Written questions by McMurdock.

With reference to the press notice entitled Faster treatments and support for health workers as AI tackles A&E bottlenecks, published on 28 December 2025, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the use of AI to predict levels of demand in A&Es on waiting times.

The Department has not to date undertaken any formal assessment or evaluation of the potential impact of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict levels of demand in accident and emergency departments on waiting times, or staff workload, wellbeing, or retention.Decisions regarding the adoption and deployment of AI tools, including those used for demand prediction in accident and emergency settings as discussed in the article ‘Faster treatments and support for health workers as AI tackles accident and emergency bottlenecks’, are made at a local level by individual National Health Service trusts. At present, NHS trusts have the autonomy to determine the use of such technologies, taking into account the needs and priorities of their respective organisation, and should evaluate and review the impact of AI deployment within their care settings.

With reference to the press release entitled Faster treatments and support for health workers as AI tackles A&E bottlenecks, published on 28 December 2025, what procurement processes were used to select AI suppliers for A&E applications; and what assessment has been made of value for money.

To date, the Department has not undertaken any formal assessment or estimate on the cost or value of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict levels of demand in accident and emergency departments.Decisions regarding the adoption and deployment of AI tools, including those used for demand prediction in accident and emergency settings as discussed in the article ‘Faster treatments and support for health workers as AI tackles accident and emergency bottlenecks’, are made at a local level by individual National Health Service trusts. At present, NHS trusts have autonomy to determine the use of such technologies, taking into account the needs and priorities of their respective organisation, independent of the Government. As such, we do not have a cost estimate of a national rollout, nor can we confirm the procurement processes used by those organisations.The implementation of the AI tools discussed in the article ‘Faster treatments and support for health workers as AI tackles accident and emergency bottlenecks’ did not involve an individual procurement of third-party goods or services for the accident and emergency tool, which was developed in the Federated Data Platform. AI implementation programmes that do involve the procurement of third-party goods, services, or digital products are managed in compliance with the obligations set out in the Procurement Act 2023, and the relevant NHS contracting authorities' standing financial instructions.

With reference to the press release entitled Faster treatments and support for health workers as AI tackles A&E bottlenecks, published on 28 December 2025, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of using AI to predict levels of demand in A&Es on staff workload, wellbeing, and retention.

The Department has not to date undertaken any formal assessment or evaluation of the potential impact of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict levels of demand in accident and emergency departments on waiting times, or staff workload, wellbeing, or retention.Decisions regarding the adoption and deployment of AI tools, including those used for demand prediction in accident and emergency settings as discussed in the article ‘Faster treatments and support for health workers as AI tackles accident and emergency bottlenecks’, are made at a local level by individual National Health Service trusts. At present, NHS trusts have the autonomy to determine the use of such technologies, taking into account the needs and priorities of their respective organisation, and should evaluate and review the impact of AI deployment within their care settings.

What estimate he has made of the proportion of pregnant women who are not offered the whooping cough vaccine by 20 weeks’ gestation; and what steps are being taken to improve timely access.

All pregnant women in England should be offered the pertussis vaccination in every pregnancy, around the time of the mid-pregnancy scan, usually 20 weeks, and ideally before 32 weeks.Recent data shows maternal pertussis vaccination coverage from July to September 2025 was 71.9%, which was 7.5% higher than the equivalent period in 2025. The data is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pertussis-immunisation-in-pregnancy-vaccine-coverage-estimates-in-england-october-2013-to-march-2014/prenatal-pertussis-vaccination-coverage-in-england-from-july-to-september-2025NHS England has implemented a range of measures to ensure timely access to the pertussis vaccination programme, including NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency having developed a joint maternal vaccines toolkit and campaign to promote timely uptake of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough, and flu vaccines during pregnancy, highlighting the protection provided to newborns.NHS England has commissioned community pharmacies in the North West, Midlands, London, and the East of England to deliver pertussis and RSV vaccines, increasing convenience and capacity, particularly in areas of high deprivation and low uptake.A maternal vaccination postcard has been translated into seven additional languages and distributed to 200 practices with lower uptake. Tailored communications are shared through community and faith-based channels, including radio, podcasts, and local publications.NHS England regularly shares vaccination information with pregnancy and parenting organisations such as Tommy’s and the NCT, as well as community and faith groups, for use on their websites, newsletters, and social media.

