Found: Letter from Lord Carlile of Berriew to Baroness Merron (Dept of Health and Social Care) re: Tobacco and

Found: Letter from Baroness Merron (Department of Health and Social Care) re Tobacco and Vapes Bill, 11 February

Found: The Women’s Health Minster, Baroness Merron, confirmed that there would be a link to the checker on

Found: The Women’s Health Minster, Baroness Merron, confirmed that there would be a link to the checker on

Found: Correspondence from Baroness Merron relating to the Medical Training Bill, 20 February 2026 Correspondence

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 16 February (HL14539), whether they will establish a statutory duty for water companies to follow the recommendations of the advisory group to the Independent Water Commission and work with the Secretary of State and relevant public health authorities on the implementation, operation, and maintenance of community water fluoridation schemes.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The White Paper A New Vision for Water published in January 2026 sets out the Government’s plans to implement the recommendations of the Independent Water Commission. This includes an integrated water regulator to deliver fair and effective regulation that protects and improves public health. A drinking water quality advisory group, including scientific and public health experts, will be given responsibility for making regular recommendations for updating drinking water regulations to ensure value for money whilst helping protect and improve public health.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the letter from Baroness Merron to Lord Kamall on 19 February (DEP2026-0132), when they plan to announce which medical specialties will receive new posts as part of the planned delivery of 1,000 new specialty training posts over the next three years.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We set out in the 10-Year Health Plan that over the next three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts, with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need.

The Government will set out next steps, including how these new posts will be distributed across specialties and regions, in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the letter from Baroness Merron to Lord Kamall on 19 February (DEP2026-0132), when they plan to announce which regions will receive new posts as part of the planned delivery of 1,000 new specialty training posts over the next three years.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We set out in the 10-Year Health Plan that over the next three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts, with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need.

The Government will set out next steps, including how these new posts will be distributed across specialties and regions, in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 4 February (HL14044), whether the definition of “complex needs” will align with the definition to be used in the Schools White Paper.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Our 10-Year Health Plan will ensure that people with complex needs are supported to be active participants in their own care. As part of this, 95% of people with complex needs or long-term conditions will have an agreed personalised care plan by 2027. Care plans will be a feature of the developing Neighbourhood Health Service, which will deliver more care in local communities and move away from a one-size-fits-all approach, giving people more power and choice over the care they receive.

Work is currently underway to determine the definition of “complex needs” in the context of this target, and how care plans will be delivered in the future, including who will be best placed to coordinate and support delivery of care plans. This includes whether individuals who require Education, Health and Care Plans will be encompassed.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 2 February (HL13305), whether they expect a significant reduction in headcount in NHS England; and when they expect to reach their target for headcount reduction from the abolition of NHS England.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government’s ambition remains to reduce staff numbers by up to 50% across the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, and the integrated care boards. These reductions will be made by March 2028. NHS England’s voluntary redundancy scheme opened on 1 December and closed for applications on Tuesday 16 December. Colleagues have now been informed whether applications to the scheme were successful, however applications can be withdrawn at any time before final agreements are signed so we cannot yet confirm final numbers. The earliest date NHS England colleagues will start to leave under the scheme is 31 March. Our ambition is to let as many people leave voluntarily as possible and alongside ongoing recruitment controls and natural staff turnover, and we believe this will allow us to make significant progress towards the 50% headcount reduction.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 2 February (HL13305), what was the headcount at integrated care boards in (1) July 2024, and (2) the most recent period for which figures are available.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England publishes monthly NHS Workforce Statistics which includes detailed statistics on staffing by individual trust and integrated care board (ICB). This publication has been used to supply a response to this question.

As of July 2024, there were 24,780 headcount staff working in ICBs across England. As of November 2025, this figure has decreased by 22 to 24,758 headcount staff working in ICBs across England. These numbers cover all staff employed directly by ICBs.

In April 2025 staff from two Commissiong Support Units, the NHS North of England Commissioning Support Unit and the NHS Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit, transferred into the employment of their local ICBs, namely the NHS North East and Cumbria ICB and the NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB respectively. The impact of these moves was a one-off increase of 450 ICB staff across the two transfers.

Found: Baroness Merron, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (2025

Found: Letter dated 26/02/2026 from Baroness Merron to Lord Moylan regarding questions raised during the Terminally

Found: Letter dated 26/02/2026 from Baroness Merron to Earl Howe regarding questions raised during the Terminally

Found: Letter dated 26/02/2026 from Baroness Merron to Baroness Coffey regarding questions raised during the