Stuart Andrew MP: written questions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has had discussions with NICE on a potential timetable for reviewing guidance on liposuction for chronic lipoedema.

Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to the Hon Member for Southport on 3 July 2026 in response to Question 12297.

Answered 14 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support is available to ICBs to commission specialist services for people with lipoedema.

Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to the Hon Member for Southport on 3 July 2026 in response to Question 12297.

Answered 14 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to increase awareness of lipoedema among (a) GPs and (b) other relevant healthcare professionals.

Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to the Hon Member for Southport on 3 July 2026 in response to Question 12297.

Answered 14 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has make an assessment of the potential merits of developing a national clinical pathway for the diagnosis and management of lipoedema.

Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to the Hon Member for Southport on 3 July 2026 in response to Question 12297.

Answered 14 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of trends in regional variation in access to diagnosis and treatment for lipoedema.

Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to the Hon Member for Southport on 3 July 2026 in response to Question 12297.

Answered 14 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the MHRA on conducting an audit of clinical-needs justifications submitted under Regulation 167 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 for cannabis-based produc

Answer: The Department and the NHS Business Services Authority have not received a request from the General Medical Council for data relating to named services or individual prescribers of cannabis-based products for medicinal use. NHS England routinely liaises w...

Answered 16 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the General Medical Council has requested data including named services and individual prescribers relating to cannabis-based products for medicinal use from (a) his Department, (b) NHS Eng

Answer: The Department and the NHS Business Services Authority have not received a request from the General Medical Council for data relating to named services or individual prescribers of cannabis-based products for medicinal use. NHS England routinely liaises w...

Answered 16 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for each UK Foundation Programme reserve-list allocation round held in 2026, how many applicants were allocated a place in that round from (a) the total pool of non-prioritised applicants, (b) Quee

Answer: The allocation of reserve list applicants to foundation schools is still on-going. The UK Foundation Programme Office published an update on 3 July detailing two further reserve-list allocation rounds which will take place on 15 July and 29 July respectiv...

Answered 16 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the NHS of replacing medical equipment loaned to patients that is (a) lost, (b) damaged beyond repair and (c) not returned.

Answer: NHS England does not collect information on medical equipment loaned to National Health Service patients outside of NHS premises. NHS trusts, often in partnership with local councils and regional integrated community equipment services, loan a wide range ...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which body is responsible for pursuing the return of medical equipment loaned to patients where that equipment was supplied by (a) an NHS trust and (b) an integrated care board.

Answer: NHS England does not collect information on medical equipment loaned to National Health Service patients outside of NHS premises. NHS trusts, often in partnership with local councils and regional integrated community equipment services, loan a wide range ...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance NHS England provides to NHS bodies on the (a) recording, (b) tracking and (c) recovery of medical equipment loaned to patients for use outside NHS premises.

Answer: NHS England does not collect information on medical equipment loaned to National Health Service patients outside of NHS premises. NHS trusts, often in partnership with local councils and regional integrated community equipment services, loan a wide range ...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England collects information from NHS bodies on medical equipment loaned to patients that is \(a) lost, (b) damaged beyond repair and (c) not returned.

Answer: NHS England does not collect information on medical equipment loaned to National Health Service patients outside of NHS premises. NHS trusts, often in partnership with local councils and regional integrated community equipment services, loan a wide range ...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England routinely collects data on turnaround times for genomic tests delivered through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service.

Answer: Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (NHS GMS) and delivered by a national genomic testing network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs).NHS England captures Patient Level Con...

Answered 3 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what modelling his Department has undertaken of potential future demand for genomic testing to support delivery of commitments in the NHS 10 Year Plan and National Cancer Plan.

Answer: NHS England is responsible for commissioning the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (NHS GMS). Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS GMS and delivered by a national genomic testing network of seven NHS Genomic Lab...

Answered 29 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of (a) workforce capacity, (b) laboratory capacity and (c) digital infrastructure across Genomic Laboratory Hubs in the context of future dem

Answer: Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (NHS GMS) and delivered by a national genomic testing network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs).To support future demand for genomic t...

