Peter Dowd

Defra regularly meets with the Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group, who recently published their ‘Unlocking green growth: A plan from the ornamental horticulture & landscaping industry’. This ambitious report sets out the industry’s potential contributions to delivering the 25 Year Environment Plan, and how it can help to underwrite the environmental challenges facing the UK.

In the past year £1 million has been made available through the Tree Production Innovation Fund to encourage adoption of new technologies and ways of working, and a further £2.6 million has been made available in capital grants to support climate and disease resilience and expand nursery capacity. We are also exploring new data sharing practices to help better plan for supply and demand in the sector. This will support nurseries and seed suppliers to produce the right stock at the right time.

We will be publishing a public consultation on proposed long-term targets to be set under the Environment Act 2021. During the consultation we will be interested in hearing the views of all interested sectors, and the delivery of targets will require actions across the economy.

In the England Trees Action Plan the Government committed to provide funding to support UK public and private sector nurseries and seed suppliers to enhance the quantity, quality, diversity and biosecurity of domestic tree production. Our interventions will help the sector to modernise existing facilities and explore innovative technologies and practices. This is necessary to create a resilient, healthy, and genetically diverse planting stock.

In the past year £1 million has been made available through the Tree Production Innovation Fund to encourage adoption of new technologies and ways of working, and a further £2.6 million has been made available in capital grants to support climate and disease resilience and expand nursery capacity. We are also exploring new data sharing practices to help better plan for supply and demand in the sector. This will support nurseries and seed suppliers to produce the right stock at the right time.

We continue to work to monitor our interventions and see how the nursery sector can best be supported.

As set out in the Net Zero Strategy, we will explore a long-term statutory tree target in England as part of the suite of targets to be introduced using powers in the Environment Act.

We are consulting on our proposed lump sum exit scheme, including the eligibility criteria that will apply. The consultation runs until 11 August 2021. We think our proposed scheme will provide a helpful option for some farmers who wish to exit the industry. We are seeking views on likely uptake via our consultation.

We intend to replace the Basic Payment Scheme with delinked payments in 2024. When payments are delinked, recipients won’t have to farm the land to receive the payments until they have been phased out by the end of 2027. Eligibility for delinked payments will be based on a reference period. Our consultation seeks views on what this reference period should be.

Our consultation can be found here: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/agricultural-policy/lump-sum-and-delinked-payments-england/.

We know that some farmers who wish to retire or leave the industry can find it difficult to do so and lack of finance can be one of the barriers to exit. We think that a lump sum exit scheme could help such farmers leave the industry in a planned way. By freeing up land, the scheme will also open up opportunities for new entrants and expanding farmers.

We believe that the proposed lump sum exit scheme will offer good value for the taxpayer. The lump sum will be in place of the Direct Payments farmers could otherwise have received between 2022 to 2027, as we transition to our new farming system outside the Common Agricultural Policy.

This means that the scheme will not increase overall spending on farming. It will not affect the money available for other schemes.

To ensure value for money for the taxpayer, we have proposed a payment cap that will make sure farmers do not receive a lump sum which is higher in value than the amount they could have otherwise received in Direct Payments for 2022 to 2027.

The Government’s second consultation on introducing a deposit return scheme (DRS), which is currently live, sets out the intention for the scheme to be managed by an organisation called the Deposit Management Organisation (DMO). We propose that the DMO would have the ability to decide on the type of deposit for the scheme (flat or variable rate) and to set the deposit amount at the level they deem suitable for achieving the objectives of the scheme, subject to parameters set out by Government in legislation. For this reason, we have not conducted specific analysis on all possible scenarios the deposit may be set at, but our current Impact Assessment (published alongside the second consultation) assumes a flat rate 20p deposit is placed on all in-scope drinks containers and offers analysis of how the deposit level can influence return rates.

The operating costs and revenue of a DRS could be impacted by the deposit rate chosen by the DMO, which will be somewhat dependent on the extent to which unredeemed deposits are used to fund the scheme. We are seeking views in the second consultation on how unredeemed deposits should be used to fund the DRS. The department do not foresee significant administrative / operational costs to the scheme as a result of having either a flat or variable rate deposit.

No specific assessment has been made by Government on the potential effect of a variable rate deposit on return rates of in-scope containers, on product wastage, or on portion sizes, but we continue to engage with industry and consider any relevant research which should be factored into our overall design and analysis of the scheme. In any case, we propose to place a 90% collection rate target on the DMO, and the approach to setting the deposit level chosen by the DMO should reflect their obligation to achieve this target.

The Government’s second consultation on introducing a deposit return scheme (DRS), which is currently live, sets out the intention for the scheme to be managed by an organisation called the Deposit Management Organisation (DMO). We propose that the DMO would have the ability to decide on the type of deposit for the scheme (flat or variable rate) and to set the deposit amount at the level they deem suitable for achieving the objectives of the scheme, subject to parameters set out by Government in legislation. For this reason, we have not conducted specific analysis on all possible scenarios the deposit may be set at, but our current Impact Assessment (published alongside the second consultation) assumes a flat rate 20p deposit is placed on all in-scope drinks containers and offers analysis of how the deposit level can influence return rates.

The operating costs and revenue of a DRS could be impacted by the deposit rate chosen by the DMO, which will be somewhat dependent on the extent to which unredeemed deposits are used to fund the scheme. We are seeking views in the second consultation on how unredeemed deposits should be used to fund the DRS. The department do not foresee significant administrative / operational costs to the scheme as a result of having either a flat or variable rate deposit.

No specific assessment has been made by Government on the potential effect of a variable rate deposit on return rates of in-scope containers, on product wastage, or on portion sizes, but we continue to engage with industry and consider any relevant research which should be factored into our overall design and analysis of the scheme. In any case, we propose to place a 90% collection rate target on the DMO, and the approach to setting the deposit level chosen by the DMO should reflect their obligation to achieve this target.

The Government’s second consultation on introducing a deposit return scheme (DRS), which is currently live, sets out the intention for the scheme to be managed by an organisation called the Deposit Management Organisation (DMO). We propose that the DMO would have the ability to decide on the type of deposit for the scheme (flat or variable rate) and to set the deposit amount at the level they deem suitable for achieving the objectives of the scheme, subject to parameters set out by Government in legislation. For this reason, we have not conducted specific analysis on all possible scenarios the deposit may be set at, but our current Impact Assessment (published alongside the second consultation) assumes a flat rate 20p deposit is placed on all in-scope drinks containers and offers analysis of how the deposit level can influence return rates.

The operating costs and revenue of a DRS could be impacted by the deposit rate chosen by the DMO, which will be somewhat dependent on the extent to which unredeemed deposits are used to fund the scheme. We are seeking views in the second consultation on how unredeemed deposits should be used to fund the DRS. The department do not foresee significant administrative / operational costs to the scheme as a result of having either a flat or variable rate deposit.

