Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase access to sexual health services in Colne Valley constituency.

The Government is committed to improving the sexual health of the whole population, which would encompass access to and quality of sexual health services within England, including in the Colne Valley constituency.

Public health services commissioned by local authorities in England continue to be funded through a ring-fenced Public Health Grant. In 2024/25, the total Public Health Grant to local authorities has been confirmed at £3.603 billion, through which sexual health services are funded. Local authorities are best placed to commission sexual health services that best meet the needs of their local population. We will work with local government and other key partners to prevent ill health, improve the wider determinants of health, reduce the inequalities that drive poor health, and agree on the most effective interventions to achieve our shared ambitions.

The Government has committed to commission a new HIV Action Plan to end new HIV transmissions within England by 2030, which will consider how best to improve access to HIV prevention and care. Department officials are working with ministers and key sector stakeholders in the development of the plan, and an update will be provided in due course.