The Department’s statutory guidance on hospital discharge and community support, published jointly with NHS England, sets out the responsibilities of integrated care boards (ICBs) and local authorities (LAs) in planning and delivering local hospital discharge services. ICBs are expected to work with relevant local partner organisations, including LAs and other National Health Service bodies, to agree local protocols for individuals being discharged from hospital.

This may cover arrangements for discharge services including intermediate care, reablement, and rehabilitation, as well as set out arrangements for long-term care assessments, and any associated funding including through NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC).

NHS England holds ICBs accountable for their performance though the NHS Oversight Framework, which is available on the NHS.UK website. In regard to CHC, NHS England holds ICBs accountable and engages with them through a well-established programme of assurance, to ensure they fulfil their duties.

Integrated care boards should work with relevant local partner organisations, including local authorities and other National Health Service bodies to take a person-centred approach when deciding the most appropriate care setting for individuals being discharged from hospital.

Local protocols should be agreed between the relevant partners. These protocols may cover arrangements for discharge services including intermediate care, reablement and rehabilitation, and may also set out arrangements for long-term care assessments, and any associated funding, including for NHS Continuing Healthcare.

Long-term care arrangements should not be made until an individual’s longer-term needs can be assessed accurately.

Departmental statutory guidance published jointly with NHS England on planning and delivering hospital discharge services is available on GOV.UK in an online-only format.

Reducing the number of lives lost to cancer is a key aim of the National Cancer Plan for England, which will be published later this year. The plan will include further details on how the Government will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including brain cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately driving up this country’s cancer survival rates.

The Department is committed to working closely with partners and patient groups to shape the long-term vision for cancer. On 4 February 2025, the Department launched a call for evidence for the National Cancer Plan which closed on 29 April. We have received over 11,000 responses from individuals, professionals, and organisations who have shared their views on how we can do more to achieve our ambition, including several brain cancer charities. The call for evidence gave an opportunity to all partners to shape the National Cancer Plan. These submissions are being used to inform our plan to improve cancer care.

The Department recognises that cancer patients, including those with brain tumours, are often waiting too long for referral and treatment. As the first step to ensuring early diagnosis and treatment, NHS England has delivered an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week since the start of this administration.

The Department is supporting NHS England in implementing genomic testing, including whole genome sequencing (WGS), in the National Health Service, provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service, and delivered by a national genomic testing network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs). The NHS GLHs deliver testing as directed by the National Genomic Test Directory, which includes tests for over 200 cancer clinical indications, including WGS tests for a range of brain tumours. The NHS now offers all children and young people with cancer, and adults with certain cancers including brain cancer, whole genome sequencing to enable more comprehensive and precise diagnosis, and access to more personalised treatments.

The Department recognises that there are currently limited treatment options available for people who have been diagnosed with brain tumours, and the significant impact that rarer forms of cancer can have on patients, carers, and their families. A new national Brain Tumour Research Consortium was established in December 2024 to bring together researchers from a range of different disciplines and institutions with the aim of driving scientific advancements in how to prevent, detect, manage, and treat cancers in adults and children. The work being undertaken by the consortium aims to ensure that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology and to clinical trials. This will make a significant contribution to bringing the United Kingdom’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world. The following table shows brain cancer five-year survival percentages for adults, those aged 15 to 99 years old, diagnosed from 2010 to 2014, by G7 country:

Source: CONCORD-3, CONCORD Programme, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

This data will be updated with the publication of CONCORD-4, which is currently in progress.

Reducing the number of lives lost to cancer is a key aim of the National Cancer Plan for England, which will be published later this year. The plan will include further details on how the Government will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including brain cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately driving up this country’s cancer survival rates.

The Department is committed to working closely with partners and patient groups to shape the long-term vision for cancer. On 4 February 2025, the Department launched a call for evidence for the National Cancer Plan which closed on 29 April. We have received over 11,000 responses from individuals, professionals, and organisations who have shared their views on how we can do more to achieve our ambition, including several brain cancer charities. The call for evidence gave an opportunity to all partners to shape the National Cancer Plan. These submissions are being used to inform our plan to improve cancer care.

The Department recognises that cancer patients, including those with brain tumours, are often waiting too long for referral and treatment. As the first step to ensuring early diagnosis and treatment, NHS England has delivered an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week since the start of this administration.

