, (b) commissioners and (c) patients can expect both the Department’s response and the commencement of the resulting reforms.

We recently held a public consultation on a package of changes to improve access to, and improve the quality of, National Health Service dentistry, which will deliver better care for the diverse oral health needs of people across England. The consultation closed on 19 August.The Government is considering the outcomes of the consultation and will publish a response in due course, with the expectation of implementing the reforms from April 2026.

When the Government plans to respond to feedback provided in its consultation on NHS dentistry contract: quality and payment reform, published 8 July 2025.

The Government is considering the outcomes of the consultation and will publish a response in due course.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of long-term exposure to PFAS in drinking water on public health.

An evaluation of the evidence on polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) toxicity is ongoing through the Committee on Toxicity.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has contributed to an expert advisory group recommendation to the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) on the introduction of a regulatory limit of 0.1 micrograms per litre for the sum of 48 individual PFAS to protect public health. The Advisory Group Recommendations are available at the following link:https://dwi-production-files.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/28110805/Recommendations-and-full-report-of-the-advisory-group-Dec-2024.pdfThis is in line with the recent DWI March 2025 Guidance. This will limit exposures through drinking water, and thus any potential impact. The Guidance is available at the following link:https://dwi-production-files.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/24141825/DWI_PFAS-Guidance_Mar_2025.pdf

What guidance his Department provides to (a) GPs and (b) health visitors to aid the early diagnosis of neuroblastoma.

General practice teams are expected to follow guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Where symptoms are suggestive of neuroblastoma, appropriate referral to a specialist must be made.Health visitors are not responsible for making diagnoses, but they play a vital role in providing advice and support to families and in recognising when a child may require further clinical assessment. They remain vigilant for signs that could indicate serious health concerns, including cancers, in line with professional guidance and protocols.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of diets high in ultra-processed foods on the health of children under five.

United Kingdom dietary recommendations are based on robust independent risk assessments by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). In 2023, the SACN reviewed the scientific basis of UK recommendations in its report Feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years.The SACN also reviewed the evidence on processed foods and health in its 2023 and 2025 position statements, as well as non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) in a position statement published in 2025.The SACN has made a number of recommendations for children in relation to the consumption of processed foods and drinks, for instance:formula milks are not required by children aged one to five years old;foods, including snacks, that are energy dense and high in saturated fat, salt, or sugars should be limited in children aged one to five years old, in line with current UK dietary recommendations;commercially manufactured foods and drinks marketed specifically for infants and young children are not needed to meet nutrition requirements; andgiving children drinks and food sweetened with sugar or NSS should be avoided, and they should instead be given unsweetened food.The SACN has concluded that on balance, most people are likely to benefit from reducing their consumption of processed foods which are high in energy, saturated fat, salt, and free sugars, and which are and low in fibre. This is based on the nutrient content of many ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and concerns raised in relation to health.The SACN’s recommendations align with our existing policies for supporting healthier diets and our advice to consumers. The SACN will continue to keep the topic under review.Government dietary advice, as depicted in the Eatwell Guide, already shows that people should eat more fruit and vegetables and wholegrain or higher-fibre foods, as well as less processed meat and processed foods and drinks high in calories, sugar, saturated fat, and salt. For most people, following this advice would lead to a reduced consumption of UPFs.The terms ‘whole’ and ‘minimally processed’ are not used in Government dietary recommendations because they are difficult to define and could be interpreted as including foods that we advise to eat less often and/or in small amounts, such as butter.Further research is required to determine whether the processing itself, rather than the poor nutrient content of foods, has an impact on health, before any significant updates are made to the Eatwell Guide.

If he will revise the Eatwell Guide to include explicit guidance on (a) limiting ultra-processed food and (b) promoting whole and minimally processed foods.

United Kingdom dietary recommendations are based on robust independent risk assessments by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). In 2023, the SACN reviewed the scientific basis of UK recommendations in its report Feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years.The SACN also reviewed the evidence on processed foods and health in its 2023 and 2025 position statements, as well as non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) in a position statement published in 2025.The SACN has made a number of recommendations for children in relation to the consumption of processed foods and drinks, for instance:formula milks are not required by children aged one to five years old;foods, including snacks, that are energy dense and high in saturated fat, salt, or sugars should be limited in children aged one to five years old, in line with current UK dietary recommendations;commercially manufactured foods and drinks marketed specifically for infants and young children are not needed to meet nutrition requirements; andgiving children drinks and food sweetened with sugar or NSS should be avoided, and they should instead be given unsweetened food.The SACN has concluded that on balance, most people are likely to benefit from reducing their consumption of processed foods which are high in energy, saturated fat, salt, and free sugars, and which are and low in fibre. This is based on the nutrient content of many ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and concerns raised in relation to health.The SACN’s recommendations align with our existing policies for supporting healthier diets and our advice to consumers. The SACN will continue to keep the topic under review.Government dietary advice, as depicted in the Eatwell Guide, already shows that people should eat more fruit and vegetables and wholegrain or higher-fibre foods, as well as less processed meat and processed foods and drinks high in calories, sugar, saturated fat, and salt. For most people, following this advice would lead to a reduced consumption of UPFs.The terms ‘whole’ and ‘minimally processed’ are not used in Government dietary recommendations because they are difficult to define and could be interpreted as including foods that we advise to eat less often and/or in small amounts, such as butter.Further research is required to determine whether the processing itself, rather than the poor nutrient content of foods, has an impact on health, before any significant updates are made to the Eatwell Guide.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce the number of dentists moving from NHS to private practice in (a) Wiltshire and (b) other (i) rural and (ii) semi-rural areas.