What steps his Department is taking to address regional disparities in whooping cough vaccination uptake among pregnant women.

The latest published data for September 2025 shows that prenatal pertussis vaccination coverage has improved in all seven NHS England regions when compared to September 2024.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) report shows monthly prenatal pertussis vaccination coverage followed an increasing trend since April 2024. The report is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pertussis-immunisation-in-pregnancy-vaccine-coverage-estimates-in-england-october-2013-to-march-2014/prenatal-pertussis-vaccination-coverage-in-england-from-january-to-march-2025-and-annual-coverage-for-2024-to-2025To support continued improvements, NHS England has developed and implemented a vaccination in pregnancy improvement plan. Actions delivered to date include:- system level oversight and leadership of programme commissioning and delivery, to strengthen the offer process and tackle factors contributing to low vaccine uptake;- ensuring commissioned providers are aware of their responsibilities within the vaccination in pregnancy programmes and are working to strengthen the vaccination offer and ensure consistency in delivery approach;- commissioning community pharmacy providers in areas of low uptake and high deprivation to deliver National Health Service pertussis vaccinations to pregnant women opportunistically or on request;- revised governance arrangements for vaccination in pregnancy programmes, with regional and national colleagues meeting regularly to share learning and good practice from local systems; and- improved vaccination recording and accurate data collection to monitor programme effectiveness, allowing regional teams and their partner integrated care boards to access timely NHS operational data. This informs targeted action to increase uptake and reduce inequalities.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that all pregnant women are offered the whooping cough vaccine at the optimal time in pregnancy.

All pregnant women are offered the whooping cough vaccination in every pregnancy, around the time of the mid-pregnancy scan, usually 20 weeks, and ideally before 32 weeks, via midwifery in the community or their general practice.The Department is working with NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency to encourage high uptake of all immunisations, including in underserved communities and in groups with historically lower vaccination rates.Significant efforts have been made to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination to protect babies against whooping cough, also known as pertussis. These include targeted campaigns using social media, digital screen graphics, and community outreach. The National Health Service actively promotes vaccination for pregnant women to protect their newborns, and efforts are underway to enhance the recording and monitoring of vaccinations, ensuring accurate data collection to assess the programme’s effectiveness.Recent data shows maternal pertussis vaccination coverage from July to September 2025 was 71.9%, which was 7.5% higher than the equivalent period in 2025. However, there is more to do to stabilise and improve uptake, and that is why we have set out actions to improve uptake in our 10-Year Health Plan for England. Putting our plans into action, we have recently launched a campaign to promote awareness and confidence in vaccination, including for pregnant women, which will run throughout the year.To improve accessibility, community pharmacies in areas of high deprivation and low uptake are now also commissioned to offer some vaccinations, making it more convenient for individuals to get vaccinated.

Whether additional resources have been provided to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to support winter‑related medicine safety surveillance.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department and regulates medicines for human use, medical devices, and blood components for transfusion in the United Kingdom, with responsibility for ensuring medicines meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, and efficacy.Safety surveillance activity at the MHRA is funded through the annual service fee. Recent and sufficient fee increases mean that this funding now covers all required surveillance activity, with separate Living with COVID funding helping to support periods of peak demand.

How many Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Yellow Card reports on over‑the‑counter cough and cold medicines were received in each of the last five years.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) publishes information in the form of interactive Drug Analysis Profiles which can be accessed here on the Yellow Card website, at the following link:https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/idapsYou will be able to access a complete listing of all suspected adverse drug reactions that have been reported to the MHRA via the Yellow Card scheme for all medicines, including medicines used to treat coughs and colds. This includes all reports received from healthcare professionals, members of the public, and pharmaceutical companies.Please note information regarding whether a drug was prescribed or purchased over the counter is not mandatory to provide on a Yellow Card and as such we do not capture this information in a structured data field to be able to provide as part of this request.

