Written questions by Shannon.

If he will hold discussion with his Northern Ireland counterpart on trends in waiting times for access to CAMHS.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care had an introductory meeting with Northern Ireland's Minister of Health on 6 July 2024. During the meeting the ministers outlined their priorities and commitment to collaboration, which included discussion on mental health.

How many people are diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome as of July 2025.

The most recent data shows that there were 186 diagnoses in the year 2021, the latest year for which data is available, which resulted in 87 live births. Further information is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/ncardrs-congenital-anomaly-statistics-annual-data/ncardrs-congenital-anomaly-statistics-report-2021

If he will ensure that NHS workers receive above inflation pay awards.

The Government uses the independent Pay Review Body (PRB) process to set pay for all public sector workers. In reaching a decision on what to recommend, the PRBs consider recruitment, retention, funding, and the Government’s inflation target. The PRBs are also required to take account of economic and other evidence submitted by Government, professional representatives, and staff. The Government accepted the PRB’s recommendations in full on 29 July 2024.

What steps her Department is taking to help tackle violent crimes against women.

To make our streets safe, we must drastically reduce serious violent crimes and violence against women and girls; increase confidence in the police; stop young people falling into crime and make our criminal justice system work for victims. This Government will treat tackling violence against women and girls as a national emergency and will use every tool to target perpetrators and address the root causes of violence. We have set out our mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade. This includes drastically improving the police and wider criminal justice response, including targeting the most prolific and harmful perpetrators to better protect victims and preventing reoffending. Prevention and education are fundamental to our approach, and we will also tackle the root causes of these crimes, including supporting our education system to teach children about respectful and healthy relationships and consent.

Whether his Department plans to take steps to provide incentives to local communities for support for onshore wind projects in their areas.

Communities should benefit from hosting local renewable energy infrastructure and the Government will shortly publish updated community benefits guidance for onshore wind in England. The devolved administrations have their own policies regarding community benefits.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of air ambulance response times in rural areas.

No specific assessment has been made centrally by the Department. Air ambulance response times are not routinely published by Air Ambulance Charities.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) modernise NHS IT systems and (b) protect them from cyber attacks.

The National Health Service has made significant progress in digitising and modernising their services in recent years. Notably, we are on course to ensure that 93% of NHS trusts have an electronic patient record (EPR) system by the end of this year, reducing reliance on paper and significantly improving both clinical safety and performance. We are also working to ensure that 74% of trusts meet the minimum standards for the capability of those EPR systems. Those investments will make a marked difference to the digital capabilities of dozens of trusts.The Cyber Security Strategy for Health and Adult Social Care: 2023 to 2030 sets out plans to increase cyber resilience across the system. There is on-going work through the Cyber Improvement Programme that addresses the changing cyber risk landscape, expands protection and services, and reduces the risk of a successful attack. The NHS England Cyber Security Operations Centre monitors over 1.85 million devices across the NHS IT estate, identifying and preventing cyber incidents.

What discussions she has had with representatives of the aviation industry on levels of compensation for passengers whose flights are cancelled.

Regulation 261/2004 sets out passenger rights in the event of certain flight disruptions. Under this Regulation, passengers who have their flight cancelled are entitled to a refund or alternative flight. In some circumstances, passengers may also be entitled to additional compensation. Government is committed to working with industry and stakeholders to ensure consumers continue to have a high level of protection whilst travelling by air.

If she will have discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of increasing Barnett consequentials for dental services in Northern Ireland.

Funding for dental services in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive. Barnett consequentials provided as a result of changes to UK Government department budgets are not ringfenced and it is for the Northern Ireland Executive to allocate their funding in devolved areas. As part of the Interim Fiscal Framework for Northern Ireland, a 24% needs-based factor has been included in the Barnett formula for the Northern Ireland Executive to account for Northern Ireland’s greater level of relative need.

What assessment he has made of recent trends in levels of sustainability of GP practices in rural areas.

