Written questions by Adam.

What steps his Department is taking to prevent irreversible sight loss caused by glaucoma.

Regular sight tests play a crucial role in the early detection of glaucoma, which is often symptomless in the early stages. Free National Health Service sight tests are available for many, including individuals diagnosed with glaucoma or aged 40 years old and over with a close family history of glaucoma. NHS England testing has shown how improved IT connectivity between primary and secondary eye care services and the development of a single point of access could improve the referral and triage of eye care patients, reducing the time from referral to treatment and supporting more patients to be managed in the community.The Getting It Right First Time programme is also currently developing best practice guidance for glaucoma services to support the adoption of high standards across the pathway, from detection onwards.

With reference to the press notice entitled 100,000 more people get quicker care thanks to GP funding reform, published on 4 September 2025, whether he plans to allocate funding for advice and guidance services to (a) other areas of primary care and (b) optometry services.

The expansion of and funding for Advice and Guidance and referral triage more broadly for 2026/27 are currently under consideration, and a decision will be confirmed later this year.

Whether his Department plans to provide NHS email accounts to (a) optometrists and (b) other NHS contractors to support more (i) efficient and (ii) secure communication across services.

NHS.net, formally NHSmail, provides licences for optometry practices in England, specifically for General Ophthalmic Services contractors with 10 or fewer sites. Eligible practices can receive one shared mailbox and up to three individual NHS.net accounts per site, enabling the secure communication of patient data. NHS.net also provides secure communication to other commissioned partners delivering healthcare across pharmacy, dentistry, social care, and other neighbourhood community providers.

Whether he has held discussions on the development of a National Eye Care Framework in England; and whether patients and sector experts will be consulted as part of that process.

The 10-Year Health Plan supports more locally developed and integrated neighbourhood care rather than a top-down, one-size-fits-all solution. Integrated care boards will want to take different approaches to commissioning primary and secondary eye care services, depending on the skills and resources available to them.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce regional variations in access to eye care services; and what discussions his Department has had with the optometry sector on increasing the use of community-based care.

Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing the health needs of their population and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet them.Over the last 12 months I have met with a number of representatives across the eye care sector including The Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee, The Eyes Have It Partnership, as well as members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Eye Health and Visual impairment, which included the Hon. Member for Leicester South, to discuss primary eye care services. Officials in the Department also regularly meet with optometry stakeholders.

What steps his Department is taking to help increase the use of the optometry workforce in (a) early intervention and (b) prevention of avoidable sight loss.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for assessing the health needs of their population and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet them.ICBs already commission National Health Service sight testing services through high street optical practices. Regular sight tests, whether provided by the NHS or privately, play a vital role in the early detection of sight threatening eye conditions.ICBs can also commission enhanced eye care services from high street optical practices, including minor and urgent eye care services and glaucoma referral refinement services. These services further support the identification and management of eye conditions to prevent avoidable sight loss.

What discussions his Department has had with stakeholders in the optometry sector on the future delivery of primary eye care services in the last 12 months.

Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing the health needs of their population and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet them.Over the last 12 months I have met with a number of representatives across the eye care sector including The Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee, The Eyes Have It Partnership, as well as members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Eye Health and Visual impairment, which included the Hon. Member for Leicester South, to discuss primary eye care services. Officials in the Department also regularly meet with optometry stakeholders.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding primary eye care services through high street optometry practices to support early detection of eye conditions.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for assessing the health needs of their population and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet them.ICBs already commission National Health Service sight testing services through high street optical practices. Regular sight tests, whether provided by the NHS or privately, play a vital role in the early detection of sight threatening eye conditions.ICBs can also commission enhanced eye care services from high street optical practices, including minor and urgent eye care services and glaucoma referral refinement services. These services further support the identification and management of eye conditions to prevent avoidable sight loss.

Whether the 10-Year Plan for Health will include primary care provision; and if he will work with (a) optometrists, (b) pharmacists and (c) dentists to deliver that plan.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out to create a new model of care. It sets out to reinvent the National Health Service through three shifts, from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. At the core of the plan is the development of the provision of care closer to home through, through neighbourhood health services. The plan is clear that we need to expand the local services that are offered, many of which are currently provided by the four sets of primary care contractors alongside community health services. It will be imperative therefore that we work with all these sectors, both nationally and locally, as plans develop. We have already started that process. As part of the work to develop a 10-Year Health Plan, we ran a significant public engagement process to collect views and ideas from across the country, on order to help inform the plan. This engagement will continue as we seek to work with stakeholders from across primary care to deliver a service fit for the future.

Whether the 10 Year Health Plan for England will include primary care provision; and if he will make it his policy to work with (a) optometrists, (b) pharmacists and (c) dentists in delivering that plan.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out to create a new model of care. It sets out to reinvent the National Health Service through three shifts, from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. At the core of the plan is the development of the provision of care closer to home through, through neighbourhood health services. The plan is clear that we need to expand the local services that are offered, many of which are currently provided by the four sets of primary care contractors alongside community health services. It will be imperative therefore that we work with all these sectors, both nationally and locally, as plans develop. We have already started that process. As part of the work to develop a 10-Year Health Plan, we ran a significant public engagement process to collect views and ideas from across the country, on order to help inform the plan. This engagement will continue as we seek to work with stakeholders from across primary care to deliver a service fit for the future.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of using existing high street optometry practices to deliver diagnostic services.