What estimate his Department have made of the number of people with health issues related to excessive consumption of vitamin D supplements in each of the last five years.

Food supplements, including vitamin D supplements, are regulated in the United Kingdom under the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003, as well as other applicable food law, along with equivalent legislation for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Department is responsible for this legislation in England, working closely with the Food Standards Agency and local authorities, who lead on enforcement. Further information on the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 is avaiable at the following link:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/1387/made/data.pdfThe regulations have specific labelling requirements to support consumers to make informed choices. Food supplements legislation requires manufacturers to include the recommended dose and a warning not to exceed the stated dose on the label. The Department has published guidance to businesses on complying with the regulations, which is avaiable at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/food-supplements-guidance-and-faqsAlthough food supplements legislation does not set statutory maximum levels for vitamins and minerals, industry is encouraged to follow voluntary guidelines for safe upper levels, which for vitamin D is 100 micrograms, or 4,000 International Units, daily. The Department does not currently have plans to review labelling requirements for vitamin D or other supplements.The National Health Service website provides clear public advice on the daily recommended intake for vitamin D and warns of the potential harmful effects of taking too much vitamin D through food supplements. Further information is avaiable on the NHS website, at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/The Department always advises consumers to follow NHS guidance and consult a health professional if in doubt. The Department does not systematically collect data for people with health issues owing to excess vitamin D consumption.

What steps his Department is taking to raise public awareness of the risks of taking multiple doses of different over-the-counter medicines which contain the same active ingredient.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department with responsibility for ensuring medicines meet appropriate standards of quality, efficacy, and safety. The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 lays out the conditions of the licencing and marketing of a medicine. This includes the information which must be provided with the medicinal product.Schedule 24 specifies that the outer and immediate packaging of medicinal products must display the name of the medicinal product, the strength and pharmaceutical form, and when the product contains more than three active substances, the common name for the active substances. In addition, regulation 259 states that packaging or outer label should present the name in braille for the blind or partially sighted. In addition, schedule 24 states that the labelling should display the contents, for instance the number of tablets, where to store, expiry date, the manufacturers name, and any special precautions relating to the product.The MHRA has recently updated voluntary Best Practice Guidance on the general sale of medicines for pain, to further highlight the risks of overdose, to address public concerns and recognise current sales techniques. Links are also provided to patient support groups, including Papyrus for young people. The update was undertaken in collaboration with retailers, stakeholders and healthcare professionals, and the updated guidance is avaiable at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67e69e9e085277e9961b201b/Best_practice_guidance_on_the_sale_of_medicines_2025.pdfMost retailers adhere to the guidelines on not promoting multiple purchases and have introduced in store measures such as till bars that restrict sales to a maximum of two packs across a range of products containing aspirin, paracetamol, or ibuprofen. The aim of these voluntary measures is to balance the need of people for access to pain relief medicines against the dangers for vulnerable individuals and to reduce the opportunity for customers to purchase on impulse excessive quantities of any single analgesic, like paracetamol, aspirin, or ibuprofen.Paracetamol and ibuprofen are well-known medicines for pain, which when taken as recommended, have well-established safety profiles. The vast majority of patients use these medicines responsibly as effective pain-relievers.The use of paracetamol and accidental overdose is a safety concern, especially in relation to the many trade names of non-prescription and prescription medicines containing paracetamol. Therefore, the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 contain a number of conditions for the presentation of these medicines to highlight the presence of paracetamol in a medicine.Schedule 25, Part 4 of the Human Medicines Regulations sets out statutory labelling requirements for paracetamol medicines to highlight the presence of paracetamol in that product. Paragraph 14 states that, except where the name of the product includes the word “paracetamol” and appears on the outer and immediate packaging, the words “contains paracetamol” should be displayed.Paragraph 15 states that the labelling must highlight paracetamol on the front face of the carton or label and should also contain the warning: “Do not take more medicine than the label tells you to. If you do not get better, talk to your doctor”, which must appear adjacent to either the directions for use or the recommended dosage.Further to this, if the product contains a leaflet, paragraph 16 states that if the product contains paracetamol, unless the product is wholly or mainly intended for children aged 12 years old or younger, the words “Do not take anything else containing paracetamol while taking this medicine” and the warning “Talk to a doctor at once if you take too much of this medicine, even if you feel well” must be included. If the product does not contain a leaflet, then the words “Talk to a doctor at once if you take too much of this medicine, even if you feel well. This is because too much paracetamol can cause delayed, serious liver damage” should be displayed.Schedule 8 of the regulations also set out the material which must accompany any application for the marketing of a medicine. The Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) as referenced in part 2, for healthcare professionals, provides a summary of the clinical particulars in the use of a medicine, including the recommended maximum daily dose. In addition, particulars in reference to overdose are provided. This includes the potential dose over which liver damage may occur and potential risk factors which may elevate the risk of overdose, including medical history, concomitant medicines, or alcohol intake. A summary of the symptoms of overdose and management are also provided.The market authorisation holders are obligated under the Human Medicines Regulations to continually review the safety of their medicines and to inform the MHRA of any serious adverse reactions. The MHRA continues to monitor the safety of all medicines and if necessary, will take advice from our independent experts on recommended regulatory action. The MHRA provides a list of the SmPCs and patient leaflets for all medicines at the following link:https://products.mhra.gov.uk/Additional resources on product information and the treatment of overdose are available from the British National Formulary (BNF), the electronic medicines compendium, the National Poisons Information Service, and National Health Service, with further information available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/paracetamol-for-adults/The Human Medicines Regulations and the BNF highlight the information that is required in general and electronic prescriptions.

