Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have considered to use trained and non-active military personnel in NHS accident and emergency departments to utilise their skills to provide rapid triage of patient’s needs.

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

In April 2024, NHS England launched a drive to recruit armed forces veterans into a range of National Health Service roles. The Step into Health pathway supports members of the armed forces community in connecting to NHS organisations to set up training opportunities, clinical and general work placements, insight days, and application support. More information about the programme is available on the NHS website, in an online only format.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to support the plant-based by default approach to hospital menus proposed in the letter sent by the Plants First Healthcare Campaign to NHS Trusts and integrated care boards on 16 October, and if so, how.

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

The National Health Service does not intend to support a default plant-based approach to hospital food. The Government and the NHS understand the importance of patients receiving healthy, nutritious, and balanced food, including fruit, vegetables, and proteins. The NHS’ National Standards for Food and Drink encourage the use of healthier, more sustainable menus that include an increased consumption of fruit, vegetables, and fibre.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to eliminating National Insurance contributions for employers for each disabled employee who is hired; and what assessment have they made of the effect of this on the level of employment among the working-age disabled population.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

In order to repair the public finances and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the Government has taken the very difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance.

There are a wide range of factors that the Government needs to consider when introducing new tax reliefs, for example whether these support wider Government objectives, or add disproportionate complexity into the tax system. It is likely that a new relief would have to be paid for, at least in part, by increased taxes for other taxpayers or reducing expenditure on public services.

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