Written questions by Morrison.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for the 10-year Health Plan of the report by the National Clinical Homecare Association entitled Best Kept Secret: The Value Of Clinical Homecare To The NHS, Patients And Society, published in July 2024.

We have committed to develop a 10-Year Health Plan to deliver a National Health Service fit for the future. As part of these reforms, we are determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and families receive the care they need when and where they need it.The use of evidence is embedded in our development of the 10-Year Health Plan, both by informing the proposals developed by the working groups supporting the plan, and in our ongoing assessment of the plan’s potential impacts. Both areas of work draw on a broad range of evidence, including published sources outside of the Department and NHS England.

Whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of providing additional funding for clinical homecare.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has made no recent assessment of the merits of providing additional funding for clinical homecare. The Department and NHS England recognise the importance of strengthening homecare medicine services, and continue to prioritise improvements in this area following the House of Lords Public Services Committee’s report, Homecare medicines services: an opportunity lost.Work is ongoing to explore a range of options to improve homecare services, including through the implementation of the recommendations accepted by the Department and NHS England. An update on this will be provided to the House of Lords Public Services Committee later this year.

What steps his Department is taking to support research into the use of digital cognitive assessments to improve early diagnosis of dementia.

The Department funds dementia research via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR has invested nearly £11 million of funding to develop new digital approaches for the early detection and diagnosis of dementia via the Invention for Innovation programme.In addition to NIHR funding, the Government’s Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme has provided funding to develop several digital cognitive assessments. For instance, through Innovate UK, the programme has awarded four United Kingdom based companies a share of the £4 million of funding to enable their biomarkers to be tested and validated in a large, diverse group of people, as part of the Bio-Hermes-002 study, which includes a series of tests which look at memory, language, and other cognitive skills.The programme has also committed to investing £2 million into a quick and easy digital test of patients’ cognitive functions, to be included in the READ-OUT study, which could lead to more accurate diagnoses when administered with blood biomarker tests for Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia. Some of these innovations could support improved diagnosis in the future, if validated for clinical use.The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including dementia. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Welcoming applications on dementia to all NIHR programmes enables maximum flexibility both in terms of the amount of research funding a particular area can be awarded, and the type of research which can be funded.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure a (a) consistent and (b) sustainable funding framework for community equipment provision across local authorities and NHS bodies.

At the 2024 Autumn Budget, the Government announced a £22.6 billion increase in day-to-day health spending and a £3.1 billion increase in the capital budget over 2024/2025 and 2025/2026. Departmental budgets beyond 2025/26 will be set through phase two of the Spending Review, which will conclude and be published in June 2025.Local authorities and National Health Service procuring authorities are responsible for discussing and agreeing contracts with community equipment suppliers, which will take into account the resources available to them. Economic growth is the Government’s number one mission and the Government supports businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. To support the growth mission, the Government is driving forward work to implement a modern Industrial Strategy, to reset trade relations, to support small business and deliver a new deal for working people.

What mechanisms his Department has put in place to hold the British Acupuncture Council to account for (a) injuries and (b) illnesses from acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncturists are not statutorily regulated in the United Kingdom. The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) operates a voluntary registers programme, which provides a proportionate means of assurance for unregulated professions and which sits between employer controls and statutory regulation by setting standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for unregulated health and social care occupations.The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) holds a register of acupuncturists, which is accredited by the PSA. To gain accreditation from the PSA, organisations must meet its nine Standards for Accredited Registers. These standards require organisations: to have a focus on public protection; to have processes for handling complaints against practitioners; to set appropriate levels of education and training for entry to the register; to require registrants to undertake continuing professional development; and to understand and monitor the risks associated with the practices of registrants.The BAcC is an independent, representative body and as such, does not fall under Government oversight. Therefore, any decisions about the practice requirements for the professions it represents are a matter for the organisation and its members.The Government would encourage anyone accessing acupuncture services to establish whether their practitioner is registered with a voluntary register accredited by the PSA, such as that held by the BAcC.

What (a) safeguards and (b) support her Department has put in place to help protect people who experience (i) injury and (ii) illness from acupuncture.

