Written questions by Smart.

If she will take steps with (a) Stockport Council and (b) the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to provide Metrolink services to Stockport.

This Government is investing in transport improvements across our city regions, including Greater Manchester which is receiving over £1 billion through its City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. In line with the Government’s commitment to devolution, decisions on where to invest this funding, including whether to extend the Metrolink network, rest with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in partnership with its constituent local authorities. The Greater Manchester CRSTS programme includes a number of schemes which will transform public transport and active travel in Stockport, including initiatives focused on bus priority.

What steps her Department is taking to clear the backlog in the National Referral Mechanism.

We have committed to clearing the backlog of Conclusive Grounds decisions by December 2026, improving decision timeliness for all potential victims of slavery and trafficking referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).We have recruited new staff to the Single Competent Authority and are seeing significantly increased number of Conclusive Grounds decisions as a result of these new staff becoming operational. Decision-making times have reduced in the most recent quarter and the backlog is now half the size it was at its peak.In addition, we are continuing to explore ways to improve the First Responder Form used by First Responder Organisations to refer potential victims of modern slavery and trafficking into the NRM, to improve the quality of referrals into the NRM system, so that decisions can be taken as early as possible.Statutory guidance outlines that a minimum period of 30 days must pass between a Reasonable Grounds and Conclusive Grounds decision, and that such a decision can only be made once all relevant information has been gathered or received.Statistics about NRM referrals and decisions are published quarterly on gov.uk.

Whether her Department has conducted feasibility studies on extending (a) Metrolink and (b) tram-train services to (i) towns and (ii) villages in Hazel Grove constituency.

This Government is investing in transport improvements across our city regions, including Greater Manchester which is receiving over £1 billion through its City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. In line with the Government’s commitment to devolution, decisions on where to invest this funding, including whether to conduct feasibility studies for extending Metrolink and tram-train services to towns and villages in the Hazel Grove constituency, rest with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in partnership with its constituent local authorities.

Whether she plans to set a target for decision waiting times in the National Referral Mechanism.

We have committed to clearing the backlog of Conclusive Grounds decisions by December 2026, improving decision timeliness for all potential victims of slavery and trafficking referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).We have recruited new staff to the Single Competent Authority and are seeing significantly increased number of Conclusive Grounds decisions as a result of these new staff becoming operational. Decision-making times have reduced in the most recent quarter and the backlog is now half the size it was at its peak.In addition, we are continuing to explore ways to improve the First Responder Form used by First Responder Organisations to refer potential victims of modern slavery and trafficking into the NRM, to improve the quality of referrals into the NRM system, so that decisions can be taken as early as possible.Statutory guidance outlines that a minimum period of 30 days must pass between a Reasonable Grounds and Conclusive Grounds decision, and that such a decision can only be made once all relevant information has been gathered or received.Statistics about NRM referrals and decisions are published quarterly on gov.uk.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of lifting the ban on people in the National Referral Mechanism working if they have been waiting for a decision for over three months.

An individual’s right to work depends on their immigration status in the UK. Many victims of modern slavery already have the legal right to work owing to being British or due to having pre-existing leave to remain for another reason.Victims with a right to work in the UK can do so while continuing to receive support through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).

What steps her Department is taking to improve public transport services to industrial estates.

Good local bus services, including to industrial estates, are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities. The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England. The government has committed to increasing accountability by including a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services. In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Greater Manchester Combined Authority has been allocated £66.3 million of this funding.Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.

What steps his Department is taking to improve access to NHS dental care for (a) pregnant women and (b) women in the postnatal period.

We are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a dentist and we want to make sure that everyone who needs a National Health Service dentist can get one, including pregnant women and new mothers. The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most.Pregnant women and women who have had a baby in the last 12 months are eligible for free NHS dental treatment. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/get-help-with-dental-costs/The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the Hazel Grove constituency, this is NHS Greater Manchester ICB.

Whether he plans to expand dental training programmes.

To reform the National Health Service and make it fit for the future, we have launched a 10-Year Health Plan as part of the Government’s five long-term missions.A central part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities.We will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.We will ensure the NHS has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.

What steps her Department is taking to increase the (a) frequency and (b) reliability of rail services on the Rose Hill to Manchester Piccadilly line.

