Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to help people with care home fees.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Adult social care is devolved across the United Kingdom. In England, the current system of charging for care is based on a long-standing principle of personal responsibility. However, where an individual has assets of less than £23,250, they are entitled to state-funded support with their fees. Those who reside in care homes are also entitled to maintain some of their income, via the Personal Expenses Allowance (PEA), after paying for care. The PEA is currently set at £30.15 per week, and allows individuals to purchase personal items that are not part of their care. Individuals can also retain any of their income, or assets, which are disregarded under the Care and Statutory Support guidance.
We have had to announce that the commitment we inherited to introduce charging reform by October 2025 cannot be taken forward. The funding for the reforms was not guaranteed and councils warned that the reforms are now impossible to deliver to previously announced timeframes.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will hold discussion with his Northern Ireland counterpart on trends in waiting times for access to CAMHS.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care had an introductory meeting with Northern Ireland's Minister of Health on 6 July 2024. During the meeting the ministers outlined their priorities and commitment to collaboration, which included discussion on mental health.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) modernise NHS IT systems and (b) protect them from cyber attacks.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Health Service has made significant progress in digitising and modernising their services in recent years. Notably, we are on course to ensure that 93% of NHS trusts have an electronic patient record (EPR) system by the end of this year, reducing reliance on paper and significantly improving both clinical safety and performance. We are also working to ensure that 74% of trusts meet the minimum standards for the capability of those EPR systems. Those investments will make a marked difference to the digital capabilities of dozens of trusts.
The Cyber Security Strategy for Health and Adult Social Care: 2023 to 2030 sets out plans to increase cyber resilience across the system. There is on-going work through the Cyber Improvement Programme that addresses the changing cyber risk landscape, expands protection and services, and reduces the risk of a successful attack. The NHS England Cyber Security Operations Centre monitors over 1.85 million devices across the NHS IT estate, identifying and preventing cyber incidents.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
As set out in the King’s Speech, a bill will be introduced to progressively increase the age at which people can be sold cigarettes and impose limits on the sale and marketing of vapes. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will pave the way for a smoke-free United Kingdom and will be the biggest public health intervention since the ban on smoking in indoor public places in 2007.
The bill is a key pillar of the Government’s Health Mission to help people stay healthier for longer, reduce the number of premature deaths from the biggest killers like cancer, and raise the healthiest generation of children in our history.
It will also save thousands of lives, break the cycle of addiction and disadvantage, and begin the immense task of fixing our broken health system and rebuilding our economy. We will introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to Parliament in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ensure that NHS workers receive above inflation pay awards.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government uses the independent Pay Review Body (PRB) process to set pay for all public sector workers. In reaching a decision on what to recommend, the PRBs consider recruitment, retention, funding, and the Government’s inflation target. The PRBs are also required to take account of economic and other evidence submitted by Government, professional representatives, and staff. The Government accepted the PRB’s recommendations in full on 29 July 2024.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people are diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome as of July 2025.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The most recent data shows that there were 186 diagnoses in the year 2021, the latest year for which data is available, which resulted in 87 live births. Further information is available at the following link:
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps with the food industry to help reduce the calorie content of processed foods.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises that prevention will always be better, and cheaper, than a cure, and we will take preventative public health measures to tackle the biggest killers and to support people in living longer, healthier lives.
As suppliers of what we eat and drink, the food industry has a key role to play in supporting the health of the nation. The voluntary calorie reduction programme requires businesses in all sectors to reduce the level of calories in the everyday food we buy for consumption, in or out of the home. This delivers change that will enable consumers to eat more healthily, without having to change their usual diets. Processed foods in scope of the programme include pizzas, crisps, sandwiches, and ready meals.
Retailers and manufacturers are required to reduce calorie levels by 10%, and out of home businesses, including takeaway and delivery, are required to reduce calorie levels by 20%, against a 2017 baseline. Up to 25% of all adult energy intake is consumed out of the home, and foods and dishes served in the out of home sector generally contain double the levels of calories seen in similar products purchased in supermarkets, which is why they have a higher target.
The first progress report on the voluntary programme showed generally little change in calorie levels across all sectors and categories between 2017 and 2021, so it is clear that more needs to be done. The Government recognises that we face an obesity crisis and need to act. As set out in the King's Speech, the Government will bring forward the necessary secondary legislation to ban junk food advertising to children, and to stop the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16-year-olds.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will have discussions with the Northern Ireland Health Minister on the provision of NHS dental care in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Whilst the provision of National Health Service dental care is devolved, My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care intends to engage fully with Ministers from all four nations on matters crucial to the future of our health and social care system. My Rt hon. Friend will keep me updated on these discussions.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking with social care providers to ensure that the social care sector meets required staffing levels.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the scale of reforms needed to make the adult social care sector attractive, to support sustainable workforce growth, and to reduce the reliance on international recruitment. We want it to be regarded as a profession, and for the people who work in care to be respected as professionals.
Those working in social care have been ignored for too long, and so will be at the heart of our initial reforms. We will engage with the workers and trade unions to deliver a long over-due new deal for care workers, including establishing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for care professionals, learning from countries where they operate successfully.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that people who are eligible for IVF treatment receive three cycles of NHS-funded treatment.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards (ICBs), and are based on the clinical needs of their local population. Organisations are expected to commission fertility services in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines, which are based on the clinical evidence of the most effective treatment. The Department will be working with NHS England to support ICBs in improving the current National Health Service offer for patients.