Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of an annual ring-fenced disabled children’s grant for children's hospices.
We have made no specific assessment. Local authorities have a statutory duty to assess the social care needs of disabled children and young people, with clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) holding the equivalent responsibility for their health needs. Local authorities and CCGs should work together to plan and commission the most appropriate package of care for the children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions in their area.