Written questions by Cooper.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2025 to Question 28599 on Doctors: Training, if he will conduct a review of the selection process for medical specialty training places with a view to giving priority to UK medical graduates, in the context of that being the case in Canada, the US and Australia.

Working with NHS England, we continue to keep the selection process for all applicants to medical speciality training under review.NHS England launched an extensive engagement and listening exercise to help shape the future of postgraduate medical training in February 2025. This engagement exercise will run through to June, with findings evaluated and reported in the summer.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of air pollution on children’s health.

Children can be susceptible to the health effects from long and short-term exposure to air pollution. The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants published advice on susceptibility to air pollution in March 2025. They concluded that, based on the latest evidence, advice for children with asthma should continue to be included in the Daily Air Quality Index. The full review is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advice-given-to-the-air-quality-information-system-aqis-review-steering-groupIn addition, the UK Health Security Agency has a Cleaner Air Programme which aims to reduce people’s exposure to air pollution, particularly in the most vulnerable groups, including children. The programme is organised around three core outcomes, namely increasing the evidence base, influencing and supporting stakeholders, and improving awareness and understanding. Further information is available at the following link:https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2022/06/16/clean-air-day-how-ukhsa-is-tackling-air-pollution-and-how-you-can-help/

What funding his Department provides to support services for the children of alcoholics.

Our mission-based approach will ensure that every child has the best start in life and that we create the healthiest generation of children ever. This includes supporting the children of parents with alcohol problems and other adverse childhood experiences.Local authorities are responsible for commissioning drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services as part of their public health responsibilities. In addition to the Public Health Grant, in 2025/26 the Department is providing a total of £310 million in additional targeted grants to improve services and wider recovery support, which includes housing and employment. Further details are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drug-and-alcohol-treatment-and-recovery-funding-2025-to-2026/drug-and-alcohol-treatment-and-recovery-funding-allocations-2025-to-2026All local authorities can invest some of their allocation on interventions that strengthen the support available to children and families affected by alcohol and/or drugs, according to local need.The Government also has an alcohol and drug information and advice service called Talk to FRANK, which aims to reduce alcohol and drug use and its harms by providing awareness to young people, parents, and concerned others. Further information on Talk to FRANK is available at the following link:https://www.talktofrank.com/

Whether he has made an estimate of the cost to the NHS of (a) unused and (b) underused clinical (i) buildings and (ii) rooms.

No assessment has been made of the potential merits of adopting intelligent booking systems to maximise the utilisation of the National Health Service’s property estate. NHS trusts decide locally how best to manage their estate.Data for the occupancy and utilisation rates of clinical rooms in the NHS estate for the latest period, from 2023 to 2024, published in December 2024, is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2023-24No estimate has been made of the cost to the NHS of unused and underused clinical buildings and rooms.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of adopting intelligent booking systems to maximise the utilisation of the NHS property estate.

No assessment has been made of the potential merits of adopting intelligent booking systems to maximise the utilisation of the National Health Service’s property estate. NHS trusts decide locally how best to manage their estate.Data for the occupancy and utilisation rates of clinical rooms in the NHS estate for the latest period, from 2023 to 2024, published in December 2024, is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2023-24No estimate has been made of the cost to the NHS of unused and underused clinical buildings and rooms.

What the (a) occupancy and (b) utilisation rates of clinical rooms in the NHS estate was in the latest period for which data is available.

No assessment has been made of the potential merits of adopting intelligent booking systems to maximise the utilisation of the National Health Service’s property estate. NHS trusts decide locally how best to manage their estate.Data for the occupancy and utilisation rates of clinical rooms in the NHS estate for the latest period, from 2023 to 2024, published in December 2024, is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2023-24No estimate has been made of the cost to the NHS of unused and underused clinical buildings and rooms.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of guidance issued by District Valuer Services on the availability of city centre GP premises.

GP premises costs are reimbursed by the NHS. Any increase in charges by the landlord impacts the cost of providing primary care in that locality. The District Valuer Service offers independent advice on appropriate level of market rent, considering the building’s nature, age and condition.ICBs can make supplementary payments on top of the District Valuer Service’s assessment of new schemes, if appropriate and affordable.

Whether he has made any recent assessment of the security of the supply chain of titanium salicylate.

The Department works in partnership with industry, the National Health Service, and the wider health system to assess any potential issues across the medical supply chain. The Department was notified of the discontinuation of metanium nappy rash ointment, which contains titanium salicylate, from September 2024. The supplier has also communicated the discontinuation of this product to healthcare professionals and wholesalers.

Whether he has received notification from the NHS Business Services Authority that they will not be able to meet the 31 March 2025 deadline to provide eligible retired members of the NHS Pension Scheme with remediable service statements.

The answer I gave on 31 December 2024 to the Hon. Member for Lewes to Question 20389 set out that the Department does not expect that the majority of affected retired members will receive their remediable service statement until after April 2025. It also confirmed that the NHS Business Services Authority will communicate revised delivery timelines for remediable service statements once these are confirmed.The Department has robust governance arrangements in place to oversee the NHS Business Services Authority’s implementation of the remedy for affected NHS Pension Scheme members. The NHS Business Services Authority regularly reports on remediable service statement delivery plans and progress as part of these arrangements.

Whether retired members of the NHS Pension Scheme who are eligible to make a choice to revert to legacy benefits can present evidence to the NHS Business Services Authority of financial difficulty for the purposes of making a choice to revert to legacy scheme benefits sooner.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) is prioritising the provision of remediable service statements to those cohorts of NHS Pension Scheme members affected by the public service pensions remedy, the McCloud remedy, who are most likely to receive higher pension benefits following their benefit choice.Affected members do not need to present evidence either to receive a breakdown of information about their choice or to apply to receive a remediable service statement. A fast-track process is in place to which members meeting certain criteria can apply to receive a remediable service statement sooner.

