Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the 10 Year Health Plan, what steps his Department is taking to encourage Integrated Care Boards to engage directly with independent providers of mobile diagnostic imaging services to increase diagnostic capacity in community settings and reduce patient waiting times.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan: Fit for the Future, encourages the shift from hospital to community. This includes bringing diagnostic services closer to patients’ homes and improving access to timely testing in community settings. Integrated care boards (ICBs) will be integral to this shift as independent sector providers are commissioned by local ICBs, which deliver services to meet the specific health needs of their local population.

The plan also committed to a new commissioning framework for ICBs. The new strategic commissioning role is a continuous evidence-based process for ICBs to plan, purchase, monitor, and evaluate services over the longer term, and with this, improve population health, reduce health inequalities, and improve equitable access to consistently high-quality healthcare.

NHS England undertook an extensive market engagement in early 2026 to gain an understanding of the ways that the independent sector can support the National Health Service to increase diagnostic service capacity and productivity, including for mobile diagnostic services and those in community settings.

This insight is underpinning work to explore whether all relevant NHS procurement frameworks can be included in an easily accessible system. The work aims to facilitate a consistent and straightforward procurement approach, while being dynamic to enable new suppliers to join at any time.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the health costs caused by AI displacement in the workforce and associated stresses.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

The Department has not made an estimate of the health costs caused by artificial intelligence (AI) related workforce displacement and associated stresses. AI is being deployed to reduce administrative burdens, support clinical decision-making, improve workforce planning, and free up staff time in partnership with clinicians so we get best outcomes for patients and staff.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of large-scale nuclear in creating jobs and on economic growth.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Gigawatt-scale projects are delivering major benefits to local and national economies in support of the government’s growth agenda.

EDF reports that the Hinkley Point C project supports 26,000 direct and indirect jobs across Britain and contributes £13.3 billion to the national economy.

According to estimates by Oxford Economics, Sizewell C - an above ground replica of Hinkley Point C - will support 17,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide at peak construction, and contribute £26.6 billion to the economy across all regions of the UK over the construction period, with plans for 70% of construction spend to be placed with UK companies.

The government has tasked Great British Energy - Nuclear with identifying suitable sites that could host a potential large-scale new nuclear project. GBE-N will report to Ministers by Autumn 2026 on potential sites to inform future decisions in the next Spending Review and beyond.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that investment in the civil nuclear sector supports the long-term resilience of the UK's wider nuclear skills base.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Government’s commitment and investment in the civil nuclear sector provides greater certainty to industry, which supports recruitment and workforce development, Long-term resilience of the UK’s wider nuclear skills base is strengthened through delivery of the Nuclear Skills Plan.

Nuclear Skills Plan activity includes establishing regional skills hubs, which tailor national skills programmes to regional needs and career switcher programmes that rapidly transition experienced professionals into priority civil and defence nuclear roles. Government is also investing £65.6 million to support more than 500 doctoral students in nuclear and develop a pipeline of future subject matter experts.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on ensuring a skilled workforce for the (a) civil and (b) defence nuclear sectors.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Through the Nuclear Skills Plan, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Ministry of Defence work collaboratively with the nuclear industry organisations and academia in a coordinated effort to deliver the skilled workforce required for the civil and defence nuclear sectors.

Nuclear Skills Plan partner organisations have recruited thousands of apprentices and graduates and awarded bursaries and sponsorships to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Government is also investing £65.6 million of government funding to support more than 500 doctoral students in nuclear and develop a pipeline of future subject matter experts.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, in what way a fleet-deployment approach to gigawatt-scale nuclear development will support the civil nuclear supply chain and help ensure its long-term readiness and competitiveness.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Gigawatt-scale projects are delivering major benefits to local and national economies in support of the government’s growth agenda.

EDF reports that the Hinkley Point C project supports 26,000 direct and indirect jobs across Britain and contributes £13.3 billion to the national economy.

According to estimates by Oxford Economics, Sizewell C - an above ground replica of Hinkley Point C - will support 17,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide at peak construction, and contribute £26.6 billion to the economy across all regions of the UK over the construction period, with plans for 70% of construction spend to be placed with UK companies.

The government has tasked Great British Energy - Nuclear with identifying suitable sites that could host a potential large-scale new nuclear project. GBE-N will report to Ministers by Autumn 2026 on potential sites to inform future decisions in the next Spending Review and beyond.

Richard Pengelly