Andy Slaughter MP: written questions 2026
37 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Ophthalmic Services: ContractsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16861More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of aligning the General Ophthalmic Services contract in England with Scotland and Wales.
Answer: Health services are a devolved matter and arrangements for the commissioning and delivery of primary eye care services differ across the United Kingdom, although the Government recognises the value of learning from the different approaches to the delivery...
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordOphthalmic ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16860More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that ICBs commission community minor and urgent eye care services.
Answer: Decisions on whether to commission these services are for integrated care boards, which are responsible for assessing local population needs and determining how best to meet them.The Department worked with the eye care sector to develop a standard clinica...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordGlaucoma: Primary CareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16859More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure commissioners are making use of capacity and expertise in primary care optometry to improve access to care for those (a) at risk of and (b) with glaucoma.
Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet the needs of their local populations. This can include community-based glaucoma services, delivered by high street optical practices.The Depart...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordGlaucoma: Waiting ListsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16858More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of variations in waiting times for glaucoma diagnosis and treatment across England.
Answer: No formal assessment has been made. The Department does not hold data on waiting times for glaucoma treatment. However, for ophthalmology, which covers glaucoma treatment, as of May 2026, 74.1% of patient pathways were waiting within 18 weeks. This is an ...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordGlaucoma: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16857More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure Integrated Care Boards are (a) adopting the recent Get It Right First-Time guidance on glaucoma and (b) commissioning enhanced referral and filtering schemes.
Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet the needs of their local populations. This can include community-based glaucoma services, delivered by high street optical practices.The Depart...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Legal Aid SchemeHome OfficeTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16392More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of legal aid provision for refugees required to reapply for Leave to Remain every 30 months; and what additional funding she plans to provide in light of t
Answer: The Government has introduced reforms to the protection system to ensure that protection is provided where it is needed, while also creating a fair and sustainable immigration system.With regards to costs and legal aid provision, only people who stay on C...
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Military BasesHome OfficeTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16391More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to protect and support the mental health of asylum seekers housed in military accommodation.
Answer: The Home Office recognises the mental health challenges faced by people seeking asylum and has a strategic team focussing on asylum seeker mental health. This team works closely with accommodation providers, NGOs, health partners and lived experience grou...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Military BasesHome OfficeTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16390More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of housing asylum seekers in military accommodation on social cohesion and community integration.
Answer: The Home Office regularly works in collaboration with local authorities and other partners including the police to ensure that accommodation sites are successfully managed and the impact upon the local community is minimised. This includes a comprehensive...
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: SponsorshipHome OfficeTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16389More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to expand the Community Sponsorship scheme as part of the refugee resettlement strategy; and what assessment she has made of the adequacy of that scheme’s capacity to provide an effe
Answer: As announced on 27 June, the refugee study and named community sponsorship routes will open to applications from prospective lead sponsors this autumn, with arrivals expected from autumn 2027 onwards. The new routes will operate alongside the existing UK ...
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16388More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the revenue to be generated from proposals in the Immigration and Asylum Bill for asylum seekers to contribute towards their accommodation costs; and what projections her
Answer: The Government has introduced reforms to the protection system to ensure that protection is provided where it is needed, while also creating a fair and sustainable immigration system.With regards to costs and legal aid provision, only people who stay on C...
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylumHome OfficeTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16387More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the additional structural, operational and staffing costs associated with requiring refugees to reapply for Leave to Remain every 30 months.
Answer: The Government has introduced reforms to the protection system to ensure that protection is provided where it is needed, while also creating a fair and sustainable immigration system.With regards to costs and legal aid provision, only people who stay on C...
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordIndependent Immigration Appeals AuthorityHome OfficeTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16386More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to prevent the backlog of asylum appeals from increasing as a result of the establishment of a new appeals body and the associated structural and staffing changes.
Answer: We expect a phased transition, in which the First Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) continues to hear existing appeals, in parallel with the new Independent Immigration Appeals Authority taking on new cases. This will ensure continuity and he...
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPrisoners: Older PeopleMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12078More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, (a) what is the intended timeline for publication of the Older Prisoners Strategy and (b) what engagement his department intends to undertake with end of life care providers relating to the health care of older p
Answer: The Ministry of Justice is taking forward the development of an Older Prisoners Strategy, in line with the recommendation of the recent Independent Sentencing Review. As part of this work the Department is engaging closely with NHS England, health and soc...