The Department is supporting NHS England in implementing genomic testing, including whole genome sequencing (WGS), in the National Health Service, provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service, and delivered by a national genomic testing network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs). The NHS GLHs deliver testing as directed by the National Genomic Test Directory, which includes tests for over 200 cancer clinical indications, including WGS tests for a range of brain tumours. The NHS now offers all children and young people with cancer, and adults with certain cancers including brain cancer, whole genome sequencing to enable more comprehensive and precise diagnosis, and access to more personalised treatments.

The Department recognises that there are currently limited treatment options available for people who have been diagnosed with brain tumours, and the significant impact that rarer forms of cancer can have on patients, carers, and their families. A new national Brain Tumour Research Consortium was established in December 2024 to bring together researchers from a range of different disciplines and institutions with the aim of driving scientific advancements in how to prevent, detect, manage, and treat cancers in adults and children. The work being undertaken by the consortium aims to ensure that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology and to clinical trials. This will make a significant contribution to bringing the United Kingdom’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world. The following table shows brain cancer five-year survival percentages for adults, those aged 15 to 99 years old, diagnosed from 2010 to 2014, by G7 country:

Source: CONCORD-3, CONCORD Programme, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

This data will be updated with the publication of CONCORD-4, which is currently in progress.

Reducing the number of lives lost to cancer is a key aim of the National Cancer Plan for England, which will be published later this year. The plan will include further details on how the Government will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including brain cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately driving up this country’s cancer survival rates.

The Department is committed to working closely with partners and patient groups to shape the long-term vision for cancer. On 4 February 2025, the Department launched a call for evidence for the National Cancer Plan which closed on 29 April. We have received over 11,000 responses from individuals, professionals, and organisations who have shared their views on how we can do more to achieve our ambition, including several brain cancer charities. The call for evidence gave an opportunity to all partners to shape the National Cancer Plan. These submissions are being used to inform our plan to improve cancer care.

The Department recognises that cancer patients, including those with brain tumours, are often waiting too long for referral and treatment. As the first step to ensuring early diagnosis and treatment, NHS England has delivered an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week since the start of this administration.

The Department is supporting NHS England in implementing genomic testing, including whole genome sequencing (WGS), in the National Health Service, provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service, and delivered by a national genomic testing network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs). The NHS GLHs deliver testing as directed by the National Genomic Test Directory, which includes tests for over 200 cancer clinical indications, including WGS tests for a range of brain tumours. The NHS now offers all children and young people with cancer, and adults with certain cancers including brain cancer, whole genome sequencing to enable more comprehensive and precise diagnosis, and access to more personalised treatments.

The Department recognises that there are currently limited treatment options available for people who have been diagnosed with brain tumours, and the significant impact that rarer forms of cancer can have on patients, carers, and their families. A new national Brain Tumour Research Consortium was established in December 2024 to bring together researchers from a range of different disciplines and institutions with the aim of driving scientific advancements in how to prevent, detect, manage, and treat cancers in adults and children. The work being undertaken by the consortium aims to ensure that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology and to clinical trials. This will make a significant contribution to bringing the United Kingdom’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world. The following table shows brain cancer five-year survival percentages for adults, those aged 15 to 99 years old, diagnosed from 2010 to 2014, by G7 country:

Source: CONCORD-3, CONCORD Programme, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

This data will be updated with the publication of CONCORD-4, which is currently in progress.

Formal notification and negotiation of proposed resolutions at the World Health Organization (WHO) typically begin in the autumn, including any potential resolution on making traumatic brain injury a notifiable and chronic condition. The United Kingdom gives due consideration to all proposed WHO resolutions and will engage in all resolution negotiations ahead of any adoption at the World Health Assembly, which takes place in May each year. All resolutions to be considered by the World Health Assembly would also be subject to the WHO's budget allocation process.

The UK is committed to addressing traumatic brain injury and we intend to develop an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Action or Delivery Plan, with input from NHS England and other Government departments, to be published in the autumn of this year. The forthcoming 10-Year Health Plan will provide the overarching plan for the future of the National Health Service, and a subsequent ABI Plan would then focus on specific actions and deliverables for ABI against the backdrop of the 10-Year Health Plan. This will ensure a coherent, targeted approach. The new ABI Action Plan will be concise, action-oriented, and accountable, in order to drive real change for people with ABI.

On 29 March the UK announced up to £10 million worth of life saving support to Myanmar in response to the earthquake. As well as delivering the humanitarian assistance via local partners, the package includes support in conjunction with other international partners to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). This will fund life-saving support to some of the most urgent humanitarian needs. On 4 April, we announced a further £10 million of funding, bringing our total response to up to £25 million.