No specific assessment has been made by Government on the potential effect of a variable rate deposit on return rates of in-scope containers, on product wastage, or on portion sizes, but we continue to engage with industry and consider any relevant research which should be factored into our overall design and analysis of the scheme. In any case, we propose to place a 90% collection rate target on the DMO, and the approach to setting the deposit level chosen by the DMO should reflect their obligation to achieve this target.

The Government’s second consultation on introducing a deposit return scheme (DRS), which is currently live, sets out the intention for the scheme to be managed by an organisation called the Deposit Management Organisation (DMO). We propose that the DMO would have the ability to decide on the type of deposit for the scheme (flat or variable rate) and to set the deposit amount at the level they deem suitable for achieving the objectives of the scheme, subject to parameters set out by Government in legislation. For this reason, we have not conducted specific analysis on all possible scenarios the deposit may be set at, but our current Impact Assessment (published alongside the second consultation) assumes a flat rate 20p deposit is placed on all in-scope drinks containers and offers analysis of how the deposit level can influence return rates.

The operating costs and revenue of a DRS could be impacted by the deposit rate chosen by the DMO, which will be somewhat dependent on the extent to which unredeemed deposits are used to fund the scheme. We are seeking views in the second consultation on how unredeemed deposits should be used to fund the DRS. The department do not foresee significant administrative / operational costs to the scheme as a result of having either a flat or variable rate deposit.

No specific assessment has been made by Government on the potential effect of a variable rate deposit on return rates of in-scope containers, on product wastage, or on portion sizes, but we continue to engage with industry and consider any relevant research which should be factored into our overall design and analysis of the scheme. In any case, we propose to place a 90% collection rate target on the DMO, and the approach to setting the deposit level chosen by the DMO should reflect their obligation to achieve this target.

The Government’s second consultation on introducing a deposit return scheme (DRS), which is currently live, sets out the intention for the scheme to be managed by an organisation called the Deposit Management Organisation (DMO). We propose that the DMO would have the ability to decide on the type of deposit for the scheme (flat or variable rate) and to set the deposit amount at the level they deem suitable for achieving the objectives of the scheme, subject to parameters set out by Government in legislation. For this reason, we have not conducted specific analysis on all possible scenarios the deposit may be set at, but our current Impact Assessment (published alongside the second consultation) assumes a flat rate 20p deposit is placed on all in-scope drinks containers and offers analysis of how the deposit level can influence return rates.

The operating costs and revenue of a DRS could be impacted by the deposit rate chosen by the DMO, which will be somewhat dependent on the extent to which unredeemed deposits are used to fund the scheme. We are seeking views in the second consultation on how unredeemed deposits should be used to fund the DRS. The department do not foresee significant administrative / operational costs to the scheme as a result of having either a flat or variable rate deposit.

No specific assessment has been made by Government on the potential effect of a variable rate deposit on return rates of in-scope containers, on product wastage, or on portion sizes, but we continue to engage with industry and consider any relevant research which should be factored into our overall design and analysis of the scheme. In any case, we propose to place a 90% collection rate target on the DMO, and the approach to setting the deposit level chosen by the DMO should reflect their obligation to achieve this target.

All Renal Services Transformation Programme workstreams intend to make key deliverables available by April 2023. This will include documentation outlining best practice, a data dashboard of metrics to support better decision making and support the review of the renal service specification led by NHS England and NHS Improvement’s Renal Clinical Reference Group.

The clinical leads for the five workstreams were appointed by a competitive process. Once in post, clinical leads, supported by the programme team, recruited individuals with expertise in the relevant areas of the overall work plan. The teams are multi-professional with involvement by patient and public voice partners. Membership is not funded and is under continual review to ensure representation from relevant subject matter experts. Membership will continue to evolve as the workstreams develop. The clinical networks are at varying stages of resourcing and developing annual work plans. These workplans will include their local renal priorities and are currently being developed for review and agreement by regional commissioning teams by the end of the first financial quarter in 2022.

Guidance has been developed for specialist advice and the implementation of personalised care follow up for chronic kidney disease and transplants. This is available to providers via the National Outpatient Transformation Programme Futures platform. While NHS England and NHS Improvement do not intend to mandate the guidance, its use will be recommended to support providers and networks in the recovery of outpatient services following the pandemic.

All Renal Services Transformation Programme workstreams intend to make key deliverables available by April 2023. This will include documentation outlining best practice, a data dashboard of metrics to support better decision making and support the review of the renal service specification led by NHS England and NHS Improvement’s Renal Clinical Reference Group.

The clinical leads for the five workstreams were appointed by a competitive process. Once in post, clinical leads, supported by the programme team, recruited individuals with expertise in the relevant areas of the overall work plan. The teams are multi-professional with involvement by patient and public voice partners. Membership is not funded and is under continual review to ensure representation from relevant subject matter experts. Membership will continue to evolve as the workstreams develop. The clinical networks are at varying stages of resourcing and developing annual work plans. These workplans will include their local renal priorities and are currently being developed for review and agreement by regional commissioning teams by the end of the first financial quarter in 2022.

Guidance has been developed for specialist advice and the implementation of personalised care follow up for chronic kidney disease and transplants. This is available to providers via the National Outpatient Transformation Programme Futures platform. While NHS England and NHS Improvement do not intend to mandate the guidance, its use will be recommended to support providers and networks in the recovery of outpatient services following the pandemic.

We are currently negotiating with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee on the expanded and additional services to be introduced in the fourth year of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework. The Framework sets out the ambition for community pharmacy to be further integrated to provide more clinical services, such as treatment for minor illnesses, to relieve pressures elsewhere in the National Health Service.

New clinical services already introduced include the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service, where staff in general practices and NHS 111 can refer patients to community pharmacies for advice and treatment of minor illnesses, blood pressure checks and the Discharge Medicines Service, providing patients recently discharged from hospital with support with their medication. All pharmacies are now also healthy living pharmacies requiring teams to be aware of local health issues and proactively promoting healthy lifestyles.

NHS England is investing a further £15.9 million over the next four years to support the expansion of frontline pharmacy staff in primary and community care, to provide increased access to educational, prescribing and clinical training and development opportunities for post registration pharmacy professionals to meet the needs of patients and local communities.

We are currently negotiating with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee on the expanded and additional services to be introduced in the fourth year of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework. The Framework sets out the ambition for community pharmacy to be further integrated to provide more clinical services, such as treatment for minor illnesses, to relieve pressures elsewhere in the National Health Service.

New clinical services already introduced include the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service, where staff in general practices and NHS 111 can refer patients to community pharmacies for advice and treatment of minor illnesses, blood pressure checks and the Discharge Medicines Service, providing patients recently discharged from hospital with support with their medication. All pharmacies are now also healthy living pharmacies requiring teams to be aware of local health issues and proactively promoting healthy lifestyles.

