Written questions by Naish.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a weekly cap on domiciliary care costs.

We announced on 3 January 2025 that we are launching an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. Chaired by Baroness Louise Casey and reporting to the Prime Minister, the Commission will work with people who draw on care and their families, staff, politicians, and the public, private and third sector to make clear recommendations for how to rebuild the adult social care system to meet the current and future needs of the population. The Commission will be comprehensive and will build on the expert proposals of other reviews, including that of Sir Andrew Dilnot into care funding and support. It will be broader and wider than ever before, asking essential questions about the shape and future of the social care sector, including what long-term and sustainable funding solutions should look like.

What steps his Department is taking to help upskill existing pharmacists to enable them to become independent prescribers, in the context that, from 2026, all newly qualified pharmacists will becom

The Government is committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and to better using the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes embedding services such as Pharmacy First and making prescribing part of the services delivered by commun...

For what reason Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Analogues are permitted for treatment of precocious puberty but not gender incongruence.

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues, puberty suppressing hormones, have been licenced by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the treatment of precocious puberty and certain types of cancer. In granting a licence for th...

If he will take steps to encourage (a) pharmacists and (b) independent prescribers to work in the community.

The Government is committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and to better using the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes embedding services such as Pharmacy First and making prescribing part of the services delivered by commun...

How (a) pharmacies and (b) GPs will be able to contribute to defining the best services to include in the planned expanded Pharmacy First scheme; and when he plans that the consultation will begin.

The Government is committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and to better using the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes embedding services such as Pharmacy First and making prescribing part of the services delivered by commun...

What steps he is taking to ensure that domiciliary care is sustainably funded.

The Government is committed to reforming adult social care and improving the quality of care for people in need. That’s why we are taking steps to ensure all adult social care is sustainably funded, including domiciliary care. In 2025/26, the Government i...

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding existing water fluoridation arrangements in Nottinghamshire to cover the whole of (a) Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire.

No such assessment has been made. Public consultation is required on proposals for new, or the expansion of existing, community water fluoridation schemes. The Water Fluoridation (Consultation) (England) Regulations 2022 set out the requirements, and is a...

If he will make an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse of respiratory conditions in (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2034.

Chronic respiratory diseases are the third biggest contributor to Years of Life Lost in England. The annual economic burden of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on the National Health Service in the United Kingdom is estimated as £3 billion...

What steps he plans to take to improve the (a) availability and (b) quality of data on respiratory health.

Chronic respiratory diseases are the third biggest contributor to Years of Life Lost in England. The annual economic burden of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on the National Health Service in the United Kingdom is estimated as £3 billion...

What steps he plans to take to include a focus on respiratory conditions in the NHS Long Term Plan.

The Ten Year Health Plan will consider the change needed to meet the three health mission goals: a fairer system where everyone lives well for longer; a National Health service that is there when people need it and fewer lives lost to the biggest killers....

What steps he plans to take to ensure that only appropriately accredited psychologists are able to (a) diagnose and (b) treat illnesses and psychological disorders.

The British Psychological Society accredits undergraduate and postgraduate psychology programmes. Accreditation is an important hallmark of quality that is extensively acknowledged by employers in the field, and an essential stepping-stone for students wh...

What steps his Department is taking to support (a) experienced GPs not covered by the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme and (b) other GPs to find employment.

We remain committed to growing the number of doctors in general practice (GP) and we are working to increase the GP workforce in England.NHS England is working to address training bottlenecks so the health service has enough staff for the future, and we w...

If he will take steps to encourage practices to create salaried GP roles instead of using physician associates.

We have committed to training thousands more GPs across the country which will increase capacity in the system and take the pressure off those currently working in the system. NHS England is working to address training bottlenecks so the health service ha...

What steps he is taking to address regional disparities in cancer treatment.

Reducing inequalities and variation in cancer treatment is a priority for the Government, as is increasing early cancer diagnosis, as both are key contributors to reducing cancer health inequalities.To improve diagnosis and outcomes, NHS England is delive...