Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of exempting hospices from the planned increase in employer National Insurance contributions.

The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional employer National Insurance costs only. Charities, including hospices, will not be exempt, which is the usual approach taken by government when supporting the public sector with employer National Insurance contributions. The Government has announced a £100m boost for adult and children’s hospices to ensure they have the best physical environment for care, alongside £26m in revenue for children and young people’s hospices.