Acupuncturists are not statutorily regulated in the United Kingdom. The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) operates a voluntary registers programme, which provides a proportionate means of assurance for unregulated professions and which sits between employer controls and statutory regulation by setting standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for unregulated health and social care occupations.The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) holds a register of acupuncturists, which is accredited by the PSA. To gain accreditation from the PSA, organisations must meet its nine Standards for Accredited Registers. These standards require organisations: to have a focus on public protection; to have processes for handling complaints against practitioners; to set appropriate levels of education and training for entry to the register; to require registrants to undertake continuing professional development; and to understand and monitor the risks associated with the practices of registrants.The BAcC is an independent, representative body and as such, does not fall under Government oversight. Therefore, any decisions about the practice requirements for the professions it represents are a matter for the organisation and its members.The Government would encourage anyone accessing acupuncture services to establish whether their practitioner is registered with a voluntary register accredited by the PSA, such as that held by the BAcC.

How many NHS prescription penalty charges were overturned in each of the last five years; how many appeals were rejected; and how many successful appeals were categorised as you think you have an exceptional reason not to pay, and can show that you did not act wrongfully or with any lack of care.

The following table shows the number of penalty charges overturned in the last five years, from 2019/20 to 2024/25: Financial yearExemption confirmed and penalty charge cancelled2019/20361,9702021/224,0692022/23150,3512023/2492,5492024/2568,128Notes:the data provided does not include easements applied where a valid exemption for maternity or medical certificates is awarded within 60 days of a Penalty Charge Notice being issued. This enables patients who are entitled to an exemption, for example through pregnancy, to make the appropriate claim for an exemption certificate if they have not already done so;2021/22 saw a reduced number of penalty charges due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; andthe data is a snapshot as of 1 April 2025 and therefore figures may increase if the extract is repeated.The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) does not categorise or collect data on unsuccessful appeals, or the reason given when a patient has attempted to challenge a penalty charge. Therefore, the NHSBSA does not hold data on how many appeals were rejected, or how many successful appeals were categorised as ‘you think you have an exceptional reason not to pay, and can show that you did not act wrongfully or with any lack of care’.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of carrying out bone density scans for early onset osteoporosis in women who have gone through the menopause.

One in three women and one in five men will experience an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime. Never again will women’s health be neglected, and we will prioritise women’s health as we build a National Health Service fit for the future.Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) are a globally recognised care model that can reduce the risk of refracture for people at risk of osteoporosis by up to 40%. They can play a vital role in improving quality of life and increasing the number of years that can be lived in good health. We remain committed to rolling out FLS across every part of the country by 2030.DEXA scans are a vital component of the early diagnosis of osteoporosis. We are investing in high-tech DEXA scanners, which are expected to provide an extra 29,000 scans per year, to ensure that people with bone conditions get diagnosed earlier.

If he will increase funding for biomedical research as part of the cross-Government delivery plan for Myalgic encephalomyelitis.

We are committed to improving care and support for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). We recognise how devastating the symptoms can be, and the significant impact they can have on patients and their families.We intend to provide additional support to ME/CFS researchers to develop high quality funding applications and to access existing National Institute for Health and Care Research and Medical Research Council research funding. All research funding applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Our forthcoming ME/CFS delivery plan will outline the additional support we will offer to the research community to increase the volume and quality of applications and, therefore, increase the allocation of funding to this area. While no specific assessment has been made of the impact of ME/CFS on the economy, we know that long-term conditions like ME/CFS not only impact negatively on patients and their loved ones, but also come at a cost to health and care services and the wider economy through, for example, loss of work and an increased benefits bill. The content of the delivery plan has not yet been finalised. The responses to the 2023 interim delivery plan consultation, along with continued close engagement with stakeholders, will inform the development of the final delivery plan. We have listened to key ME/CFS stakeholders to allow for more time to develop the plan and help ensure we can be as ambitious as possible across the three themes, to make the most impact for those living with ME/CFS. As such, we aim to publish the plan by the end of June. As well as boosting research, the plan will focus on improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease. People with ME/CFS deserve the most appropriate treatment, and deserve to be confident that the National Health Service can offer that treatment. We recognise that care for people with ME/CFS has varied widely, and in the worst cases has left some people feeling that their illness is not recognised by the health and care system. We know that more research, better services, and a better understanding of the condition all have the potential to make a huge difference in the quality of life of people with ME/CFS.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of myalgic encephalomyelitis on the economy.

