Afzal Khan MP: written questions
430 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Obesity: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 70909More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle childhood obesity rates in the North of England.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting people to stay healthier for longer. This includes tackling the determinants that underpin stark health inequalities to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest regions.Tackling chi...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth: Manchester RusholmeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69973More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) tackle health inequalities and (b) help increase life expectancy in Manchester Rusholme constituency.
Answer: The Government recognises that the United Kingdom faces significant health inequalities which is why, in the 10-Year Health Plan, we have set out the goal to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest regions. Through priorit...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCybersecurityDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 22 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69931More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of certification and professional standards on the (a) quality and (b) resilience of the UK’s cybersecurity workforce.
Answer: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology works closely with the UK Cyber Security Council, the professional body for the UK’s cyber workforce, supporting its efforts to develop professional standards. The Council was formed on the back of wor...
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCybersecurityDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 22 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69930More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has had discussions with professional bodies to promote uptake of cybersecurity (a) qualifications and (b) apprenticeships.
Answer: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology works closely with the UK Cyber Security Council, the professional body for the UK’s cyber workforce, supporting its efforts to develop professional standards. The Council was formed on the back of wor...
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCybersecurityDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 22 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69929More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to increase the cybersecurity workforce.
Answer: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is increasing the number of individuals entering the UK’s cyber security workforce through CyberFirst, which has engaged over 415,000 young people with bursaries, competitions and training. The recentl...
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHealthy Start SchemeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68800More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to increase the amount of money available to people using the Healthy Start scheme, in the context of increases in the cost of (a) fruit, (b) vegetables, (c) infant fo
Answer: Healthy Start is a demand-led, statutory scheme and aims to support those in greatest need. We recently announced in Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan that we will uplift the value of weekly payments by 10%, boosting the ability to buy healthy food ...
Answered 25 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68796More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure access to new medicines for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in England.
Answer: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing authoritative, evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effectiv...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRespiratory Diseases: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68795More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to implement benchmarking measures to ensure access to care for people with (a) respiratory conditions and (b) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in England.
Answer: NHS England continues to focus on ensuring that respiratory data is readily available to all regions and systems and to ensuring that there is consistency of data, definitions, and metrics to enable meaningful comparison, monitoring of progress, and to id...
Answered 25 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTeachers: GraduatesDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67960More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to work (a) Teach First and (b) other school led partnerships to place additional high calibre graduates into schools in low income communities.
Answer: Evidence shows that high-quality teaching is the most important in-school factor that improves outcomes for children. The department has reformed initial teacher training and the early career induction to ensure that children in every area of England bene...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTeachers: Career DevelopmentDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67959More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help (a) reduce workload and (b) enhance professional development support for teachers in schools serving low income communities.
Answer: The department knows that the quality of teaching is the most important in-school factor for improving pupil outcomes, and that it is particularly important for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. Our scholarship funding for national professional quali...
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTeachers: Labour TurnoverDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67958More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve retention of early career teachers in schools rated (a) requires improvement and (b) inadequate by Ofsted.
Answer: From September 2025, all early career teachers (ECTs) are entitled to two years of development support and training based on the content of the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF). The offer for ECTs includes regular, structured s...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTeachers: TrainingDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67957More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Teaching Regulation Agency and (b) university providers on expanding initial teacher training places targeted at schools in disadvantaged areas.
Answer: Evidence shows that high-quality teaching is the most important in-school factor that improves outcomes for children. The department has reformed initial teacher training and the early career induction to ensure that children in every area of England bene...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTeachers: VacanciesDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67956More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will (a) extend and (b) increase bursaries and salary uplifts for shortage subject teachers in schools with high proportions of pupils from low income backgrounds.
Answer: For the 2024/25 and 2025/26 academic years, the department is offering Targeted Retention Incentive payments worth up to £6,000 after tax for mathematics, physics, chemistry and computing teachers in the first five years of their careers who choose to wor...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordICT: GCE A-levelDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67955More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of teacher shortages on the availability of Computer Science A level in schools in the most disadvantaged areas.
Answer: Recruiting and retaining more qualified, expert teachers is critical to the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and boost the life chances for every young person, including those most disadvantaged.Whilst it is ultimately for indivi...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMethane: Pollution ControlDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67444More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to promote UK leadership on methane reduction (a) technologies and (b) services in international markets ahead of COP30.
Answer: We promote the use of technology in reducing emissions across agriculture, waste and oil and gas sectors. Examples include offshore and onshore oil and gas operators using cameras, drones and sensors to detect leaks, capturing methane from landfill and us...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMethane: Pollution ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67443More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of methane reduction measures on (a) air quality and (b) public health.
Answer: The Government recognises that methane contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, a harmful air pollutant, and is also a significant greenhouse gas. That is why the Government are taking action to drive down emissions of this pollutant.
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordLandfill: MethaneDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67442More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to support local authorities in tackling methane emissions from landfill sites through improved (a) waste separation, (b) capture technologies and (c) food waste redu
Answer: Reducing emissions further requires ‘turning off the tap’ for landfill gas production by diverting biodegradable waste from landfill, as well as maximising capture and destruction of landfill gas created by previously deposited waste. Defra is exploring o...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMethane: Pollution ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67441More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to support local authorities in tackling methane emissions.
Answer: Reducing emissions further requires ‘turning off the tap’ for landfill gas production by diverting biodegradable waste from landfill, as well as maximising capture and destruction of landfill gas created by previously deposited waste. Defra is exploring o...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: MethaneDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67440More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce methane emissions from agriculture through (a) dietary changes, (b) manure management, (c) innovation in feed additives and (d) other meth
Answer: The Carbon Budget Delivery Plan (CBDP), published in 2023, outlines measures to reduce methane in the agricultural sector and meet our Carbon Budget 4-6 commitments. Defra is actively exploring ways to reduce methane emissions, including through scientifi...
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading Scheme: MethaneDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67439More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to include methane in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme.
Answer: The expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme scope to include methane emissions in the upstream oil and gas sector is being considered by the UK ETS Authority. The Authority will set out more detail in due course.
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordOffshore Industry: North SeaDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67438More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has considered implementing a methane tax on vented emissions from North Sea oil and gas operators to help incentivise improved (a) capture and (b) use of wasted gas.
Answer: The UK has committed to end routine flaring and venting by 2030. The North Sea Transition Authority issues consents for flaring and venting activity with strict limits and uses enforcement action as part of its regulatory toolkit. The UK’s oil and gas sec...
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: Clinical TrialsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67437More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the industrial strategy on increasing the availability of clinical trials for young people with canc
Answer: The Department is committed to ensuring that all patients, including young people with cancer, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments.The Department is working to fast-track clinical trials to drive global invest...
Answered 25 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAutism: Manchester RusholmeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67123More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that mental health services are equipped to support autistic women and girls who may present with (a) high anxiety and (b) sensory distress in Manchest
Answer: We know that autistic people, including women and girls, can face challenges in accessing mental health services.While it is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of t...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAutism: GirlsDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67122More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that autistic girls with (a) avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, (b) sensory sensitivities and (c) other additional needs are able to access inclusive learning environm
Answer: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed and thrive in their education and as they move into adult life.Under t...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAutism: GirlsDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67121More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to review (a) current school-based assessment and (b) referral systems for autism to reduce (i) misdiagnosis and (ii) late diagnosis in girls.
Answer: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed and thrive in their education and as they move into adult life.Under t...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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