On 30th March the UK announced up to £10 million worth of life saving support to Myanmar in response to the earthquake. As well as delivering the humanitarian assistance via local partners, the package includes support in conjunction with other international partners to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). This will fund life-saving support to some of the most urgent humanitarian needs. On 4 April, we announced a further £10 million of funding, bringing our total response to up to £25 million.

On 30th March, we announced up to £10 million of UK support to respond to the devastating earthquake in Myanmar. Our support will be channelled through long-standing local partners, who are able to operate across the earthquake-affected area. On 3rd April, we also announced our support to the Disaster Emergency Committee's efforts to do more for people in desperate need in Myanmar. We are matching public donations pound-for-pound up to £5 million, meaning the public's support will go even further. On 4 April, we announced a further £10 million of funding, bringing our total response to up to £25 million.

We are aware of recent reports of the Myanmar military conducting airstrikes in the aftermath of the earthquake and are actively investigating this with partners. Since the 2021 coup, we have consistently condemned airstrikes. On 2 April, the Myanmar military announced a temporary ceasefire until 22 April, which we welcome, as we do all other recent ceasefires. We now call on the Myanmar military, and all other parties to the conflict, to fully respect the ceasefires and allow full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access.

On 3 April, the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) launched a public appeal for the Myanmar earthquake. The DEC brings together 15 leading UK-based aid charities to coordinate public appeals under one banner. The UK Government are providing match funding pound-for-pound up to £5 million. We encourage all those who want to get involved to visit: https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/myanmar-earthquake-appeal

My Lords, our £10 million of humanitarian assistance will be directed to our existing local partners on the ground to ensure it reaches those most affected throughout Myanmar. No funding will be directed through the Myanmar military regime.

I am pleased to announce that the UK will also be aid matching the Disasters Emergency Committee, with every £1 donated by the British public being matched by the UK Government up to the value of £5 million. These funds will support DEC charities and their local partners, who are already responding on the ground.

The noble Lord is quite right to remind us that this earthquake follows years of difficulty and tragedy for the people of Myanmar. We will continue to work with our international partners to bring about the change, peace and stability that people in Myanmar so deserve. The context is incredibly difficult, as he knows. We have seen military air strikes in earthquake-affected areas, which have further complicated our relief efforts. My focus at the moment is on trying to get aid to those who need it most immediately.

My Lords, the Government’s aim in the delivery of the 1.5 million homes is to deliver good quality, well-designed, sustainable

homes and places that everyone can be proud of. I have already met both the TCPA and the National Housing Federation, which have been campaigning on this. I am very aware of some of the poor practice that has occurred, and we will continue to advocate for the principles of good design, as set out in the National Design Guide and the National Model Design Code. As I say, we keep permitted development under review.

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Crisp, for his Question and for all the work he has done on healthy homes. Under nationally set permitted development rights, a wide range of commercial and other buildings are able to change use without the need for a planning application. The Government acknowledge the concerns that exist about the quality of residential units created through permitted development rights, particularly office-to-residential conversions. We will continue to keep permitted development rights under review, and we are grateful to the National Housing Federation and the TCPA for highlighting some of the issues arising from poor-quality PD schemes.

The noble Lord makes an important point about the effects of withdrawal from any medication. I am not sure that this is an exact answer but there is the 111 helpline, which has been expanded to refer to mental health services, so people can ring and ask those questions. However, I take his point about withdrawal. We may wish to consider this as we go towards the 10-year plan.

NHS continuing healthcare fulfils a unique function within the health and social care system, providing support for people with the highest levels of need by fully funding their health and social care. To monitor its effectiveness, the department works closely with NHS England, the wider sector, such as the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, and voluntary organisations which represent people with lived experience. This includes assurance work and projects to promote consistency in implementing this care.

I do understand the concerns raised by the noble Lord and agree that we need to take a close look at all these areas. I have already raised that with officials and with Minister Kinnock, who is the responsible Minister in this area. On the second question, there is indeed a relatively low conversion rate, and I understand that the decision was originally made to ensure that everyone who might be eligible is actually assessed. The assessment acts as a gateway to other NHS-funded care but, having looked at it, this could perhaps be made somewhat clearer. On the first question, the noble Lord will understand that I cannot give a definitive answer, and he will be aware that legislation does not limit the number of hours or the cost of nursing care that a local authority may provide. However, the Care Act 2014 sets out that local authorities can provide nursing care only in very limited circumstances—for example, where it is a minor part of overall care, such as basic wound care.