NHS England is investing a further £15.9 million over the next four years to support the expansion of frontline pharmacy staff in primary and community care, to provide increased access to educational, prescribing and clinical training and development opportunities for post registration pharmacy professionals to meet the needs of patients and local communities.

We are currently negotiating with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee on the expanded and additional services to be introduced in the fourth year of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework. The Framework sets out the ambition for community pharmacy to be further integrated to provide more clinical services, such as treatment for minor illnesses, to relieve pressures elsewhere in the National Health Service.

New clinical services already introduced include the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service, where staff in general practices and NHS 111 can refer patients to community pharmacies for advice and treatment of minor illnesses, blood pressure checks and the Discharge Medicines Service, providing patients recently discharged from hospital with support with their medication. All pharmacies are now also healthy living pharmacies requiring teams to be aware of local health issues and proactively promoting healthy lifestyles.

NHS England is investing a further £15.9 million over the next four years to support the expansion of frontline pharmacy staff in primary and community care, to provide increased access to educational, prescribing and clinical training and development opportunities for post registration pharmacy professionals to meet the needs of patients and local communities.

We are currently negotiating with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee on the expanded and additional services to be introduced in the fourth year of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework. The Framework sets out the ambition for community pharmacy to be further integrated to provide more clinical services, such as treatment for minor illnesses, to relieve pressures elsewhere in the National Health Service.

New clinical services already introduced include the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service, where staff in general practices and NHS 111 can refer patients to community pharmacies for advice and treatment of minor illnesses, blood pressure checks and the Discharge Medicines Service, providing patients recently discharged from hospital with support with their medication. All pharmacies are now also healthy living pharmacies requiring teams to be aware of local health issues and proactively promoting healthy lifestyles.

NHS England is investing a further £15.9 million over the next four years to support the expansion of frontline pharmacy staff in primary and community care, to provide increased access to educational, prescribing and clinical training and development opportunities for post registration pharmacy professionals to meet the needs of patients and local communities.

We are currently negotiating with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee on the expanded and additional services to be introduced in the fourth year of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework. The Framework sets out the ambition for community pharmacy to be further integrated to provide more clinical services, such as treatment for minor illnesses, to relieve pressures elsewhere in the National Health Service.

New clinical services already introduced include the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service, where staff in general practices and NHS 111 can refer patients to community pharmacies for advice and treatment of minor illnesses, blood pressure checks and the Discharge Medicines Service, providing patients recently discharged from hospital with support with their medication. All pharmacies are now also healthy living pharmacies requiring teams to be aware of local health issues and proactively promoting healthy lifestyles.

NHS England is investing a further £15.9 million over the next four years to support the expansion of frontline pharmacy staff in primary and community care, to provide increased access to educational, prescribing and clinical training and development opportunities for post registration pharmacy professionals to meet the needs of patients and local communities.

The following table shows the proportion of referrals in England for suspected breast cancer within the 28 day faster diagnosis standard between April 2021 and January 2022, the most recent data available. Data by diagnostic outcome is not collected.

Source: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancer-waiting-times/

In the latter half of 2021, there was an increase in the number of referrals for breast cancer. This increase led to a subsequent decrease in performance in January 2022, due to the impact of the Christmas and New Year period.

All National Health Service breast screening services are operational, offering additional screening sessions and walk-in appointments. NHS England and NHS Improvement have allocated £50 million to support the recovery of breast screening services and a further £22 million to replace mobile breast screening units. This funding seeks to improve uptake in rural and less affluent areas and accelerate the restoration of services impacted by the pandemic. Later this year, we will set out a 10 year cancer plan which will focus on early diagnosis and innovative treatments.

The Department of Health and Social Care currently has no specific plans. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is responsible for monitoring the energy market to ensure it meets the need of all consumers, including those receiving medical treatment at home.

The Department of Health and Social Care currently has no specific plans. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is responsible for monitoring the energy market to ensure it meets the need of all consumers, including those receiving medical treatment at home.

The Department of Health and Social Care currently has no specific plans. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is responsible for monitoring the energy market to ensure it meets the need of all consumers, including those receiving medical treatment at home.

From 1 April 2022, free universal access to lateral flow device tests for the public in England will end. We will continue to make testing available for a small number of at risk groups. Further details on eligible groups will be made available in due course.

From 1 April 2022, free universal access to lateral flow device tests for the public in England will end. We will continue to make testing available for a small number of at risk groups. Further details on eligible groups will be made available in due course.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) regulates the advertising of alcohol products through the Committee of Advertising Practice and Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice Codes. The rules within these Codes apply to advertisements featuring or referring to alcoholic drinks containing more than 0.5% alcohol by volume. The rules also apply to advertisements, while not specifically for alcoholic drinks, which have the effect of promoting them, such as soft drinks advertised as mixers. The ASA is currently consulting on new rules and guidance to regulate the advertising of alcohol alternative products. It will consider how these products should be marketed responsibly, including safeguarding people under the age of 18 years old and how such marketing intersects with current alcoholic products regulation. The consultation is open until 5 May 2022.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) regulates the advertising of alcohol products through the Committee of Advertising Practice and Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice Codes. The rules within these Codes apply to advertisements featuring or referring to alcoholic drinks containing more than 0.5% alcohol by volume. The rules also apply to advertisements, while not specifically for alcoholic drinks, which have the effect of promoting them, such as soft drinks advertised as mixers. The ASA is currently consulting on new rules and guidance to regulate the advertising of alcohol alternative products. It will consider how these products should be marketed responsibly, including safeguarding people under the age of 18 years old and how such marketing intersects with current alcoholic products regulation. The consultation is open until 5 May 2022.

Work is underway to learn lessons from the COVID-19 vaccination programmes, particularly on the use of data and technology to supplement childhood immunisations programmes.

We have now begun a new phase of living with the virus, as outlined in ‘COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19’ published on 21 February 2022. The Government will continue monitoring the virus through maintaining surveillance studies such as the Office for National Statistics’ COVID-19 Infection Survey and other data sources, including genomic sequencing. We will keep all surveillance activities under review.

The testing regimes for adult social care after 1 April 2022 are currently under review. Further details will be provided in due course.

The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR and UK Research and Innovation have funded rapid research to support the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including on nasal administration of vaccines. Approximately £580,000 in funding was awarded to Imperial College London towards a study looking at safety and lower airway immunogenicity of two candidate COVID-19 vaccines administered to the respiratory tract. Additionally, the NIHR is providing infrastructure support to two phase one studies in this area, including the study at Imperial College London. As the largest public funder of health and care research, the NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including intra-nasal COVID-19 vaccines.

Officials in the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities regularly meet with officials in other Government Departments to discuss a wide range of policy issues. We have established the Health Promotion Taskforce to work across Government to address health disparities and prevent ill-health.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bradford East (Imran Hussain MP) on 22 February 2022 to Question PQ125230.

No such assessment has been made. At present, it is not known whether recurrent boosters will be required annually. However, we are aiming to deliver a sustainable vaccination service which does not displace other health and care services.