We are committed to improving care and support for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). We recognise how devastating the symptoms can be, and the significant impact they can have on patients and their families.We intend to provide additional support to ME/CFS researchers to develop high quality funding applications and to access existing National Institute for Health and Care Research and Medical Research Council research funding. All research funding applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Our forthcoming ME/CFS delivery plan will outline the additional support we will offer to the research community to increase the volume and quality of applications and, therefore, increase the allocation of funding to this area. While no specific assessment has been made of the impact of ME/CFS on the economy, we know that long-term conditions like ME/CFS not only impact negatively on patients and their loved ones, but also come at a cost to health and care services and the wider economy through, for example, loss of work and an increased benefits bill. The content of the delivery plan has not yet been finalised. The responses to the 2023 interim delivery plan consultation, along with continued close engagement with stakeholders, will inform the development of the final delivery plan. We have listened to key ME/CFS stakeholders to allow for more time to develop the plan and help ensure we can be as ambitious as possible across the three themes, to make the most impact for those living with ME/CFS. As such, we aim to publish the plan by the end of June. As well as boosting research, the plan will focus on improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease. People with ME/CFS deserve the most appropriate treatment, and deserve to be confident that the National Health Service can offer that treatment. We recognise that care for people with ME/CFS has varied widely, and in the worst cases has left some people feeling that their illness is not recognised by the health and care system. We know that more research, better services, and a better understanding of the condition all have the potential to make a huge difference in the quality of life of people with ME/CFS.

If he will take steps to ensure the delivery plan for myalgic encephalomyelitis will contain mechanisms for (a) scruitnising and (b) measuring progress.

We are committed to improving care and support for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). We recognise how devastating the symptoms can be, and the significant impact they can have on patients and their families.We intend to provide additional support to ME/CFS researchers to develop high quality funding applications and to access existing National Institute for Health and Care Research and Medical Research Council research funding. All research funding applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Our forthcoming ME/CFS delivery plan will outline the additional support we will offer to the research community to increase the volume and quality of applications and, therefore, increase the allocation of funding to this area. While no specific assessment has been made of the impact of ME/CFS on the economy, we know that long-term conditions like ME/CFS not only impact negatively on patients and their loved ones, but also come at a cost to health and care services and the wider economy through, for example, loss of work and an increased benefits bill. The content of the delivery plan has not yet been finalised. The responses to the 2023 interim delivery plan consultation, along with continued close engagement with stakeholders, will inform the development of the final delivery plan. We have listened to key ME/CFS stakeholders to allow for more time to develop the plan and help ensure we can be as ambitious as possible across the three themes, to make the most impact for those living with ME/CFS. As such, we aim to publish the plan by the end of June. As well as boosting research, the plan will focus on improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease. People with ME/CFS deserve the most appropriate treatment, and deserve to be confident that the National Health Service can offer that treatment. We recognise that care for people with ME/CFS has varied widely, and in the worst cases has left some people feeling that their illness is not recognised by the health and care system. We know that more research, better services, and a better understanding of the condition all have the potential to make a huge difference in the quality of life of people with ME/CFS.

What steps he is taking to support (a) the NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care System and (b) other NHS bodies with (i) financial deficits and (ii) cash flow.

