Written questions by Hodgson.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) help the NHS and local health services can maximise investment in (i) new-born hearing screening, (ii) cochlear implants, (iii) hearing aids and (iv) other hearing technology and (b) use Auditory Verbal therapy to maximise such interventions.

National Health Service audiology services, including the provision of therapies for people with hearing loss, are locally commissioned, and the responsibility for meeting the needs of people with hearing loss lies with local NHS commissioners.In July 2016, NHS England published Commissioning Services for People with Hearing Loss: A Framework for Clinical Commissioning Groups, which supports integrated care boards in making informed decisions about what is good value for the populations they serve and to assist in providing more consistent, high quality, integrated care. NHS England also published specific guidance on newborn hearing screening in 2016, Newborn hearing screening programme (NHSP) operational guidance, which supports healthcare professionals and stakeholders delivering and managing newborn hearing screening programmes in England.We also expect commissioners to follow guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). In 2018, the NICE issued the guidance, Hearing loss in adults: assessment and management, which aims to improve hearing loss services, including the provision of hearing aids.Specialised ear surgery, such as cochlear implantation, is commissioned directly by NHS England as a specialised service. In NHS England’s specialised commissioning specification, Cochlear implantation services for adults and children, updated in May 2023, Auditory Verbal Therapists are recognised as part of multi-disciplinary teams able to provide rehabilitation services, alongside a range of other health professionals.

Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the provision of (a) Auditory Verbal therapy and (b) other support available for deaf (i) babies and (ii) children to develop language and communication; and what steps he is taking to help ensure all deaf children have the best start in life.

NHS Audiology services are locally commissioned and the responsibility for meeting the needs of children with hearing loss lies with local National Health Service commissioners. NHS England is supporting integrated care boards (ICBs) to make informed decisions about the provision of audiology services so that they can provide consistent, high quality, and integrated care to children with hearing loss. In 2019 NHS England, with input from the National Deaf Children’s Society, produced a guide for commissioners and health and local authority providers which supports children and young people with hearing loss, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/what-works-chswg-guide.pdfThese specific assessments have not been made and there are currently no plans to assess the adequacy of provision of Auditory Verbal Therapy for deaf children. However, NHS England met with Auditory Verbal UK (AVUK) last year and discussed the need for more higher-level research evidence for intervention and to develop evaluations of impact. AVUK was also invited to join the Chief Scientific Officer’s Audiology stakeholder group.The Government will ensure that every child has the best start in life and that we raise the healthiest generation of children ever. NHS England and the Department for Education are working in partnership to co-fund £10 million for nine Early Language Support for Every Child pathfinder sites over two years, to provide early identification and targeted and universal support for children with speech, language, and communication needs in both early years and primary school settings, and more timely referrals for specialist support if required.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on strengthening global food security.

Delivering development through partnerships is core to the government's mission to help create a world free from poverty on a liveable planet.At the G20 Development Ministers Meeting, I endorsed the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty to promote partnerships and long-term solutions to tackling hunger and poverty and unlock much-needed finance. At the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, I engaged in discussions on financing development and reforming the global financial system for greater progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. This is alongside regular engagement with key international partners on food, agriculture and finance through the UK's bilateral and multilateral work.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the (a) outcomes achieved by deaf children who have been supported to learn to listen and speak with Auditory Verbal therapy delivered by a certified Auditory Verbal therapist working in public services and (b) potential merits of increasing the number of such therapists.

These specific assessments have not been made. Audiology services are locally commissioned and the responsibility for meeting the needs of non-hearing children lies with local National Health Service commissioners.In July 2016, NHS England published Commissioning Services for People with Hearing Loss: A Framework for Clinical Commissioning Groups, which supports integrated care boards to make informed decisions about what is good value for the populations they serve and to provide more consistent, high quality, integrated care. It also addresses inequalities in access and outcomes between hearing services. Additionally, in 2019, NHS England, with input from the National Deaf Children’s Society, produced a guide for commissioners and providers who support children and young people with hearing loss.NHS England met with Auditory Verbal UK (AVUK) last year and discussed the need for more higher-level research evidence for the intervention and to develop evaluations of impact. AVUK was also invited to join the Chief Scientific Officer’s audiology stakeholder group.