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordFamily Proceedings: Legal Aid SchemeMinistry of JusticeTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10572More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many family mediators are currently recorded by the Legal Aid agency as registered to provide legally-aided family mediation.
Answer: This Government recognises the vital role that legal aid and mediation plays in supporting individuals to resolve their family disputes. We know that the civil and family legal aid market, including family mediation, is facing challenges and we are taking...
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordFamily Proceedings: MediationMinistry of JusticeTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10571More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that members of the public seeking to use family mediation are aware of the importance of selecting a mediator with Family Mediation Council accreditation.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that all those engaging in mediation can obtain the services of a suitably qualified mediator and has recently confirmed continued funding for the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme.This scheme gives all those who qual...
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordFamily Proceedings: MediationMinistry of JusticeTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10570More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking with the Family Mediation Council to promote the value of family mediation to separating and divorcing couples.
Answer: The Ministry of Justice works closely with the Family Mediation Council (FMC) to ensure that the information provided to all eligible couples when they enter the Family Court system regarding the benefits of non-court dispute resolution, including family ...
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordFamily Proceedings: Legal Aid SchemeMinistry of JusticeTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10569More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he will take to improve access to legally aided family mediation for couples who are separating or divorcing.
Answer: This Government recognises the vital role that legal aid and mediation plays in supporting individuals to resolve their family disputes. We know that the civil and family legal aid market, including family mediation, is facing challenges and we are taking...
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordFamily Proceedings: Legal Aid SchemeMinistry of JusticeTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10568More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will increase the rates paid to family mediators who offer legally aided mediation.
Answer: This Government recognises the vital role that legal aid and mediation plays in supporting individuals to resolve their family disputes. We know that the civil and family legal aid market, including family mediation, is facing challenges and we are taking...
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordFamily Proceedings: Legal Aid SchemeMinistry of JusticeTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10567More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to help tackle the shortage of legal aid providers in the area of family mediation.
Answer: This Government recognises the vital role that legal aid and mediation plays in supporting individuals to resolve their family disputes. We know that the civil and family legal aid market, including family mediation, is facing challenges and we are taking...
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordInland Waterways: AccessDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8037More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential economic contribution of recreational paddlesport to local economies; and what steps she is taking to protect access to waterways used by paddl
Answer: The Government believes that opportunities to play sport and get physically active should be available to everyone, including taking part in paddlesport. We know our waterways are vital for keeping the country active, which is why we are committed to prot...
Answered 15 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordInland Waterways: AccessDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8036More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure the Access to Nature Green Paper includes provisions for increased public access to unregulated inland waterways.
Answer: This Government recognises the importance of providing access to the outdoors and the benefits of blue spaces for people’s health and wellbeing. As set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025, Defra will explore the feasibility of increasing access...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPrisons: Palliative CareMinistry of JusticeTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7369More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, (a) how many prisons in England have undertaken voluntary self-assessment against the Dying Well in Custody Charter since 2024, and (b) what plans are in place to ensure that the Charter is implemented consistent
Answer: HM Prison & Probation Service, in partnership with the NHS, has revised the Dying Well in Custody Charter Self-Assessment Toolkit. This voluntary toolkit includes good practice examples and is designed to support local partnership activity.Information...
Answered 11 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSaudi Arabia: Capital PunishmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129453More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to answer given to Question UIN 97116 on 5 December 2025, what discussions her officials have had with their Saudi counterparts regarding (a) the execution of
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 11 December 2025 in response to Question 97116. The UK continues to oppose the use of capital punishment in all circumstances.
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordTrade Agreements: Gulf StatesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129452More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed UK–Gulf Cooperation Council trade agreement on (a) labour standards in partner countries and (b) what steps were taken to
Answer: The Government is a staunch defender of worker protections and has made clear that we will not compromise on these through our FTA programme.As part of the UK-GCC FTA, we are seeking commitments which reaffirm our international obligations at the Internat...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordWestern Sahara: Self-determination of StatesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128685More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March to Question UIN 113475 on Western Sahara: Self Determination of States, if will she raise with the UN Security Council that any autonomy pla
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 2 April to Question 121704, and on 4 March to his own Question 113475.
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
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