Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to improve communication between acute hospital trusts, oncology departments, primary care providers and patients following a cancer diagnosis.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

It is unacceptable for cancer patients to be discharged without a clear plan for treatment, pain management plan, or identified care coordinator, especially when they are told their cancer is incurable.

This year, the National Health Service in England will ensure that every patient will receive a personalised assessment of their needs, personal cancer plan, and end of treatment summary. The Government and the NHS will also work with the royal colleges to deliver a clear and consistent basis for services that support people to live well with cancer during or after treatment, including acute oncology and supportive oncology. I refer the Hon. Member to chapter 4 of the Department’s National Cancer Plan available at the link below, which examines these and other issues in detail:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4e752206e7256c331df866/national-cancer-plan-for-england-delivering-world-class-cancer-care.pdf

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to introduce a requirement for patients diagnosed with incurable cancer to receive a written care and treatment plan prior to discharge from hospital.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

It is unacceptable for cancer patients to be discharged without a clear plan for treatment, pain management plan, or identified care coordinator, especially when they are told their cancer is incurable.

This year, the National Health Service in England will ensure that every patient will receive a personalised assessment of their needs, personal cancer plan, and end of treatment summary. The Government and the NHS will also work with the royal colleges to deliver a clear and consistent basis for services that support people to live well with cancer during or after treatment, including acute oncology and supportive oncology. I refer the Hon. Member to chapter 4 of the Department’s National Cancer Plan available at the link below, which examines these and other issues in detail:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4e752206e7256c331df866/national-cancer-plan-for-england-delivering-world-class-cancer-care.pdf

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance is issued to NHS trusts on discharging cancer patients without an agreed treatment plan, pain management plan, or identified care coordinator.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

It is unacceptable for cancer patients to be discharged without a clear plan for treatment, pain management plan, or identified care coordinator, especially when they are told their cancer is incurable.

This year, the National Health Service in England will ensure that every patient will receive a personalised assessment of their needs, personal cancer plan, and end of treatment summary. The Government and the NHS will also work with the royal colleges to deliver a clear and consistent basis for services that support people to live well with cancer during or after treatment, including acute oncology and supportive oncology. I refer the Hon. Member to chapter 4 of the Department’s National Cancer Plan available at the link below, which examines these and other issues in detail:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4e752206e7256c331df866/national-cancer-plan-for-england-delivering-world-class-cancer-care.pdf

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish the assumptions used for each year between 2030 and 2040 inclusive in respect of (a) average earnings growth, (b) Consumer Prices Index inflation, (c) the number of pensioners in receipt of the basic State Pension and (d) the number of pensioners in receipt of the new State Pension.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Department does not intend to publish the detailed figures or assumptions for each year from 2030 to 2040.

The methodology for the costings are set out in the document we published on the 29 September. The publication does not operate on the basis of single year assumptions.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will provide a breakdown of the number of claimants claiming the 'Additional amount for additional spouse' of Pension Credit for the years i.2024/25, ii.2025/26, iii.26-date.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The information requested is not held by the department.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 June 2026 to Question UIN 2859:

"Polygamous marriages are illegal in the UK. Immigration rules have generally prevented the formation of polygamous households in this country since 1988. Benefit support is only available where the marriage took place in a country where the practice is legal.

There is no financial benefit in these cases as more would be paid in benefits if the additional spouse claimed as a single person."

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including musculoskeletal conditions in national health frameworks.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

In 2024, 17.9% of people aged 16 years old and over in England reported a long-term musculoskeletal (MSK) condition, and improving their health outcomes is one of the objectives of the reforms and shifts set out in the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan.

Alongside this, we are supporting improvements in MSK services through the Getting It Right First Time MSK Community Delivery Programme, which works with system leaders to improve access to high-quality community MSK services and reduce unwarranted variation.

On Neighbourhood Health Frameworks, I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 25 March in response to Question 122457.

Found: David Baines (Labour; St Helens North) Lee Barron (Labour; Corby and East Northamptonshire) Mr Peter Bedford

Found: 10009794 Perth High School Viewlands Road, Perth United Kingdom PH1 1HB Wider Public Sector 10009798 Peter Bedford