Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure access by nurses to continuing professional development.

The Department recognises the importance of supporting employers in their responsibility for the development of the current workforce, which includes making available opportunities for nurses to meet the continuing professional development standards of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Building on the recommendations made by the Health and Social Care Select Committee in its Nursing Workforce Inquiry, the Department is working with Health Education England, NHS Improvement and NHS England to consider the approach to and funding of continuing professional development.