Health Education England (HEE) conducted a community pharmacy workforce survey between May and June 2021. This indicated a 5% reduction in headcount compared with the last workforce survey in 2017, except for pharmacists and trained dispensing assistants which increased by 18% and 15% respectively. These estimates are based on responses from 47% of community pharmacies. HEE expects to repeat this data collection annually to inform future workforce planning and investment decisions.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is responsible for maintaining a register of all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Great Britain. As of 31 January 2022, there were 85,742 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians on the GPhC’s register. The register shows an increase in both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians year on year.

The Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) five-year deal from 2019 to 2024 commits £2.592 billion each year. Additional funding has been made available to community pharmacies for COVID-19 and flu vaccinations and the medicines delivery service and Pharmacy Collect. Negotiations with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee on what the sector will deliver in 2022/23 are ongoing.

One of the priority clinical areas for NHS England and NHS Improvement’s Core20PLUS5 approach is hypertension case finding. More than half of those with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have hypertension. Case-finding hypertension and optimising blood pressure are essential in the effective regulation of CKD. Both undiagnosed hypertension and CKD are more prevalent among ethnic minorities and those living in the most deprived areas, which are included in the CORE and PLUS elements of the initiative.

NHS England and NHS Improvement’s Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme is facilitating co-ordination between regions to reduce variation and prevent any widening of health inequalities. This includes all clinical areas including kidney disease.

The Department plans to launch a public discussion paper this year to inform the development of a new longer term mental health strategy. The mental health and wellbeing of people with multiple and other long-term conditions will be in scope for the discussion paper.

The recommendations from the Getting It Right First Time speciality report on renal medicine, published in September 2021, have been accepted and are being implemented by the Renal Services Transformation Programme (RSTP). The RSTP has appointed five expert renal clinical leads and established four clinical workstreams improving access, identifying best practice and developing solutions in chronic kidney disease (CKD), acute kidney injury, dialysis and transplants.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have established 11 renal clinical networks which are finalising workplans and determining local priorities identified nationally through the Programme. Guidelines have been produced in collaboration with NHS England and NHS Improvement’s National Outpatients Transformation Programme focusing on specialist advice in renal services and an approach to implement personalised care follow up for CKD and transplant patients.

Officials are reviewing implementation options for reducing the cost of National Health Service prescriptions for hormone replacement therapy to be introduced at the earliest opportunity. The Department will outline next steps, including a timetable, in due course.

Officials are reviewing implementation options for reducing the cost of National Health Service prescriptions for hormone replacement therapy to be introduced at the earliest opportunity. The Department will outline next steps, including a timetable, in due course.

The Government committed to consult on whether mandatory calorie labelling should be introduced on all prepacked alcohol, as well as alcoholic drinks sold in the out of home sector, for alcohol products over 1.2% ABV. We will also seek views on whether the provision of the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines and a drink driving warning should be mandatory or continue on a voluntary basis.

We have invested £27 million to establish specialist Alcohol Care Teams in the 25% hospitals with the highest rates of alcohol dependence-related admissions, alcohol-mortality, and deprivation. This is estimated to prevent 50,000 admissions over five years.

Local authorities are responsible for commissioning services to prevent, mitigate and treat alcohol-related health harm, based upon on local need. We are investing £533 million over three years to support local authority commissioned substance misuse treatment services in England. This funding will be targeted to areas of highest need first. This is in addition to local authorities’ expenditure annually on substance misuse services from the Public Health Grant.

No specific assessment has been made. However, we are working with delivery partners and stakeholders to ensure the appropriate workforce, clinical leadership and expert guidance is in place to support those living with allergies. The majority of those with allergies are supported by local services commissioned through clinical commissioning groups, with specialist allergy clinics available for those with more severe or complex allergic conditions.

The Department continues to work with HM Treasury regarding tobacco taxation and revenue funding. This includes reviewing options to raise additional funds to support the ambition to be smoke-free by 2030.

In July 2021 the Department commissioned Health Education England (HEE) to work with partners to renew the strategic framework for the workforce. This will include the National Health Service workforce and regulated professionals in the social care workforce to ensure we have the appropriate numbers of staff with the right skills, values and behaviours to deliver high quality services and standards of care. The outcomes will be published in 2022.

In addition, the Department has recently commissioned NHS England to develop a workforce strategy following HEE’s framework, including long term projections. Its conclusions will be set out in due course.

Legislation to reform the Mental Health Act 1983 will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows. The reforms will ensure that people of all ages, including children and young people, are at the centre of decisions about their own care and everyone is treated equally.

INFACT was a key stakeholder whilst the Government considered the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety (IMMDS) Review. This process concluded with the publication of the Government’s response on 21 July 2021. The former Minister of State for Patient Safety, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (Ms Nadine Dorries MP) met with INFACT on 14 July 2021, prior to the publication of the Government’s response.

The Government is now focusing on implementing the accepted recommendations from the IMMDS Review, including those related to sodium valproate. We aim to publish an update on progress in summer 2022.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have advised that data for the National Obesity Audit (NOA) will be collected through routine data collections including Hospital Episode Statistics and the Community Services Dataset. General practice data for planning and research will be subject to approval once the collection commences.

The NOA will collect metrics which facilitate the audit to answer its seven questions and to achieve its stated aims of improving access and outcomes from weight management services. The NOA questions are as follows:

- What proportion of people and which population groups living with overweight and obesity are being identified and recorded;

- What proportion of people living with overweight and obesity have been offered appropriate NICE recommended interventions;

- Which people with living with overweight and obesity access weight management services;

- What are the short and long term weight loss outcomes of weight management services;

- Do people living with overweight and obesity transition successfully between the different types of weight management services available and from children’s to adult services;

- What are the health outcomes for people living with overweight and obesity; and

- What is the coverage and provision of weight management services.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have advised that data for the National Obesity Audit (NOA) will be collected through routine data collections including Hospital Episode Statistics and the Community Services Dataset. General practice data for planning and research will be subject to approval once the collection commences.

The NOA will collect metrics which facilitate the audit to answer its seven questions and to achieve its stated aims of improving access and outcomes from weight management services. The NOA questions are as follows:

- What proportion of people and which population groups living with overweight and obesity are being identified and recorded;

- What proportion of people living with overweight and obesity have been offered appropriate NICE recommended interventions;

- Which people with living with overweight and obesity access weight management services;

- What are the short and long term weight loss outcomes of weight management services;

- Do people living with overweight and obesity transition successfully between the different types of weight management services available and from children’s to adult services;

- What are the health outcomes for people living with overweight and obesity; and

- What is the coverage and provision of weight management services.

The Government’s response to the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review (IMMDS) was published on 21 July 2021. We did not accept the report’s fourth recommendation, which called for separate redress schemes should be set up for hormone pregnancy tests such as Primodos, sodium valproate and pelvic mesh

Our priority is to make medicines and devices safer. The Government’s response sets out the changes in place since the IMMDS Review’s report was published and further action we will take to implement the recommendations accepted and to improve patient safety.

The Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework outlines a transformational programme to integrate community pharmacy into the National Health Service, delivering more clinical services, such as treatment for minor illnesses. The Department and NHS England agree with the sector representative body what community pharmacies will deliver within the £2.592 billion committed annually. Workforce and capacity considerations form part of these negotiations.

Health Education England carried out a community pharmacy workforce survey between 7 May 2021 and 18 June 2021. The survey will provide an updated insight into the size and skill set of the workforce and inform future planning and investment decisions. The results of the survey are being analysed, and anonymised and aggregated data will be published in due course.

The Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework outlines a transformational programme to integrate community pharmacy into the National Health Service, delivering more clinical services, such as treatment for minor illnesses. The Department and NHS England agree with the sector representative body what community pharmacies will deliver within the £2.592 billion committed annually. Workforce and capacity considerations form part of these negotiations.

Health Education England carried out a community pharmacy workforce survey between 7 May 2021 and 18 June 2021. The survey will provide an updated insight into the size and skill set of the workforce and inform future planning and investment decisions. The results of the survey are being analysed, and anonymised and aggregated data will be published in due course.

The Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework outlines a transformational programme to integrate community pharmacy into the National Health Service, delivering more clinical services, such as treatment for minor illnesses. The Department and NHS England agree with the sector representative body what community pharmacies will deliver within the £2.592 billion committed annually. Workforce and capacity considerations form part of these negotiations.

Health Education England carried out a community pharmacy workforce survey between 7 May 2021 and 18 June 2021. The survey will provide an updated insight into the size and skill set of the workforce and inform future planning and investment decisions. The results of the survey are being analysed, and anonymised and aggregated data will be published in due course.

The collection will resume for Quarter 3 2021/22, to be published in February 2022.

The decision on data on cancelled or postponed operations is determined based on a balanced assessment, to collect timely and clinically valuable data. There are currently no official plans to introduce new data. When considering future changes to data published, NHS England and NHS Improvement will take account of the views of the clinicians, patients and stakeholder organisations.

The collection will resume for Quarter 3 2021/22, to be published in February 2022.

The decision on data on cancelled or postponed operations is determined based on a balanced assessment, to collect timely and clinically valuable data. There are currently no official plans to introduce new data. When considering future changes to data published, NHS England and NHS Improvement will take account of the views of the clinicians, patients and stakeholder organisations.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is working with the Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group and the sector to explore where the Government can support the opportunities outlined in the report and its associated action plan.

The Department of Health and Social Care is working with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, NHS England and NHS Improvement, Natural England and other partners on the ‘Preventing and tackling mental ill health through green social prescribing’ project, a £5.77 million cross-Government project to increase the use of and connectivity to green social prescribing services and activities in England. This aims to improve mental health outcomes, reduce health inequalities, reduce demand on the health and social care system and develop best practice in making local systems more resilient and accessible.

Radioligand therapy has not been licensed and has yet to receive approval from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence, therefore no assessment has been made.

Recent advances in radiotherapy using cutting-edge imaging and computing technology have helped target radiation doses at cancer cells more precisely. This includes proton beam therapy and stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR), both of which are available on the National Health Service. The Government has committed £250 million capital investment into two proton beam therapy facilities for the United Kingdom, at The Christie Hospital in Manchester and University College London Hospitals in London. SABR will be available as a treatment option through routine commissioning.

Radioligand therapy is not yet licensed for the National Health Service and has yet to receive approval from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. We therefore have no current plans to consider the adoption of equipment and training of specialist staff for Radioligand or any other targeted treatments until they are licensed.

No assessment has been made. However, Health Education England is providing additional funding to support an increase of five nuclear medicine physician training posts in the National Health Service in England in 2021/22. The next Spending Review will set out further details of the Government’s spending plans including the NHS workforce.

Nuclear medicine is already used widely in the National Health Service in England to diagnose and treat a variety of diseases. NHS England and NHS Improvement routinely fund licensed medicines that have been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence or off-label use of licensed medicines that have been approved via the NHS England clinical commissioning policy process.

NHS England and NHS Improvement commission positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan while other diagnostic imaging involving nuclear medicine is commissioned by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). It is for CCGs to commission those services according to the needs of their local population.

The Mixed Sex Accommodation for data relating to October 2021 and Quarterly Monitoring of Cancelled Operations for data relating to quarter 3 2021-22 collections are due to resume.

The Critical Care Bed Capacity and Urgent Operations, Delayed Transfers of Care, Direct Access Audiology and Venous Thromboembolism collections were paused from quarter 4 of 2020-21 to quarter 2 of 2021-22 and will remain paused. NHS England and NHS Improvement will keep the paused collections under review to establish at which point further collections should be reinstated and update published information when the status of the collections change.

Two collections were paused and have subsequently been retired following a consultation. The Mental Health Community Teams Activity data collection was paused for quarter 4 2020-21 and The Dementia Assessment and Referral data collection was paused for quarter 4 2020-21 to quarter 1 2021-2.

The Mixed Sex Accommodation for data relating to October 2021 and the Quarterly Monitoring of Cancelled Operations for data relating to quarter 3 2021-22 were paused for quarter 4 of 2020-21 to quarter 2 of 2021-22 and will resume. The Critical Care Bed Capacity and Urgent Operations, Delayed Transfers of Care, Direct Access Audiology and Venous Thromboembolism collections were paused from quarter 4 of 2020-21 to quarter 2 of 2021-22 and remain paused.

There are no plans to introduce a dedicated national strategy to promote self-care for minor ailments. However, supported self-management or self-care is an integral part of the NHS Long Term Plan, to encourage and empower people to manage their ongoing physical and mental health conditions.

All community pharmacies in England delivering NHS services provide support for patients to self-care, including for minor ailments. This support can include provision of advice, information, and where appropriate the sale of medicines to patients, carers and the general public to support their self-care for minor ailments.

Supported self-management or self-care is part of the NHS Long Term Plan, to encourage and empower people to manage their ongoing physical and mental health conditions. It is also included in NHS England’s action plan ‘Universal Personalised Care: Implementing the Comprehensive Model’ published in 2019 which is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/universal-personalised-care-implementing-the-comprehensive-model/

Anti-competitive behaviour, including excessive pricing, is a matter for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The Department asks the CMA to investigate where it has concerns about abuses of competition law for generic medicines and where companies are found by the CMA to be in breach of the legislation, the Department will seek damages and invest that money back into the National Health Service.

The Government relies on competition to reduce the prices of generic medicines. This has led to some of the lowest prices in Europe and allows prices to react to the market. The Department has been considering proposals for ways to address high prices of generic medicines and will consult in due course.