The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most.Integrated care boards have started to recruit posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.Training a dentist costs the taxpayer up to £200,000. Having consulted on the principle of requiring all dentists to work in the NHS for a minimum period, we will now make it a requirement for newly qualified dentists to practice in the NHS for a minimum period. We intend this minimum period to be at least three years. That will mean more NHS dentists, more NHS appointments, and better oral health.As a first step to reforming the dental contract, we are consulting on a package of changes to improve access to, and improve the quality of, NHS dentistry, which will deliver improved care for the diverse oral health needs of people across England. Further information on the consultation is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/nhs-dentistry-contract-quality-and-payment-reformsThe consultation was launched on 8 July 2025 and will close on 19 August 2025.

What estimate he has made of the number of full-time equivalent NHS dentists practising in Wiltshire in (a) 2025-26 and (b) 2013-14.

The latest year in which workforce data is available is 2023/24. There were 440 dentists who undertook some level of National Health Service activity in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (ICB).Due to changes in how data is collected, the Department cannot make a direct comparison to the number of dentists in 2013/14.However, in that year there were 238 dentists who undertook some level of NHS activity in the Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group area. Please note that this area covers a smaller geographic area than the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB.

How many frontline NHS staff have completed both parts of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism as of July 2025; and what steps are being taken to ensure full compliance across all trusts.

Data on completion of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism (Oliver’s Training) is held locally and is reported to NHS England by integrated care boards. This data does not differentiate between completion by frontline staff and other National Health Service and social care staff, and is instead focussed on overall completion of Tier 1 and Tier 2. Tier 1 of Oliver’s Training is for those that require general awareness for their role, and Tier 2 is for those who may provide direct care for people with a learning disability and autistic people. The first part of both tiers of training is a co-produced e-learning module which has had over three million completions across all audiences. The most recently validated data on completion of both parts held by NHS England is up to March 2025, when it was reported that 85,718 staff had completed Tier 1 training and 113,003 had completed Tier 2 training.NHS England is supporting the roll out of the training on a Payment by Results basis, co-coordinated by integrated care boards, and continues to monitor training uptake.

Whether he plans to reform the units of dental activity system before the proposed full contract reform in 2026-27.

There are no current plans to fully reform the units of dental activity (UDA) system before 2026/27. As a first step to reforming the dental contract, we are consulting on a package of changes to improve access to, and improve the quality of, National Health Service dentistry, which will deliver improved care for the diverse oral health needs of people across England. The reforms include new payment proposals for some treatments, which would be converted to UDAs for the purposes of reconciliation. Further information on the consultation is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/nhs-dentistry-contract-quality-and-payment-reformsThe consultation was launched on 8 July 2025 and will close on 19 August 2025.We are committed to more fundamental contract reform, as set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. We want a contract that matches resources to needs, improves access, promotes prevention, and rewards dentists fairly, while enabling the whole dental team to work to the top of their capability. There are no perfect payment models, and careful consideration needs to be given to any potential changes to the complex dental system so that we deliver genuine improvements for patients and the profession.

How many (a) stillbirths and (b) neonatal deaths were recorded in maternity units serving Wiltshire in each of the last five years.

The maternity units serving Wiltshire are provided by the Great Western Hospitals Trust, the Royal United Hospitals Bath Trust, and the Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust.Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK’s perinatal mortality surveillance data provides the figures for stillbirths and neonatal deaths for these trusts, in each of the last five years that the data was available. This data is available at the following link:https://timms.le.ac.uk/mbrrace-uk-perinatal-mortality/data-viewer/

How many (a) midwives, (b) obstetricians and (c) maternity support workers were employed in NHS Trusts serving Wiltshire as of the most recent date for which data is available.

NHS England publishes Hospital and Community Health Services workforce statistics for England. This covers staff working for hospital trusts and in integrated care in England. This data is drawn from the Electronic Staff Record, the human resources system for the National Health Service. Data is collected by the employing body and as such we have supplied information for the three main acute hospital trusts which would cover the Wiltshire region. The following table shows the number of full-time equivalent midwives, obstetricians and gynaecologist, as data is not held for obstetricians alone, and maternity support workers employed by NHS trusts and core organisations within the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, and the Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, as of April 2025: Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRoyal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation TrustSalisbury NHS Foundation TrustMidwifes152186100Obstetricians and gynaecologists of all grades403625Obstetricians and gynaecologists - consultants171610Maternity support workers515826Source: NHS workforce statistics, available at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statistics Maternity support staff have been defined as all support staff that work in a ‘maternity services’ and ‘neonatal nursing’ care setting. This includes nursing associates, nursing assistant practitioners, nursery nurses, nursing assistants/auxiliaries, healthcare assistants, and support workers.

How much capital funding her Department has provided for maternity units serving Wiltshire in each of the last five financial years.

Over the 2020/21 to 2024/25 period, £5.9 million of capital funding was invested in maternity services across the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire Integrated Care System. This funding covered a range of schemes, comprising technology, equipment, and maternity service units. The capital schemes will include cyclical equipment replacement and renewal schemes. As the integrated care board holds unified records covering the whole area of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire, we are unable to provide a disaggregated response for the Wiltshire area only.

How many serious incidents involving maternity care were reported by NHS Trusts covering Wiltshire in each of the last five years.

Across the last five years, there have been a total of 116 serious incidents involving maternity care reported by National Health Service trusts covering Wiltshire. The following table shows the number of incidents per year against the trusts in Wiltshire, from 2020/21 to 2024/25:YearRoyal United Hospitals, BathSalisbury Foundation TrustGreat Western HospitalTotal2020/2110511262021/2216512332022/231683272023/247616292024/251 1Total502442