We recognize that patients are struggling to access general practice (GP), and more must be done to improve the sustainability of the National Health Service both nationally and in rural areas. The Government is committed to fixing the front door to the NHS, which is crucial for its long-term sustainability.We acknowledge the urgent challenge of ensuring rural areas have the resources to continue serving their patients. To address this, we will increase funding for GPs and primary care, and shift the focus of the NHS from hospitals to community-based care. We will also ensure rural areas have the necessary workforce to provide integrated, patient-centered services.We are committed to training thousands more GPs across the country, including in rural areas, starting with the training places outlined in the NHS’s Long-Term Workforce Plan. This will increase capacity, secure the future pipeline of GPs, and alleviate the pressure on those currently working in the system.We are pleased to announce that newly qualified GPs will be included in the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme as part of an initiative to address GP unemployment, with additional funding over 2024/25. This is a step in the journey while the Government works with GPs to identify longer term solutions to GP unemployment and sustainability.Additionally, we have accepted the DDRB recommendations in full and, subject to consultation with the BMA, we will uplift the pay element of the GP contract by 6% on a consolidated basis (an increase of 4% on top of the 2% interim uplift in April); to provide practices with funding to uplift GP partner, salaried GP and other salaried staff pay by 6%.

What plans he has to support high street retailers.

This Government is focused on its five-point plan to breathe life back into Britain’s high streets. Our plans include tackling retail crime, ensuring a level playing field between online and high street businesses, stamping out late payments and ending the blight of empty spaces. This work will ensure that our high streets are great places for our businesses, supporting economic growth across the UK.The British Business Bank supports SMEs to grow by improving their access to finance. The Growth Guarantee Scheme offers a 70% government guarantee on loans to SMEs of up to £2 million in Great Britain, and £1 million in Northern Ireland and is available until the end of March 2026.The industry-led Retail Sector Council has identified High Street Regeneration and Investment as one if its key area of work and has been considering a sector vision for the high street.

What support his Department (a) is providing and (b) plans to provide to veterans that experienced hearing loss during their service.

There is no individual compensation scheme for hearing loss. The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) compensates for any injury (including Noise-Induced Sensorineural Hearing Loss), illness or death which was caused by or worsened by service on or after 6 April 2005. The older War Pension Scheme (WPS) compensates for any injury, illness or death which was caused by or aggravated by service before 6 April 2005. Medical evidence is carefully considered, and hearing loss is assessed initially for attributability to service, based on the burden of proof associated with the scheme rules set by Parliament.In making a determination on a claim, decision makers take into consideration a wide variety of evidence. In a hearing loss claim this is likely to include but is not limited to the service medical records, audiograms, hospital case notes and GP records (if they have left service). The evidence is carefully considered in accordance with the scheme rules.If injury is found to be attributable to service, under the AFCS, hearing loss is assessed against Tariff Table 7 (senses), which details the type and level of hearing loss required to meet the criteria for the specific descriptors. Under the WPS, a percentage assessment is derived based on audiometric values. A 2023 review of the AFCS in the form of the quinquennial review (QQR) was last updated on 21 March 2024. The purpose of which is to ensure AFCS remains fit for purpose, providing appropriate recognition and financial support to those members of the Armed Forces who are injured, become ill or die as a result of service.

What steps he is taking to (a) increase public awareness and (b) reduce stigma in men about early screening for prostate cancer.

The Department actively supports campaigns to increase public awareness of the symptoms of prostate cancer. NHS England is running the Help Us Help You campaigns to raise awareness of cancer symptoms, including symptoms of prostate cancer, and to encourage people to come forward to see their general practitioner (GP). The Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme provides GPs with information to counsel asymptomatic men aged 50 years old and over about Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer.NHS England has also partnered with Cancer Alliances, charities, and local representatives to reach people through projects in the heart of their communities. Cancer Alliances have been undertaking action to alert at-risk groups about prostate cancer at a local level, where needed.There is no current screening programme for prostate cancer in the United Kingdom. This is because of the inaccuracy of the current best test, a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. A PSA-based screening programme could harm men, as some of them would be diagnosed with a cancer that would not have caused them problems during their life. This would lead to additional tests and treatments, which can also have harmful side effects. However, we are backing groundbreaking trials to improve diagnostic processes and save thousands more lives. This includes a £42 million UK-wide TRANSFORM trial, aimed at helping find the best way of screening for prostate cancer, to which the Department is providing £16 million.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on Hezbollah.

