Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review financial relief for pharmacies on PFI estates, including rent-subsidy schemes and a statutory cap on PFI rents for NHS pharmacy contractors.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

For 2025/26, funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework was increased to £3.1 billion. This represented the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service at the time, over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26. As is custom and practice, the Department will consult Community Pharmacy England on any proposed changes to future reimbursement and remuneration of pharmacy contractors.

Community pharmacies are private businesses that provide NHS services. Pharmacies also receive private, non-NHS, income, which contributes to business expenses such as rent.

Health Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts are not held by the Department, they are held between the local NHS trust and their respective Private Finance Company. The operational Health PFI contracts included the design, build and maintenance of the building, including facilities management and lifecycle, over the life of the contract. Any arrangements in respect of letting specific areas of a PFI Hospital to third party occupants, including a pharmacy, will be agreed on a case-by-case basis at a local level.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will consider NHS funding adjustments for pharmacies to offset increases in National Minimum Wage and employer National Insurance.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

For 2025/26, funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework was increased to £3.1 billion. This represented the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service at the time, over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26. As is custom and practice, the Department will consult Community Pharmacy England on any proposed changes to future reimbursement and remuneration of pharmacy contractors.

Community pharmacies are private businesses that provide NHS services. Pharmacies also receive private, non-NHS, income, which contributes to business expenses such as rent.

Health Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts are not held by the Department, they are held between the local NHS trust and their respective Private Finance Company. The operational Health PFI contracts included the design, build and maintenance of the building, including facilities management and lifecycle, over the life of the contract. Any arrangements in respect of letting specific areas of a PFI Hospital to third party occupants, including a pharmacy, will be agreed on a case-by-case basis at a local level.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help support the sustainability of NHS pharmacies operating on PFI sites.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

For 2025/26, funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework was increased to £3.1 billion. This represented the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service at the time, over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26. As is custom and practice, the Department will consult Community Pharmacy England on any proposed changes to future reimbursement and remuneration of pharmacy contractors.

Community pharmacies are private businesses that provide NHS services. Pharmacies also receive private, non-NHS, income, which contributes to business expenses such as rent.

Health Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts are not held by the Department, they are held between the local NHS trust and their respective Private Finance Company. The operational Health PFI contracts included the design, build and maintenance of the building, including facilities management and lifecycle, over the life of the contract. Any arrangements in respect of letting specific areas of a PFI Hospital to third party occupants, including a pharmacy, will be agreed on a case-by-case basis at a local level.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will conduct a review of local planning and healthcare infrastructure for villages and local hub–type plans, including PFI estates.

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

Planning regulation and approval is a matter for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The National Health Service operates in accordance with published planning guidance.

However, we recognise delivering high-quality NHS healthcare services requires the right infrastructure in the right places. Integrated care boards have developed infrastructure strategies to create a long-term plan for future healthcare estate requirements and investment for each local area and its needs.

These strategies help take the existing and future general practice and primary care estate into account when considering how best to deliver local services, including the development of a Neighbourhood Health Service.

Found: Members present: Layla Moran (Chair); Danny Beales; Ben Coleman; Dr Beccy Cooper; Andrew George; Paulette Hamilton

Found: Ben Coleman Dr Beccy Cooper Deirdre Costigan Jen Craft Josh Fenton-Glynn Andrew George Paulette Hamilton

Found: would encourage all of you to support—the all-party parliamentary group, which is chaired by Paulette Hamilton

Found: ); Danny Beales; Ben Coleman; Dr Beccy Cooper; Jen Craft; Josh Fenton-Glynn; Andrew George; Paulette Hamilton

Found: Representations from Members The following Members made oral representations: • Paulette Hamilton:

Found: and Wallington) Chris Elmore (Labour; Bridgend) Kirith Entwistle (Labour; Bolton North East) Paulette Hamilton

Found: and Wallington) Chris Elmore (Labour; Bridgend) Kirith Entwistle (Labour; Bolton North East) Paulette Hamilton

Found: Moran (Chair); Danny Beales; Dr Beccy Cooper; Jen Craft; Josh Fenton-Glynn; Andrew George; Paulette Hamilton

Found: Wellington House 133-155 Waterloo Road London SE1 8UG 25 November 2025 Paulette Hamilton

Submit Evidence (by 13 Feb 2026)

The Committee is holding an inquiry into what is needed from the NHS estate to deliver the Government’s vision of a ‘Neighbourhood Health Service’ — shifting care from hospitals to integrated, preventative services in local communities.