By what process the NHS Business Services Authority identifies retired members of the NHS Pension Scheme who are in the greatest financial difficulty for the purposes of inviting them to make an immediate choice on whether to revert to legacy scheme benefits sooner.

The NHS Business Services Authority has identified NHS Pension Scheme members whose records indicate that they are more likely to have been affected by age discrimination during the McCloud remedy period. Factors considered in making this assessment include members’ transitional protection status and whether they have only claimed 1995 Scheme benefits. These members will be offered their choice as a priority. Other affected groups are being prioritised according to complexity and the likely risk of detriment. Revised delivery timelines will be communicated with affected members at the earliest date possible.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of allowing NHS Pension Scheme members in receipt of pension benefits to choose to revert to legacy scheme benefits if they can evidence financial difficulty.

The NHS Pension Scheme is delivered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). NHSBSA is prioritising the issuance of remediable service statements to cohorts of NHS Pension Scheme members affected by the public service pensions remedy (‘McCloud’) who are most likely to receive higher pension benefits following their benefit choice. A fast-track process to enable members who meet certain criteria to apply to receive a remediable service statement sooner has been in place since late 2023.

On what basis the NHS Business Services Authority decided that expected eligibility to make a choice to revert to legacy scheme benefits under the McCloud remedy should not be considered a disclosure event as defined by The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2013.

All members of the NHS Pension Scheme who are affected by the McCloud remedy were contacted by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) in January 2024 to inform them that they are eligible to make a benefit choice. Further information to enable this choice to be made will be provided to NHS Pension Scheme members by the NHSBSA at the earliest opportunity.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of the UK becoming a signatory to the World Health Organisation's resolution entitled Reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases through the promotion of kidney health and strengthening prevention and control of kidney disease.

The United Kingdom actively engaged in negotiations on the World Health Organization (WHO) resolution, Reducing the Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) through the Promotion of Kidney Health and Strengthening Prevention and Control of Kidney Disease, in advance of the 156th WHO Executive Board in February 2025. The Executive Board recommended adoption of all resolutions considered to the World Health Assembly, including this one, subject to ongoing budget discussions. If adopted, the resolution will apply to the UK as a Member State of the WHO. We remain committed to tackling NCDs, including kidney disease, domestically and internationally.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 July 2024 to Question 404 on Watford Hospital: Construction, whether he plans to visit West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust before 4 July 2025.

Ministers regularly consider visits across the country to see the impact of their policy areas. Any plans to visit specific locations will be notified to the relevant Members of Parliament in advance.

Whether he has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of (a) NHS Capital and (b) District Valuer Services rules in meeting demand for new primary care facilities.

The Government is committed to fixing the front door of the National Health Service, and this includes working with providers to deliver the primary care infrastructure required to enable a Neighbourhood Health Service.Capital spending is set to increase by £1.8 billion to £13.6 billion in 2025/26, representing a real terms increase of 12.8%. Excluding COVID-19 years, this settlement represents the highest Departmental capital budget in real terms since 2010. The Department is currently reviewing capital requirements in line with the Government’s missions and as part of our preparations for future budget allocations.Properties occupied by general practitioners are required to be professionally valued by the District Valuer. This is to ensure that agreed rent levels are in line with market conditions. It is important that these rent levels represent value for money because they will be reimbursed by the local integrated care board under the Premises Costs Directions 2024.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to prophylactics for immunocompromised people for whom vaccines are not effective.

Decisions about what medicines to prescribe are made by the doctor or healthcare professional responsible for that part of the patient’s care, working with their patient to decide on the best course of treatment with the provision of the most clinically appropriate care for the patient always being the primary consideration. Prescribers must always satisfy themselves that the medicines they consider appropriate for their patients can be safely prescribed and that they take account of appropriate national guidance on clinical effectiveness, as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards.The UK Health Security Agency provides guidance on alternative treatments that are recommended to be available to those that cannot be vaccinated and information regarding prophylactics that should be used for immunosuppressed individuals who are exposed to infections. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has also issued guidance for the National Health Service on the clinical and cost effectiveness of some medicines used for prophylaxis.Decisions on whether licensed medicines, including those for prophylaxis, should be recommended for routine NHS funding are made independently by NICE, based on the evidence of costs and benefits.

Whether funding has been allocated for the enabling works for Watford General Hospital.

As announced following the review of the New Hospital Programme, Watford General Hospital will be delivered in Wave 2. Enabling works, including the Outline Business Case for the Watford General Hospital scheme, will be taken forward by West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust from 2028/29, or sooner if possible.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 December 2024 to Question 20389 on NHS: Workplace Pensions, how many full time equivalent staff NHSBSA have allocated to administer the remedy implementation for those retirees who will be asked to make a choice about whether to revert to legacy benefits.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) has allocated 112 working-time equivalent staff to administer the public service pensions remedy (‘McCloud’) immediate choice for retired members of the NHS Pension Scheme. This number is flexible and, as the work progresses, the NHSBSA will increase staff numbers to enable remedy implementation to proceed as quickly as possible.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 January to Question 25639 on Surrogacy, whether he plans to respond to the Law Commission’s report on surrogacy in this Parliament.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety, Women’s Health and Mental Health will be writing to the chairs of the Law Commissions of England and Wales and Scotland shortly, to follow up their meeting on 5 November.