Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the level of future funding for open access to sexual health services which local authorities are obliged to provide under the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

We will shortly publish a consultation on how best to implement these savings in ways that minimise any impact on services.

Spending decisions on particular services, such as sexual health services, will remain for local authorities to make in the light of their local priorities. They are best placed to assess local needs and prioritise the deployment of their available resources accordingly.