High street optometrists play a vital role in the early detection of a range of eye conditions. Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services and can commission additional diagnostic services from high street optometrists based on providers and priorities in their areas, for example additional testing to support effective referrals to secondary care.

What progress he has made on improving digital connectivity between primary and secondary eye care services through NHS England digital accelerator sites.

NHS England’s digital accelerators pilots have provided the evidence to demonstrate the value of the digital integration of primary and secondary care through a refined single point of access model. The digitally enabled single point of access uses IT connectivity between primary and secondary eye care services to improve the referral and triage of patients, with patient data and images being assessed by clinicians to determine if patients need an appointment in secondary care. This was found to reduce unnecessary hospital appointments, the time from referral to treatment, and supports more patients being managed in the community. The learning from the pilots has been shared with integrated care boards.

What steps his Department is taking to increase capacity in hospital eye services by expanding the use of optometry-led diagnostic and treatment pathways.

The Government is committed to putting patients first. This means making sure patients are seen on time and ensuring that people have the best possible experience during their care.We recognise the importance of making better use of the optometry sector and the capabilities to support eyecare capacity in the community, in order to reduce pressures on hospital services whilst also providing care closer to home. In line with our 10-Year Health Plan, we are working to develop neighbourhood health services so that more care takes place in the community, including optometry.Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing the health needs of their population and for commissioning primary and secondary care, such as eye and optometry services, to meet the populations’ needs.NHS England is working with eyecare providers to consider how eyecare services should be commissioned to ensure future sustainability. This includes looking at how more patients can be triaged and managed in the community, freeing up capacity for those that need face to face specialist care.

What recent discussions he has had with representatives of the optometry sector on the future delivery of primary eye care services.

Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing the health needs of their population and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet them.Over the last 12 months I have met with a number of representatives across the eye care sector including The Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee, The Eyes Have It Partnership, as well as members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Eye Health and Visual impairment, which included the Hon. Member for Leicester South, to discuss primary eye care services. Officials in the Department also regularly meet with optometry stakeholders.

If he will meet with the hon. Member for Leicester South to discuss the role of the optometry sector as part of the NHS 10 Year Plan.

We recognise the vital contribution the optometry sector plays in the early detection of sight threatening conditions. The 10-Year Health Plan will support more eye care services being delivered in the community.

What recent progress his Department has made on the rollout of the new NHS special schools eye care service.

NHS England has been supporting the integrated care boards (ICBs) with the roll out of the special schools’ sight testing service. NHS England hosted a series of webinars to talk ICBs through the nationally developed service specifications. Each ICB received a comprehensive information pack outlining the level of interest expressed by both educational settings and service providers.NHS England has established reporting on ICB progress in commissioning services, and all have indicated that they are either actively commissioning services, preparing for procurement activities, or planning engagement with local schools. Whilst services are being commissioned, the proof of concept contractors continue to provide services across 83 special schools.

Who is responsible for developing the business case for public-private partnerships in Neighbourhood Health Centres.

The Government announced in the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy document on 19 June 2025, as well as in the 10-Year Health plan published on 3 July 2025, that it will explore the feasibility of using new Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to deliver certain types of primary and community health infrastructure, including neighbourhood health centres. The business case is being co-developed by the Department of Health and Social Care and the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority. The decision on whether to proceed with the use of PPPs for neighbourhood health centres will be made by HM Treasury and relevant ministers by the 2025 Autumn Budget.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of Social Work England’s decision to raise annual registration fees on the (a) recruitment, (b) retention and (c) wellbeing of social workers; and whether her Department plans to (i) review and (ii) mitigate that increase.

After undertaking a consultation exercise, Social Work England has increased registration and renewal fees. Social Work England released an equality impact assessment alongside their consultation response.Registration and renewal fees have not increased since 2015 and the decision to increase fees was necessary to ensure the continuation of effective regulation of the social worker profession, thereby ensuring the protection of the public.Social workers may be able to claim tax on professional member fees. Details on how to do this can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/professional-fees-and-subscriptions.Additionally, social workers have the option to pay registration and renewal fees in full or in two instalments in October and the following April.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to regulate (a) SMART PARKING and (b) other private parking firms.

This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector. In accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the government has recently consulted on its proposals for a new code of practice for private parking operators to follow. The consultation closed on 26 September and the government will respond in due course. This code will better protect and support motorists whilst balancing the legitimate needs of private parking operators.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to ensure greater (a) transparency and (b) accountability in private parking enforcement.

This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector. In accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the government has recently consulted on its proposals for a new code of practice for private parking operators to follow. The consultation closed on 26 September and the government will respond in due course. This code will better protect and support motorists whilst balancing the legitimate needs of private parking operators.