NHS England has a range of mechanisms and guidance in place to support local organisations to improve their financial management. As part of the Oversight Framework, which is currently being refreshed, NHS England closely monitors the financial performance of providers and systems, intervening and providing support where there is concern about a risk of overspending against agreed plans.The Investigation and Intervention programme was established in 2024/25 to help National Health Service systems that were facing significant risk to their finances. Following a comprehensive review, a series of actions and interventions are implemented to rectify the risks within their plan. The Greater Manchester Integrated Care System entered the Investigation and Intervention programme in July 2024 and has received external support to develop and implement a financial recovery plan that does not adversely impact patient care or service delivery. Organisations with the largest financial challenges will enter NHS England's Recovery Support Programme (RSP) and will receive assistance from the National Intensive Support Team to strengthen financial control. Support for organisations who have entered the RSP can include, but is not limited to, specialist support to reduce use of agency staffing, implementation of cost controls, and full implementation of the grip and control checklist. The Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust entered the RSP in November 2022 and is currently being supported by its intensive support team to review its spending and recovery plans. These support mechanisms should ensure the continuity of services and patient safety, and ultimately where NHS trusts need help with cash flow, the Department will provide cash support in the form of Public Dividend Capital. To date, NHS trusts within the Greater Manchester Integrated Care System have received £22.4 million of cash support in 2024/25, with the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust receiving £15.6 million and the Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust receiving £6.8 million.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of NHS Greater Manchester's financial deficit on (a) patient care and (b) service delivery.

NHS England has a range of mechanisms and guidance in place to support local organisations to improve their financial management. As part of the Oversight Framework, which is currently being refreshed, NHS England closely monitors the financial performance of providers and systems, intervening and providing support where there is concern about a risk of overspending against agreed plans.The Investigation and Intervention programme was established in 2024/25 to help National Health Service systems that were facing significant risk to their finances. Following a comprehensive review, a series of actions and interventions are implemented to rectify the risks within their plan. The Greater Manchester Integrated Care System entered the Investigation and Intervention programme in July 2024 and has received external support to develop and implement a financial recovery plan that does not adversely impact patient care or service delivery. Organisations with the largest financial challenges will enter NHS England's Recovery Support Programme (RSP) and will receive assistance from the National Intensive Support Team to strengthen financial control. Support for organisations who have entered the RSP can include, but is not limited to, specialist support to reduce use of agency staffing, implementation of cost controls, and full implementation of the grip and control checklist. The Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust entered the RSP in November 2022 and is currently being supported by its intensive support team to review its spending and recovery plans. These support mechanisms should ensure the continuity of services and patient safety, and ultimately where NHS trusts need help with cash flow, the Department will provide cash support in the form of Public Dividend Capital. To date, NHS trusts within the Greater Manchester Integrated Care System have received £22.4 million of cash support in 2024/25, with the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust receiving £15.6 million and the Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust receiving £6.8 million.

What steps he is taking to help NHS Greater Manchester achieve financial balance by the end of the financial year.

NHS England has a range of mechanisms and guidance in place to support local organisations to improve their financial management. As part of the Oversight Framework, which is currently being refreshed, NHS England closely monitors the financial performance of providers and systems, intervening and providing support where there is concern about a risk of overspending against agreed plans.The Investigation and Intervention programme was established in 2024/25 to help National Health Service systems that were facing significant risk to their finances. Following a comprehensive review, a series of actions and interventions are implemented to rectify the risks within their plan. The Greater Manchester Integrated Care System entered the Investigation and Intervention programme in July 2024 and has received external support to develop and implement a financial recovery plan that does not adversely impact patient care or service delivery. Organisations with the largest financial challenges will enter NHS England's Recovery Support Programme (RSP) and will receive assistance from the National Intensive Support Team to strengthen financial control. Support for organisations who have entered the RSP can include, but is not limited to, specialist support to reduce use of agency staffing, implementation of cost controls, and full implementation of the grip and control checklist. The Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust entered the RSP in November 2022 and is currently being supported by its intensive support team to review its spending and recovery plans. These support mechanisms should ensure the continuity of services and patient safety, and ultimately where NHS trusts need help with cash flow, the Department will provide cash support in the form of Public Dividend Capital. To date, NHS trusts within the Greater Manchester Integrated Care System have received £22.4 million of cash support in 2024/25, with the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust receiving £15.6 million and the Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust receiving £6.8 million.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce barriers to NHS funding for (a) Chemosat and (b) other cancer treatments classified as medical devices.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published guidance in 2021, through its interventional procedures programme, that recommends that chemosaturation can be used for patients with secondary liver metastases resulting from a primary ocular melanoma, provided special arrangements are in place. NICE interventional procedures guidance considers the safety and efficacy of a treatment, but not whether it represents value for money and if it should be funded by the National Health Service. It is therefore for NHS England to decide if the treatment should be made routinely available based on the available evidence, and NHS England’s clinical commissioning policy states that it will not routinely commission chemosaturation for liver metastates from ocular melanomas, as there is insufficient evidence to support its use. Both NHS England’s policy and the NICE guidance will be reviewed if sufficient new evidence becomes available.No assessment has been made of the adequacy of the support provided specifically to rare cancer patients. NHS England is committed to ensuring that all cancer patients are offered a Holistic Needs Assessment and Personalised Care and Support Planning, ensuring care is focused on what matters most to each person, including those with rare cancers. This is being delivered in line with the NHS Comprehensive Model for Personalised Care, empowering people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer and maximise the potential of digital and community-based support.Health and wellbeing information and support is provided from diagnosis onwards and includes access to NHS Talking Therapy services for anxiety and depression. This is alongside wider work to improve psychosocial support for people affected by cancer, for instance through local partnerships with cancer support charities.Additionally, the Innovative Device Access Pathway pilot, launched in February 2024, aims to streamline the introduction of innovative medical technologies to the market. The pilot provides intensive support and advice to selected target areas which are major causes of death and disease, and the pilot cohort included cancer treatments. The advice includes steps to overcome adoption barriers and facilitate patient access in the NHS. The learning from the pilot will be put to use.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including those with rarer cancers. We are now in discussions about what form that plan should take, and what its relationship to the 10-Year Health Plan and the Government’s wider Health Mission should be, and we will provide updates in due course.