The Department also has powers in the NHS Act 2006 to control the prices of NHS medicines. Prices of branded medicines are controlled through the 2019 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAS) and alternative statutory scheme which utilises those powers. VPAS caps branded medicines' sales at an agreed level of growth. Any growth in sales above this level results in payments made by scheme members.

Anti-competitive behaviour, including excessive pricing, is a matter for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The Department asks the CMA to investigate where it has concerns about abuses of competition law for generic medicines and where companies are found by the CMA to be in breach of the legislation, the Department will seek damages and invest that money back into the National Health Service.

The Government relies on competition to reduce the prices of generic medicines. This has led to some of the lowest prices in Europe and allows prices to react to the market. The Department has been considering proposals for ways to address high prices of generic medicines and will consult in due course.

The Department also has powers in the NHS Act 2006 to control the prices of NHS medicines. Prices of branded medicines are controlled through the 2019 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAS) and alternative statutory scheme which utilises those powers. VPAS caps branded medicines' sales at an agreed level of growth. Any growth in sales above this level results in payments made by scheme members.

Discussions with HM Treasury on any multi-year settlement will take place within the Spending Review process. There are specialist training grants for 250 nurses to become cancer nurse specialists.

The National Health Service is on course to eliminate paper prescribing in hospitals and achieve the NHS Long Term Plan commitment to introduce digital prescribing by 2024. Since 2018, we have invested £78 million with 216 NHS trusts having received a share of this fund. The proportion of trusts with an electronic prescriptions and medicines administration system is estimated to have risen from 19% in 2018 to more than 80% to date.

Following the ‘Help us help you’ campaign which raised awareness of general symptoms of cancer and encouraged people experiencing persistent symptoms to contact their general practitioner, cancer referrals reached over 10,500 referrals per day in April and 11,000 per day in May. Local systems, drawing on advice and analysis from their Cancer Alliance, will ensure that there is sufficient diagnostic and treatment capacity in place to meet the increased level of referrals and treatment required to address the number of first treatments by March 2022.

NHS England and NHS Improvement are prioritising delivery of NHS Long Term Plan commitments which supports recovery, such as increasing diagnostic capacity and early diagnosis and survival rates through rapid diagnostic centres (RDC). As of June 2021, there were 88 live RDC pathways across hospitals in England, compared to 12 in March 2020.

The Getting It Right First Time national report on dermatology was completed in 2020 and will be published later this year, following NHS England and NHS Improvement’s review of the recommendations. This publication will be timed to support the NHS recovery programme after COVID-19.

The Department assesses the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) performance against the targets set out in its annual business plan. NICE is currently on track to meet its performance targets for the publication of technology appraisals, clinical guidelines and quality standards. NICE’s Annual Report and Accounts sets out its activity, performance and expenditure for key areas of its business, including its appraisals of new medicines and the development of clinical guidelines and quality standards.

NHS England’s National Outpatient Transformation programme is developing a toolkit to support local systems to transform dermatology services. The toolkit includes a suite of redesign tools, optimal dermatology pathways and a baseline self-assessment tool, which will enable local systems to improve the efficiency and enhance the benefits of dermatology outpatient appointments. It also explores opportunities to improve the quality of primary care referrals into secondary care, teledermatology and the two week wait skin cancer pathway, working collaboratively with the National Cancer team to create new pathways for assessing and treating suspected skin cancer patients.

Public Health England in partnership with NHS England and NHS Improvement, is running a campaign, ‘Help us help you’, to raise awareness of general symptoms of cancer and encourage people experiencing persistent symptoms to contact their general practitioner. Cancer referrals were over 10,500 referrals per day in April, and 11,000 per day in May.

Local systems, drawing on advice and analysis from their Cancer Alliance, will ensure that there is sufficient diagnostic and treatment capacity in place to meet the needs of cancer to meet the increased level of referrals and treatment required to address the shortfall in number of first treatments by March 2022. NHS England and NHS Improvement are prioritising delivery of NHS Long Term Plan commitments that also support recovery such as increasing diagnostic capacity and early diagnosis and survival rates through rapid diagnostic centres (RDC). As of June 2021, there were 88 active RDC pathways across hospitals in England, compared to 12 in March 2020.

The Spending Review 2020 provided £260 million to continue to increase the National Health Service workforce and support commitments made in the NHS Long Term Plan, including the Cancer Workforce Plan phase one published by Health Education England (HEE) in 2017. In 2020/21, HEE is prioritising the training of 400 clinical endoscopists and 450 reporting radiographers. Training grants are being offered for 250 nurses to become cancer nurse specialists and 100 chemotherapy nurses, training 58 biomedical scientists, developing an advanced clinical practice qualification in oncology and extending cancer support-worker training.

HEE is facilitating a number of initiatives to increase clinical nurse specialist capacity which will help tackle the elective backlog, including the development of cancer nurses, through provision of 250 training grants of up to £5,000 each in 2020/21. The grants are aimed at existing and aspiring cancer nurse specialists to enable them to undertake additional training to develop specialist clinical, leadership, education or research capabilities.

Discussions with HM Treasury on any multi-year settlement will take place within the Spending Review process.

The National Health Service is focusing on reducing the number of people waiting over 62 days on cancer pathways, particularly rescheduling diagnostic procedures or treatment for those who have had their care delayed by the pandemic.

An additional £1 billion has been made available in 2021/22 to support the start of the recovery of elective activity, including cancer services.

The National Health Service remains committed to ensuring that by 2021, where appropriate, every person diagnosed with cancer will have access to personalised care, including needs assessment, a care plan and health and wellbeing information and support.

Details of the next round of funding to support digital aspirants with their Electronic Health Record implementation will be published shortly, as part of the NHSX Unified Technology Fund prospectus.

The Department has made no such assessment. This year 83% of National Health Service trusts have implemented the electronic prescribing and medicines administration (EPMA) systems in hospitals. Once fully implemented, the EPMA will have significant impact on the safety of administration of medicines. Individual trusts are determining their requirements for technology such as automated cabinets and are introducing as required locally.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have advised that evidence on the impact of automated dispensing cabinets on safety is inconclusive. If future research provides evidence of a consistent positive impact on safety, their cost effectiveness can then be assessed.

The Department has established the Medicine Safety Improvement Programme, as part of the national NHS Patient Safety Strategy, to co-ordinate the work on reducing the burden of errors related to medication.

The Medicine Safety Improvement Programme is working to meet the World Health Organization’s Medication Without Harm Challenge. The programme will look at a number of areas to support the improvement of safe medication administration in National Health Service trusts including better use of technology, guidance and support and how best to educate and inform patients about their medicines.

NHS England and Improvement are committed to clearing the cancer backlog of patients waiting over 62 days from referral to first treatment by March 2022. Progress has been made, with 2.68 million urgent referrals and over 664,000 people treated for cancer between March 2020 and May 2021. In May 2021 general practitioner urgent referrals for suspected cancer were 14% higher than the May 2019 baseline. Cancer referrals have reached over 10,500 referrals per day in April and nearly 11,000 in May.