The department expects operators to match capacity and frequency of their services to demand, which can mean increased service frequency where that is the right response - although these must also be operationally sustainable and deliver value for taxpayers. Ministers have made very clear to Northern’s management that its current performance, including between Rose Hill and Manchester, is not acceptable, and that is why the Rail North Partnership, through which the Department and Transport for the North jointly manage Northern’s contract, issued it with a notice of breach of contract. This required Northern to produce a detailed plan to improve its services.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the maintenance and repairs backlog at Stepping Hill Hospital on the quality of patient care.

The Government recognises that delivering high-quality National Health Service healthcare requires safe and effective infrastructure.Integrated care systems (ICSs) are responsible for strategic infrastructure planning for their respective areas and were recently commissioned by NHS England to develop 10-year infrastructure strategies. As part of these strategies, systems assessed how the estate, digital, equipment, and workforce models contribute to the delivery of the overarching system strategy, related clinical pathways, and national priorities for delivering care. The strategies included consideration of the condition of the estate.In 2025/26, the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board (ICB), responsible for Stepping Hill Hospital, has been provisionally allocated £187 million for operational capital, over £36 million for estates safety, and over £30 million to support constitutional standards recovery. The Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is encouraged to discuss options with the Greater Manchester ICB to allocate some of their operational capital and national programme allocations towards tackling the backlog of maintenance and ensuring that infrastructure supports quality care at Stepping Hill Hospital.We are pleased that despite challenging infrastructure, the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has made progress towards reducing its waiting list. As of February 2025, there were 35,824 patient pathways waiting for a procedure. Of these, 54.3% of pathways were waiting within 18 weeks for a procedure. This compares to 50.3% of pathways waiting within 18 weeks for a procedure in February 2024.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of not including Stepping Hill Hospital in the New Hospital Programme on (a) patient and staff safety, (b) quality of care and (c) the condition and adequacy of the infrastructure at that hospital.

The Stockport Foundation NHS Trust submitted an expression of interest (EOI) to join the New Hospital Programme (NHP) in 2021, alongside other National Health Service trusts. The Department worked with NHS England on a joint prioritisation exercise assessing the EOIs in detail.All EOIs were scored against a series of indicators from four categories: deliverability; better and smarter use of NHS infrastructure; fairer allocation of investment and efficient use of public resources; and stronger and greener NHS buildings. This assessment was conducted in conjunction with an analysis of metrics covering estates, finance, and quality from existing national datasets. An assessment of these EOIs against regional strategic priorities was also conducted.In May 2023, the Government confirmed that five hospitals constructed primarily using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) would be brought into the NHP, following a structural assessment by NHS England and the Department, which found that these hospitals would be unsafe to operate beyond 2030. Due to the size, complexity, and costs involved in rebuilding RAAC hospitals, it was not possible to invite other schemes to join.We are supporting the Stockport Foundation NHS Trust to improve the condition of the infrastructure at Stepping Hill Hospital, with up to £11.5 million from the critical infrastructure risk fund confirmed in 2024/25 to support the replacement of outpatient capacity and to deliver much needed improvements to patient and staff safety.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of irregular rail timetables on (a) employment and (b) education access in Greater Manchester.

The department requires its operators to plan services and rail timetables that are designed to respond to expected passenger demand, which includes understanding local demand factors such as access to employment and education. These timetables should be resilient and provide value for money for the taxpayer. Timetables are kept under review and, where appropriate, adjusted to reflect fluctuations in demand.

What steps his Department is taking to support to (a) local authorities and (b) Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council to identify new sites for the (i) expansion and (ii) development of existing hospital facilities.

The Government recognises that delivering high quality National Health Service healthcare requires the right infrastructure in the right places.Integrated care systems (ICSs) are responsible for strategic infrastructure planning as well as managing the operational capital for their respective local areas. This includes expanding and developing hospital facilities. The Department is supporting local NHS organisations to better manage their estates, and systems have developed infrastructure strategies which will inform their decision making and estate management.In this context, the Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council and other local authorities are encouraged to engage with their local integrated care board (ICB), the Greater Manchester ICB, to discuss opportunities for developing hospital infrastructure.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing incentive schemes to encourage NHS dentists to practice in areas that are experiencing a shortage of NHS dental professionals.