What steps the Government is taking to increase public awareness of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Yellow Card scheme for reporting medicine side effects and product issues.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is committed to improving patient safety and strategically runs regular public health campaigns to raise awareness of patient safety in healthcare products and the importance of reporting to the Yellow Card scheme, which relies on voluntary reporting by healthcare professionals and the public, including patients, parents, and care givers. Further information on the MHRA is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agencyA primary platform for education and awareness is the MHRA’s dedicated Yellow Card scheme website, which is regularly updated with educational resources, including Continuing Professional Development accredited e-learning modules, waiting-room videos, posters, and real-world case studies to support understanding of how and what to report as well as the importance of reporting. In 2025, the MHRA launched a new Yellow Card Partner Toolkit containing a package of materials specifically designed to support other organisations and networks in encouraging patient reporting.To strengthen local engagement with the public, the MHRA commissions six Yellow Card Centres across the United Kingdom, covering the North and Yorkshire, the North West, the West Midlands, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and which focus on education and the promotion of reporting with the public and healthcare professionals, as well as their representative organisations within their regions.Additionally, all MHRA safety alerts and guidance signpost users to the Yellow Card scheme, and by law, every patient information leaflet that comes with a medicine includes information signposting patients to report suspected side effects via the Yellow Card scheme. There is also information on the importance of reporting to the Yellow Card scheme on all repeat paper prescriptions given to patients.On World Patient Safety Day, most recently 17 September 2025, the MHRA announced that statutory relationships, sex, and health education guidance for schools in England would, for the first time, include information on recognising side effects and reporting them via the Yellow Card scheme. This initiative introduces children and young people to patient safety early, empowering them to speak up and contribute to safer healthcare.The MHRA also proactively promotes awareness through presence at conferences such as the annual Health and Safety Journal Patient Safety Congress. In addition, the MHRA also supports a number of campaigns including MedSafetyWeek, which is now an annual international social media campaign which includes 117 countries that the MHRA initiated 10 years ago, to raise awareness of medicines safety and adverse incident reporting.The MHRA has worked with the National Health Service to ensure that there are links to Yellow Card across every single NHS page relating to a medicine or vaccine, and the MHRA is also building upon this by working with NHS colleagues to support better links between the NHS app and Yellow Card, aiming for increased visibility of the Yellow Card scheme and improved reporting of suspected reactions by the public.Together, these measures increase public awareness of the Yellow Card scheme, helping protect patient safety and strengthen monitoring of medicines and medical devices.

