Afzal Khan MP: written questions 2025
253 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Methane: 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 recordAutism: DiagnosisDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67120More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the diagnostic wait time on the educational outcomes of autistic (a) girls and (b) boys.
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: WomenDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67119More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to update SEND guidance to reflect current understanding of autism presentation in women and 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 recordAutism: GirlsDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67118More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure (a) schools and (b) colleges are equipped to (i) identify and (ii) support (A) autistic girls and (B) autistic girls who mask symptoms.
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 recordWomen: AutismWomen and EqualitiesTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67117More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on improving diagnostic outcomes for autistic women and girls from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Answer: NHS data suggests that rates of diagnoses for autism are often lower in certain ethnic communities, with research literature indicating that attitudes, beliefs and stigma about neurodevelopmental differences are likely to play a significant role in this. ...
Answered 30 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAutism: Mental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67116More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that autism-related mental health needs are recognised and supported before reaching clinical thresholds.
Answer: The 10-Year Health Plan sets out the core principle of early intervention and support, without the need for diagnosis, including for children and young people. In the autumn, the Government will bring forward a schools white paper, which will detail the G...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAutism: Mental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67115More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to reduce waiting times for autism (a) diagnosis and (b) support for (i) adults and (ii) children.
Answer: The Government has recognised that, nationally, the demand for assessments for autism has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAutism: Mental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67114More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to review the medical model of autism support in favour of strength-based, neuro-affirmative approaches.
Answer: The Government is committed to creating a more inclusive society where autistic people are supported to thrive. We value the unique strengths and skills that autistic people can bring to education, employment, and communities, and there is relevant work o...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAutism: Manchester RusholmeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67113More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to reduce waiting times for autism (a) diagnosis and (b) support for (i) adults and (ii) children in Manchester Rusholme constituency.
Answer: The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for autism has grown significantly in recent years, and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the Na...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAutism: Greater ManchesterDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67112More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure adult (a) diagnostic and (b) post-diagnostic pathways for autism are (i) available and (ii) accessible in Manchester.
Answer: The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for autism has grown significantly in recent years, and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the Na...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAutism: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67111More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing national guidance for autism diagnosis to reflect differences in how males and females (a) experience and (b) present neurodi
Answer: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline, Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: recognition, referral and diagnosis, sets out considerations for clinicians when assessing for autism, including highlighting that this conditio...
Answered 4 Aug 2025
Original Parliament recordAutism: WomenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67110More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) intersectionality and (b) cultural perceptions on the underdiagnosis of autism in women and girls.
Answer: The Department and NHS England continue to look at relevant evidence and national data sources so that we can identify and try to mitigate health inequalities.Analyses of the NHS Health and Care of People with Learning Disabilities data, which provides in...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAutism: ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67109More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to incorporate research on (a) masking and (b) internalised behaviours into (i) autism diagnostic pathways and (ii) training for healthcare professionals.
Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) and health professionals should have due regard to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines when commissioning and providing health care services, including autism assessment services. NICE guidelin...
Answered 25 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAutism: GenderDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67108More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce the gender diagnosis gap for autism.
Answer: We recognise that diagnosis rates of autism are lower in women and girls and lower than the best evidence on prevalence. This may reflect differences in how autism presents in males and females, which may make autism more difficult to identify in women an...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Disability and Older PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67107More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to use the NHS 10 Year Health Plan to adapt housing policy to better support the needs of (a) disabled and (b) older people.
Answer: We recognise how important the right housing arrangements are in supporting people to live independently, and the need to support disabled and older people to live behind their own front door wherever possible.We are working across Government to tackle th...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordFood: Civil SocietyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66628More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will include plans to ensure food partnerships in every area by 2030 in the National Food Strategy.
Answer: The food strategy will articulate the outcomes we want from the food system, enabling the Government, civil society, and the food industry work to shared goals and priorities. Local and place-based approaches will have a key role to play in delivery of th...
Answered 18 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordFood: Young PeopleDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66627More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the National Food Strategy will reference young people.
Answer: We are developing an ambitious new food strategy to set the food system up for long term success. The strategy will deliver wide ranging improvements. Everyone including young people will benefit from a healthier, more affordable, sustainable and resilien...
Answered 18 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCybersecurity: Manchester RusholmeDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65853More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the cyber security industry in Manchester Rusholme on economic growth in the North West; and whether he plans to bring
Answer: The government’s new Industrial Strategy highlights cyber security as a strategically important sector and one with potential for high growth. The annual UK Cyber Security Sectoral Analysis shows the sector is worth £13.2 billion, up 12% on the previous y...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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