We are determined to rebuild National Health Service dentistry, but it will take time and there are no quick fixes. Strengthening the workforce is key to our ambitions.Integrated care boards have started to advertise posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see up to 240 dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.

What steps his Department is taking to improve access to cognitive behavioural therapy for people experiencing insomnia.

It is for local integrated care boards to decide whether cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) should be offered to their populations as a treatment for insomnia.NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression offers low-intensity therapy which may include interventions around sleep hygiene. Individuals who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression can be referred by their general practitioner, or can self-refer, to NHS Talking Therapies. This is available via the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/Individuals can also access helpful resources on sleep problems on the Every Mind Matters website. This is available at the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-health-issues/sleep/In addition, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s Prioritisation Board has recently agreed to prioritise digital technologies that deliver CBT interventions for insomnia and insomnia symptoms as a topic for the development of HealthTech guidance.

What steps his Department is taking to improve access to cognitive behavioural therapy for autistic adults with (a) a gambling addiction and (b) other forms of addiction.

National Health Service treatment for those experiencing gambling-related harms is currently offered through 15 specialist clinics, representing every region of England. These clinics provide access to expert clinicians who are able to offer relevant psychological and psychiatric support, including cognitive behavioural therapy. The Department is also continuing to invest in local drug and alcohol treatment services.In addition, people, including autistic people, who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression as a result of an addiction can be referred by their general practitioner, or can self-refer, to NHS Talking Therapies.Operational guidance for autism assessment services, published by NHS England in April 2023, sets out the expectation that primary and secondary mental health and psychological therapies services should make reasonable adjustments to routine care, so that it is more accessible for autistic people. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/autism-diagnosis-and-operational-guidance/NHS England has also published guidance for NHS systems on how to improve the quality and accessibility of care and support for autistic adults to meet their mental health needs, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/meeting-the-needs-of-autistic-adults-in-mental-health-services/

What steps she is taking to increase the number of judges to help reduce the backlog of court cases.

We are continuing to invest in high volume, regular judicial recruitment of around 1000 judges and tribunal members each year.

What the annual profits of NHS Professionals Ltd were in each of the last five years; and whether those profits were (a) reinvested into NHS service provision and (b) returned to his Department.

NHS Professionals Ltd (NHSP), a limited company wholly owned by the Department, is a supplier of clinical and non-clinical temporary workforce to client National Health Service trusts.The following table shows NHSP profit before tax and dividends paid to the Department over the last five years: Year Ended 31/3/24 £millionYear Ended 31/3/23 £millionYear Ended 31/3/22 £millionYear Ended 31/3/21 £millionYear Ended 31/3/20 £millionProfit before Tax3.78.516.818.911Dividends paidnil1018nil10Dividends received from NHSP are not ringfenced for specific purposes, but they are directly invested back into the wider healthcare economy by the Department. Where dividends are not taken, any profits generated are retained within the business and reinvested to support the delivery of its strategy.Full details of profits, dividend payments and declarations are shown in NHSP’s statutory accounts which are available at the following link:https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06704614

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of differing pay and conditions between people employed by NHS Professionals Ltd and people directly employed by the NHS on (a) recruitment, (b) retention and (c) staff morale.

No such assessment has been made. National Health Service trusts will locally identify the mix of permanent and temporary staffing that fits their workforce requirements and delivers value for money. This can include the use of NHS professionals.The Government values the dedicated staff we have working in the NHS, and is committed to supporting them so that they can continue to thrive, and we can retain their valuable skills and experience within the NHS. NHS England is leading a national NHS retention programme to drive a consistent, system-wide approach to staff retention across NHS trusts. This ensures trusts have access to proven retention strategies, data-driven monitoring, and can foster a more stable, engaged, productive, and supported workforce.

What comparative assessment he has made of the potential impact of EPC band requirements on (a) all homeowners and (b) homeowners with (i) detached and (ii) bungalow-style properties.

We have recently consulted on reforms to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) to ensure these are better aligned with our key policy objectives of achieving Clean Power by 2030 and accelerating to Net Zero, and effectively delivering the Warm Homes plan to reduce peoples bills and address fuel poverty. The consultation has now closed, and we are analysing the responses. As part of this we will consider the impact on relevant groups including homeowners and will publish the Government response in due course.