What support is available to help patients with metastatic ocular melanoma cope with the psychological impact of limited NHS treatment options.

The National Health Service is committed to ensuring that cancer patients have access to personalised care, including a needs assessment, a care plan, and health and wellbeing information and support, as outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan. Personalised care ensures that each person’s care is planned holistically, covering mental and physical health as well as any practical or financial concerns. The NHS is supporting adults experiencing cancer with access to psychosocial support, which can include NHS Talking Therapy services, which provide evidence-based psychological therapies for people with anxiety disorders and depression.Improving outcomes for rarer cancers, including ocular melanoma, is an area of focus for the National Cancer Plan for England, which will seek to improve both the physical and mental health aspects of cancer care. The plan’s overarching goal will be to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next ten years.To understand how we can do more to achieve our ambitions for cancer in England, on 4 February 2025 we launched a Call for Evidence for the National Cancer Plan, in which the views of people across the country will inform our plan to improve cancer care, including for rarer cancers. Those who wish to share their views can do so on the new online platform, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/shaping-the-national-cancer-planThe Department is committed to working closely with the devolved administrations on health matters to share best practice and deliver better outcomes for patients across the United Kingdom. The devolved administrations’ Phase 1 Spending Review settlements for 2025/26 are the largest, in real terms, of any settlements since devolution. The allocation of these settlements is the responsibility of the devolved administrations.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that Chemosat is made available on the NHS following its recommendation by NICE in 2021.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published guidance in 2021, through its interventional procedures programme, that recommends that chemosaturation can be used for patients with secondary liver metastases resulting from a primary ocular melanoma. For these patients, this procedure should only be used with special arrangements for clinical governance, consent, an audit, or research.NICE’s interventional procedures guidance considers the safety and efficacy of a treatment, but not whether it represents value for money and if it should be funded by the National Health Service. Only recommendations which come from NICE’s technology appraisal or highly specialised technology evaluation carry the mandatory requirement for NHS funding.It is therefore for NHS England to decide if the treatment should be made routinely available based on the available evidence, and NHS England’s clinical commissioning policy states that it will not routinely commission chemosaturation for liver metastases from ocular melanomas as evidence has shown only some short term-tumour benefits to the treatment. Both NHS England’s policy and NICE’s guidance will be reviewed if sufficient new evidence becomes available.Furthermore, we will publish a new National Cancer Plan, which will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including through improved treatment options.