The average Hospital and Community Health Service doctor works 93.9% of a full-time working pattern, an increase from 93.2% in 2010. We consider the historical and potential future working patterns of doctors as one of many factors that inform workforce planning.

We are committed to providing greater flexibility for doctors. For example, the Enhancing Junior Doctors’ Working Lives programme, led by Health Education England (HEE), is supporting doctors who wish to undertake less than full time specialty training. Trainees are employed by the National Health Service and work in the service. Through this programme, HEE is monitoring the numbers of junior doctors training less than full time to ensure that this does not reduce the overall numbers of doctors in the workforce.

The Spending Review 2020 provided £260 million to continue to increase the National Health Service workforce and support commitments made in the NHS Long Term Plan, including the Cancer Workforce Plan phase one published by Health Education England (HEE) in 2017. In 2020/21, HEE is prioritising the training of 400 clinical endoscopists and 450 reporting radiographers. Training grants are being offered for 250 nurses to become cancer nurse specialists and 100 chemotherapy nurses, training 58 biomedical scientists, developing an advanced clinical practice qualification in oncology and extending cancer support-worker training.

HEE is facilitating a number of initiatives to increase clinical nurse specialist capacity which will help tackle the elective backlog, including the development of cancer nurses, through provision of 250 training grants of up to £5,000 each in 2020/21. The grants are aimed at existing and aspiring cancer nurse specialists to enable them to undertake additional training to develop specialist clinical, leadership, education or research capabilities.

Discussions with HM Treasury on any multi-year settlement will take place within the Spending Review process.

The Spending Review 2020 provided £260 million to continue to increase the National Health Service workforce and support commitments made in the NHS Long Term Plan, including the Cancer Workforce Plan phase one published by Health Education England (HEE) in 2017. In 2020/21, HEE is prioritising the training of 400 clinical endoscopists and 450 reporting radiographers. Training grants are being offered for 250 nurses to become cancer nurse specialists and 100 chemotherapy nurses, training 58 biomedical scientists, developing an advanced clinical practice qualification in oncology and extending cancer support-worker training.

HEE is facilitating a number of initiatives to increase clinical nurse specialist capacity which will help tackle the elective backlog, including the development of cancer nurses, through provision of 250 training grants of up to £5,000 each in 2020/21. The grants are aimed at existing and aspiring cancer nurse specialists to enable them to undertake additional training to develop specialist clinical, leadership, education or research capabilities.

Discussions with HM Treasury on any multi-year settlement will take place within the Spending Review process.

The Government confirmed an additional £3 billion for the National Health Service in the Spending Review 2020 to support the recovery from the impact of COVID-19. Cancer patients will continue to be prioritised and will benefit from approximately £1 billion of this funding to begin tackling the elective backlog. This will be supported by £325 million for NHS diagnostics. Further funding is subject to the 2021 Spending Review in the autumn.

The Department regularly discuss a range of issues with colleagues in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and NHS England and NHS Improvement, including NICE’s methods review. However, NICE is an independent body and is responsible for its own methods and processes. NICE expects to consult on the draft programme manual in the summer, with implementation of the changes from early 2022.

The Department regularly discuss a range of issues with colleagues in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and NHS England and NHS Improvement, including NICE’s methods review. However, NICE is an independent body and is responsible for its own methods and processes. NICE expects to consult on the draft programme manual in the summer, with implementation of the changes from early 2022.

No assessment has been made. Whilst dentists play a valuable role in detecting potential oral cancers through dental check-ups, patients with concerns should seek advice from their dentist or general practitioner.

No assessment has been made. Whilst dentists play a valuable role in detecting potential oral cancers through dental check-ups. Patients with concerns should seek advice from their dentist or general practitioner.

No assessment has been made. Whilst dentists play a valuable role in detecting potential oral cancers through dental check-ups. Patients with concerns should seek advice from their dentist or general practitioner.

No assessment has been made. Whilst dentists play a valuable role in detecting potential oral cancers through dental check-ups. Patients with concerns should seek advice from their dentist or general practitioner.

The Department is working with NHS England and NHS Improvement, Health Education England and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) on pharmacists’ education and training reforms. The GPhC’s new initial education and training standards which will be implemented from September, will transform the education and training of pharmacists, so they are able to play a much greater role in providing clinical care to patients and the public.

Training is also available for specific new services that are introduced in community pharmacy. For example, NHS111 and general practitioners can refer patients to community pharmacies for urgent medicines supply and minor illnesses under the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service. Free training is available for pharmacists that have signed up for this service to learn and practise new skills and to gaining confidence in performing clinical examinations.

The Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework 2019-24 five-year deal, agreed with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee in 2019, sets out how community pharmacy will further integrate into the National Health Service. This sets the ambition that community pharmacies will deliver more clinical services, embed their role in providing advice on medicines and preventing ill-health and further utilise the skills in community pharmacy to support the wider NHS

NHS111 can now refer patients to a community pharmacist for minor illness or the urgent supply of a prescribed medicine. At the end of 2020, we extended this service to general practitioner surgeries, who can now also formally refer patients to community pharmacy for consultation. We expect to introduce more clinical services in community pharmacy and play a larger role in primary care provision.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has guidance in place to support clinicians in the diagnosis of functional neurological disorder. The ‘Suspected neurological conditions: recognition and referral’’ guideline published in 2019 covers the initial assessment of symptoms and signs that might indicate a neurological condition. It helps healthcare professionals to identify people more quickly who should be offered referral for specialist investigation and includes recommendations for people who have previously been diagnosed with functional neurological disorder. The guideline is available at the following link:

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng127

In January 2021, NICE also published a quality standard on suspected neurological conditions which states that adults diagnosed with a functional neurological disorder should be supported to manage symptoms that are a part of the disorder in non-specialist care. The quality standard is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs198

The National Neuro Advisory Group (NNAG), which includes NHS England and NHS Improvement, Public Health England, expert bodies, clinicians, academics, and patient voice organisations, develops and coordinates the national programme of neurology service improvement. The NNAG has a priority in their work plan for 2021/2022 to support development of a clinical pathway for functional neurological conditions, including functional neurological disorder.

We have made no assessment.

It is the responsibility of local National Health Service organisations to make decisions on the commissioning and funding of any NHS healthcare treatments, taking account of safety, clinical and cost effectiveness and the availability of suitability qualified and regulated practitioners.

We have made no assessment.

It is the responsibility of local National Health Service organisations to make decisions on the commissioning and funding of any NHS healthcare treatments, taking account of safety, clinical and cost effectiveness and the availability of suitability qualified and regulated practitioners.

We have made no assessment.

It is the responsibility of local National Health Service organisations to make decisions on the commissioning and funding of any NHS healthcare treatments, taking account of safety, clinical and cost effectiveness and the availability of suitability qualified and regulated practitioners.