The situation on the defacto border between Lebanon and Israel is very concerning. A widening of the conflict is in nobody's interest and the Government condemns the strike in the Golan Heights that has tragically claimed at least 12 lives. We have been clear that Hizballah must cease their attacks. Our assessment remains that a strong, sovereign Lebanon with strong state institutions, including the Lebanese Armed Forces, is the best way to tackle Hizballah's influence in Lebanon. The Government continues to press these messages in engagement with counterparts and partners from both Israel and Lebanon, including with Israel's Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, during the Foreign Secretary's visit to Israel on 14 July and during the Foreign Secretary's call with Lebanon's Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on 29 July.

What recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts on increasing defence spending.

At the NATO Summit earlier in July 2024, the Prime Minister, Foreign and Defence Secretaries discussed a range of issues with our NATO allies at the NATO Summit. This included making the case for all NATO allies to increase defence spending, in light of the grave threats to our security. The UK continues to work internationally with our allies to encourage all NATO allies to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defence, with 23 allies now meeting this target. We see this as a minimum not a ceiling for defence spending in these more difficult times. This Government is committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence.

What steps he is taking to help increase the (a) survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and (b) availability of defibrillators in public and community settings.

As of July 2024, there are 93,113 automated external defibrillators registered in the United Kingdom on the National Defibrillator Network, also known as The Circuit, including 73,682 in England. Going forward, the Department has asked Professor Lord Darzi to investigate the state of the National Health Service, and will then set out its 10 year plan for the NHS.

What discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Communities Minister on the termination of the JobStart programme for 16-25 year olds in Northern Ireland.

I have not had any discussions with the Northern Ireland Communities Minister regarding the JobStart scheme. The Northern Ireland Department for the Communities is responsible for the delivery of the scheme which has received £15 million New Deal for Northern Ireland funding from the UK Government to cover the period April 2023 to March 2025.The JobStart application portal closed on 30 June 2024 as planned. All participants currently on the scheme will be able to complete their JobStart opportunity.Investment in skills and employment is a devolved matter and any decision on future funding for the JobStart scheme is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.

What steps his Department is taking with social care providers to ensure that the social care sector meets required staffing levels.

The Government recognises the scale of reforms needed to make the adult social care sector attractive, to support sustainable workforce growth, and to reduce the reliance on international recruitment. We want it to be regarded as a profession, and for the people who work in care to be respected as professionals.Those working in social care have been ignored for too long, and so will be at the heart of our initial reforms. We will engage with the workers and trade unions to deliver a long over-due new deal for care workers, including establishing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for care professionals, learning from countries where they operate successfully.

What discussions he has had with (a) Royal Mail and (b) prospective buyers for Royal Mail on retaining the universal service obligation.

The Secretary of State and I have met with Royal Mail’s parent company, International Distribution Services, and the EP Group to discuss the proposed takeover of IDS.The universal service obligation is a legally binding commitment on the designated universal service provider and its ongoing provision would be required irrespective of ownership of the business.

If he will make an assessment of the adequacy of diagnosis rates for pancreatic cancer in the last 12 months.

We will improve cancer survival rates by hitting all National Health Service cancer waiting time targets within five years, including for pancreatic cancer. We know that pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose due to the non-specific nature of its symptoms. To improve diagnosis and outcomes, NHS England is delivering a range of interventions including implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who have symptoms that do not align to a single tumour type, as is often the case with pancreatic cancer. 96 pathways are in place, and more are being introduced. NHS England is also increasing general practice direct access to diagnostic tests, alongside providing a route into pancreatic cancer surveillance for those at inherited high-risk, to identify lesions before they develop into cancer and diagnose cancers sooner.The most recent Faster Diagnosis Standard performance for upper gastrointestinal cancers, including oesophageal cancer, stomach cancer, small bowel cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer and cancers of the biliary system, is 76% against the 75% standard for May 2024.