Whether his Department plans to review labelling requirements for vitamin D supplements to ensure clearer communication of dosage strength.

Food supplements, including vitamin D supplements, are regulated in the United Kingdom under the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003, as well as other applicable food law, along with equivalent legislation for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Department is responsible for this legislation in England, working closely with the Food Standards Agency and local authorities, who lead on enforcement. Further information on the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 is avaiable at the following link:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/1387/made/data.pdfThe regulations have specific labelling requirements to support consumers to make informed choices. Food supplements legislation requires manufacturers to include the recommended dose and a warning not to exceed the stated dose on the label. The Department has published guidance to businesses on complying with the regulations, which is avaiable at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/food-supplements-guidance-and-faqsAlthough food supplements legislation does not set statutory maximum levels for vitamins and minerals, industry is encouraged to follow voluntary guidelines for safe upper levels, which for vitamin D is 100 micrograms, or 4,000 International Units, daily. The Department does not currently have plans to review labelling requirements for vitamin D or other supplements.The National Health Service website provides clear public advice on the daily recommended intake for vitamin D and warns of the potential harmful effects of taking too much vitamin D through food supplements. Further information is avaiable on the NHS website, at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/The Department always advises consumers to follow NHS guidance and consult a health professional if in doubt. The Department does not systematically collect data for people with health issues owing to excess vitamin D consumption.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure the public is aware of the safe upper limit for daily vitamin D supplementation.

Food supplements, including vitamin D supplements, are regulated in the United Kingdom under the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003, as well as other applicable food law, along with equivalent legislation for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Department is responsible for this legislation in England, working closely with the Food Standards Agency and local authorities, who lead on enforcement. Further information on the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 is avaiable at the following link:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/1387/made/data.pdfThe regulations have specific labelling requirements to support consumers to make informed choices. Food supplements legislation requires manufacturers to include the recommended dose and a warning not to exceed the stated dose on the label. The Department has published guidance to businesses on complying with the regulations, which is avaiable at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/food-supplements-guidance-and-faqsAlthough food supplements legislation does not set statutory maximum levels for vitamins and minerals, industry is encouraged to follow voluntary guidelines for safe upper levels, which for vitamin D is 100 micrograms, or 4,000 International Units, daily. The Department does not currently have plans to review labelling requirements for vitamin D or other supplements.The National Health Service website provides clear public advice on the daily recommended intake for vitamin D and warns of the potential harmful effects of taking too much vitamin D through food supplements. Further information is avaiable on the NHS website, at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/The Department always advises consumers to follow NHS guidance and consult a health professional if in doubt. The Department does not systematically collect data for people with health issues owing to excess vitamin D consumption.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the expansion of a) Urgent Treatment Centres and b) Same Day Emergency Care facilities on accident and emergency waiting times at Basildon Hospital.

The Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is exploring the development of an Urgent Treatment Centre within the Basildon and Thurrock area. The aim is to provide additional capacity for minor urgent health problems, ensuring that resources are targeted appropriately and that emergency care remains available for the most acutely unwell patients.Integrated care boards are best placed to take decisions on the provision of urgent and emergency care services and are therefore responsible for commissioning services to meet the needs of their local communities and population.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26 sets out clear actions to deliver improvements this winter and make services better every day. We are aiming for 78% of patients to be seen in in four hours this year, meaning over 800,000 people will receive more timely care. We are investing £250 million into expanding same day and urgent care services, helping avoid unnecessary admissions to hospital and supporting faster diagnosis, treatment and discharge for patients.