We have made no assessment.

It is the responsibility of local National Health Service organisations to make decisions on the commissioning and funding of any NHS healthcare treatments, taking account of safety, clinical and cost effectiveness and the availability of suitability qualified and regulated practitioners.

We have made no assessment.

It is the responsibility of local National Health Service organisations to make decisions on the commissioning and funding of any NHS healthcare treatments, taking account of safety, clinical and cost effectiveness and the availability of suitability qualified and regulated practitioners.

We have made no assessment.

It is the responsibility of local National Health Service organisations to make decisions on the commissioning and funding of any NHS healthcare treatments, taking account of safety, clinical and cost effectiveness and the availability of suitability qualified and regulated practitioners.

There is an exemption for seamen, masters, inspectors and surveyors of ships from managed quarantine which is consistent with the United Nations Resolution. The Government has introduced this exemption to ensure that vital services through freight routes and supply chains can continue, as well as providing for crew welfare.

The Government has maintained an exemption. Seamen, masters, inspectors and surveyors of ships returning from countries not on the ‘red list’ who live in the United Kingdom do not need to quarantine. If they live overseas, they must self-isolate in their accommodation while in England, except while they are undertaking the exempt activity or travelling as part of their work.

Seamen, masters, inspectors and surveyors of ships who arrive from ‘red list’ countries are permitted to enter the UK and do not need to quarantine in a Government approved hotel, even if they have been in any country on the travel ban list in the previous 10 days.

Seamen, masters, inspectors and surveyors of ships are not required to quarantine in hotels, even if they have been in any country on the travel ban ‘red list’ in the previous 10 days.

We have introduced an exemption for seamen and masters, maritime pilots and inspectors and surveyors of ships, where they have travelled to the United Kingdom in the course of their work and live in the UK, they do not need to self-isolate. If they live overseas, they must self-isolate in their accommodation while in England, except while undertaking the exempt activity or travelling as part of their work. They are permitted to enter the UK and do not need to quarantine in a Government approved hotel, even if they have been in any country on the travel ban ‘red list’ in the previous 10 days. This is to reflect the critical role that seafarers play in ensuring the continued supply of goods in and out of the UK.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before prorogation.

The NHS People Plan is a shared programme of work to increase the workforce, support new ways of working and develop a compassionate and inclusive workplace culture in order to deliver the NHS Long Term Plan. We are working closely with NHS England and NHS Improvement, Health Education England, systems and employers to determine our workforce and people priorities beyond April 2021 whilst continuing to support the wellbeing of National Health Service staff.

No such assessment has been made.

While the Department does not hold information on the adequacy of staffing levels in the mammography and radiology workforce, we are aware of collaborative work undertaken by NHS England and Improvement, Public Health England and Health Education England to ensure that staffing levels are adequate.

While the Department does not hold information on the adequacy of staffing levels in the mammography and radiology workforce, we are aware of collaborative work undertaken by NHS England and Improvement, Public Health England and Health Education England to ensure that staffing levels are adequate.

As set out in the Budget, the UK Infrastructure Bank will have a broad mandate to offer support across different sectors. This includes being able to support retrofit projects that contribute to achieving net zero emissions, where the Bank’s investment criteria are met.

The Government will provide further guidance on the investment parameters for the Bank in the Framework document to be published at launch.

The Bank will have a range of financing tools at its disposal including senior debt, equity, hybrid products and guarantees.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has functioned effectively since its establishment in 2016, supporting sustainable development in Asia by investing under globally accepted standards and following multilateral governance practices established by existing multilateral development banks (MDBs).

The AIIB has a large global membership of 103 approved members , including five of the G7 with whom the UK collaborates closely as shareholders.

As of May 2021, it has approved 123 investment projects worth USD 24.66 billion in 28 client countries, with USD 8.2 billion of this supporting Covid-19 recovery. The AIIB invested USD 1.2 billion as climate finance in 2020.

The UK supports the AIIB’s green ambitions, noting that its 2030 Corporate Strategy has set a 50% climate finance target for 2025, the highest among MDBs with a UK shareholding, and also commits the Bank to Paris alignment.

Over half of the AIIB’s investments to date have been co-financed with peer MDBs, predominately the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

HMG does not routinely monitor cumulative investment activity from specific companies. Foreign investment supports UK jobs and productivity. As set out in Build Back Better: our plan for growth alongside the Budget in March, the Government is committed to ensuring that the UK continues to be one of the top destinations in the world for investment. The National Security and Investment Act will give the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy the power to call in acquisitions of control over qualifying entities or assets to assess whether they give rise to national security concerns.

The London-Shanghai Stock Connect is a commercial initiative. Information about the companies involved is publicly available, whether via the relevant exchanges, the companies listed, and third-party news and data providers.

The London-Shanghai Stock Connect is a commercial initiative. Information about the companies involved is publicly available, whether via the relevant exchanges, the companies listed, and third-party news and data providers.

A UK-China Bond Connect does not exist, so no assessment has been made of its status.

The UK-China Cooperation Fund is a private sector initiative. Participation in the fund is an independent commercial matter for the companies concerned.

The Prime Minister has appointed the Defence Secretary as Shipbuilding Tsar. As you will no doubt be aware, on 16 March 2021, the Defence Secretary outlined in his speech to the Society of Maritime Industries that he is working to refresh the National Shipbuilding Strategy to deliver a successful and sustainable UK shipbuilding enterprise.

The Chancellor is in regular contact with Cabinet colleagues, including the Defence Secretary, on investment priorities. Officials are likewise closely engaged with counterparts across government on matters of public spending.

The UK-China Cooperation Fund is a private sector initiative. Treasury ministers and officials have not met with representatives of the UK-China Cooperation Fund in the last twelve months, nor have officials discussed with relevant stakeholders the allocation of its funding, which is an independent commercial matter.

The UK-China Cooperation Fund is a private sector initiative. Treasury ministers and officials have not met with representatives of the UK-China Cooperation Fund in the last twelve months, nor have officials discussed with relevant stakeholders the allocation of its funding, which is an independent commercial matter.

The government engages with a range of stakeholders on the provision of green finance, particularly in the run to COP26. This involves working with international partners and the financial sector to promote advancement of and adherence to international green standards that support the delivery of sustainable infrastructure, including via initiatives such as the Belt and Road.

This year, due to the direct adverse effects of COVID-19, the Government has provided an unprecedented business rates holiday for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties. The Government has also frozen the business rates multiplier for all businesses for 2021-22.

The temporary VAT reduced rate came into effect on 15 July 2020 and was initially scheduled to end on 12 January 2021. The Government extended the reduced rate of VAT (five per cent) until 31 March 2021.

The Government has provided various schemes to support firms, including those in the wedding industry, including Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans, Bounce Back Loans, grants and VAT deferrals.

The Budget will set out the next phase of the Government’s plans to tackle the virus, protect jobs and support business.