Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to ensure that future NHS spending is proportional to the increased healthcare needs of people in areas of high deprivation.

NHS England is responsible for funding allocations to integrated care boards (ICBs). This process is independent of the Government, and NHS England takes advice on the underlying formula from the independent Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation. The formula takes account of population, age, need, and deprivation and health inequality considerations. High deprivation areas receive more funding per capita than low deprivation areas, given other, similar circumstances. ICB allocations for 2025/26 were published on 30 January 2025, and are available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/allocations/

The 10 Year Plan will set out our ambitions to create a National Health Service that is there for anyone who needs it, whenever they need it. One in which access to, and experience of, healthcare services is equitable, effective, and responsive. The plan will be published later in the summer.

Departmental budgets beyond 2025/26 will be set through phase 2 of the Spending Review, which will conclude and be published in June. Future growth in demand is one of the factors taken into account.