If he will make an assessment of the (a) potential implications for his policies of the proportion of individual funding request applications for chemosat treatment that are rejected and (b) adequacy of support provided to rare cancer patients.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published guidance in 2021, through its interventional procedures programme, that recommends that chemosaturation can be used for patients with secondary liver metastases resulting from a primary ocular melanoma, provided special arrangements are in place. NICE interventional procedures guidance considers the safety and efficacy of a treatment, but not whether it represents value for money and if it should be funded by the National Health Service. It is therefore for NHS England to decide if the treatment should be made routinely available based on the available evidence, and NHS England’s clinical commissioning policy states that it will not routinely commission chemosaturation for liver metastates from ocular melanomas, as there is insufficient evidence to support its use. Both NHS England’s policy and the NICE guidance will be reviewed if sufficient new evidence becomes available.No assessment has been made of the adequacy of the support provided specifically to rare cancer patients. NHS England is committed to ensuring that all cancer patients are offered a Holistic Needs Assessment and Personalised Care and Support Planning, ensuring care is focused on what matters most to each person, including those with rare cancers. This is being delivered in line with the NHS Comprehensive Model for Personalised Care, empowering people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer and maximise the potential of digital and community-based support.Health and wellbeing information and support is provided from diagnosis onwards and includes access to NHS Talking Therapy services for anxiety and depression. This is alongside wider work to improve psychosocial support for people affected by cancer, for instance through local partnerships with cancer support charities.Additionally, the Innovative Device Access Pathway pilot, launched in February 2024, aims to streamline the introduction of innovative medical technologies to the market. The pilot provides intensive support and advice to selected target areas which are major causes of death and disease, and the pilot cohort included cancer treatments. The advice includes steps to overcome adoption barriers and facilitate patient access in the NHS. The learning from the pilot will be put to use.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including those with rarer cancers. We are now in discussions about what form that plan should take, and what its relationship to the 10-Year Health Plan and the Government’s wider Health Mission should be, and we will provide updates in due course.

If he will hold discussions with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations on the adequacy of funding for metastatic ocular melanoma patients in each nation.

The National Health Service is committed to ensuring that cancer patients have access to personalised care, including a needs assessment, a care plan, and health and wellbeing information and support, as outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan. Personalised care ensures that each person’s care is planned holistically, covering mental and physical health as well as any practical or financial concerns. The NHS is supporting adults experiencing cancer with access to psychosocial support, which can include NHS Talking Therapy services, which provide evidence-based psychological therapies for people with anxiety disorders and depression.Improving outcomes for rarer cancers, including ocular melanoma, is an area of focus for the National Cancer Plan for England, which will seek to improve both the physical and mental health aspects of cancer care. The plan’s overarching goal will be to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next ten years.To understand how we can do more to achieve our ambitions for cancer in England, on 4 February 2025 we launched a Call for Evidence for the National Cancer Plan, in which the views of people across the country will inform our plan to improve cancer care, including for rarer cancers. Those who wish to share their views can do so on the new online platform, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/shaping-the-national-cancer-planThe Department is committed to working closely with the devolved administrations on health matters to share best practice and deliver better outcomes for patients across the United Kingdom. The devolved administrations’ Phase 1 Spending Review settlements for 2025/26 are the largest, in real terms, of any settlements since devolution. The allocation of these settlements is the responsibility of the devolved administrations.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure the continuation of a community eating disorders service in Stockport following the planned closure of the existing service at Oakwood House on 31 March 2025.

Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board (ICB) will continue to commission adult community eating disorders for the residents of Stockport and is working to agree arrangements with an alternative National Health Service provider given the planned closure of Oakwood House. The plan is for the replacement service to offer National Institute for Health and Care Excellence-compliant evidence-based services for eating disorders, in addition to a physical health pathway and medical monitoring, which is currently not delivered by Oakwood Psychology Services.The ICB has put in place plans to manage the transition between services, including exit planning meetings with Oakwood who are continuing treatments and interventions with current patients on the caseload to handover a service with no waiting list. The ICB will be maintaining a log of all services’ users, with non- patient identifiable information, who will need to be transferred to the new provider and have the right information governance processes in place. Oakwood will continue to offer advice and support to key referrers and stakeholders about any of their patients.