With reference to the planned closure of the University of Essex's Southend Campus, what assessment his Department has made of the provision of dentistry training in south Essex in the next five years.

While the Government is committed to ensuring sustainable training pathways for health and care professions, higher education institutions are independent providers and are responsible for making their own decisions about course delivery and viability based on learner demand and provider capacity.The closure of the University of Essex Southend campus is a consolidation of oral health, adult, and mental health nursing courses to their main campus at Colchester. This is not expected to negatively impact overall training numbers or local recruitment to these professions.

What comparative assessment he has made of accident and emergency performance at (a) Basildon Hospital, (b) other hospitals within Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust and (c) other national trusts.

The Government acknowledges that urgent and emergency care performance has not consistently met expectations in recent years. The Government is committed to restoring urgent and emergency care waiting times to the standards set out in the NHS Constitution by the end of this Parliament, as laid out in our 10-Year Health Plan.NHS England publishes monthly data on the proportion of patients seen, admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours in accident and emergency departments. The following table shows the latest figures as of November 2025 for the four-hour performance rates for Basildon Hospital, other hospitals within the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, and the national rate:MonthAreaPercentage of total accident and emergency type 1 and 2 attendances admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hoursLatest provisional performance data for November 2025England61.2%Basildon54.2%Mid Essex Hospital52.9%Southend Hospital53.4%Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust53.6%Note: site level performance data is only published as type 1 and 2 performance.Further information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2025-26/

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of unrecovered income on a) NHS trust finances and b) service delivery.

No formal assessment has been made of the potential impact of unrecovered income from the charging of overseas visitors on either National Health Service trust finances or service delivery.However, we continue to work with NHS England to ensure that the system of NHS cost recovery works as effectively and fairly as possible.

What the cost was of Private Finance Initiative contracts within the NHS in Essex in the latest financial year.

Unitary Charge payments associated with Private Finance Initiative contracts are captured in the annual National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority data collection, available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pfi-and-pf2-projects-2024-summary-data

What steps he is taking to help reduce avoidable ambulance demand in the East of England.

The Government is taking a comprehensive approach to reducing avoidable ambulance demand across the country including in the East of England. Our Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) Plan for 2025/26 aims to improve UEC performance with a focus on reducing ambulance handover delays by introducing a maximum 45-minute standard, freeing up ambulances to get back on the road.The plan also commits to increasing the number of patients receiving urgent care in the community by expanding services such as urgent community response, neighbourhood multidisciplinary teams, and increasing the use of virtual wards. By boosting the capacity and accessibility of these services, people can receive the care they need closer to home, reducing the need to call an ambulance or attend accident and emergency.NHS 111 continues to play a crucial role in managing demand by providing clinical advice and triage over the phone or online, ensuring patients are directed to the most appropriate service for their needs. This includes supporting more ‘hear and treat’ and ‘see and treat’ responses, where patients receive advice or treatment without the need for an ambulance to convey them to hospital.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled £78bn for councils in turning point settlement to cut deprivation, published on 17 December 2025, what impact the National Care Service will have on two-tier authority areas such as Basildon.

We are progressing towards a National Care Service based on higher quality of care, greater choice and control, and better join up between services, with approximately £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care by 2028/29 compared to 2025/26.We know that meaningful, lasting reform of adult social care across all tiers of local authority in England cannot be delivered overnight. To build consensus on plans for a National Care Service, Baroness Casey is chairing an Independent Commission into adult social care to shape the medium- and longer-term reforms needed, with phase 1 reporting later this year.We have already been putting the core foundations for a National Care Service in place, aligned with the Government’s three objectives for adult social care, by improving the quality of care by valuing and supporting our vital care workforce, and by legislating for a Fair Pay Agreement backed by £500 million of funding. We are strengthening join-up between health and social care services by developing neighbourhood health services and reforming the Better Care Fund. We are also enabling people to have more choice and control over their care, for instance by promoting greater use of direct payments.