Answered 29 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of trends in genomic testing activity through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service since April 2023; and what steps he is taking to help support access to genomi

Answer: Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (NHS GMS) and delivered by a national genomic testing network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs). The NHS GLHs deliver testing as direc...

Answered 3 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many genomic tests have been completed through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service in each quarter since April 2023 for (a) cancer and (b) rare and inherited conditions.

Answer: Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (NHS GMS) and delivered by a national genomic testing network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs.Since December 2023, NHS England has publishe...

Answered 3 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the support required for children and young people affected by age-related online restrictions; whether additional mental health or support services will

Answer: It is important that children and adults can benefit from the opportunities that appropriate use of technology can offer to boost wellbeing; however, this must be balanced with safety and protection from risks to their mental health.The Department of Heal...

Answered 17 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Department collects data on the health impacts of children’s exposure to harmful online content; and what assessment has been made of how the effectiveness of interventions designed to

Answer: The Government keeps the evidence on the health impacts of children’s exposure to harmful online content under close review and is committed to ensuring that children’s lives online are safe and enriching.Following a national consultation, the Government ...

Answered 16 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the level of need for NHS health professionals to ask about children’s screen use and social media exposure during routine case histories; and whether gui

Answer: The Department recognises the issue of children’s screen use and social media exposure, and the role National Health Service professionals can play.Screen use guidance forms a core part of the Government’s response to online harms, complementing regulator...

Answered 20 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the draft Value Based Procurement guidance for Medical Technology, (a) whether procurement assessments are expected to include comparison with the existing standard of care, (b) h

Answer: The Value Based Procurement (VBP) guidance, published on 11 June 2026, applies to medical technology as defined by the Medical Device Regulations 2002. This includes consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies. The Department wo...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the level of alignment between the draft Value Based Procurement guidance for Medical Technology and (a) NHS Trust financial requirements under the 2025-2

Answer: The Value Based Procurement (VBP) guidance, published on 11 June 2026, applies to medical technology as defined by the Medical Device Regulations 2002. This includes consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies. The Department wo...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the draft Value Based Procurement guidance for Medical Technology, what role NHS Trust Finance Directors will have in value assessments of medical technology; whether that guidanc

Answer: The Value Based Procurement (VBP) guidance, published on 11 June 2026, applies to medical technology as defined by the Medical Device Regulations 2002. This includes consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies. The Department wo...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the draft Value Based Procurement guidance for Medical Technology, whether that guidance applies across different categories of MedTech, including consumables, implants, diagnosti

Answer: The Value Based Procurement (VBP) guidance, published on 11 June 2026, applies to medical technology as defined by the Medical Device Regulations 2002. This includes consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies. The Department wo...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the draft Value Based Procurement guidance for Medical Technology, what assessment his Department has made of (a) the availability of comparable clinical outcomes data across MedT

Answer: The Value Based Procurement (VBP) guidance, published on 11 June 2026, applies to medical technology as defined by the Medical Device Regulations 2002. This includes consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies. The Department wo...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the recently completed NHS Trust pilots of the Department’s Value Based Procurement guidance for Medical Technology, (a) what assessment his Department has made of the pilots and

Answer: The Value Based Procurement (VBP) guidance, published on 11 June 2026, applies to medical technology as defined by the Medical Device Regulations 2002. This includes consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies. The Department wo...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the impact of NHS provider financial controls on the recruitment of newly qualified nurses into Band 5 nursing posts.

Answer: All National Health Service organisations have completed their financial plans for 2026/27, which meet the priorities set out in the Medium Term Planning Framework. These plans have been assured, including whether workforce plans are affordable. The detai...

Answered 9 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to align the number of nursing training places with the number of NHS posts available to newly qualified nurses.

Answer: Training places for nurses are not centrally commissioned by Government. Instead, they are determined by local employers and education providers who decide the number of learners they admit based on learner demand and provider capacity.We are improving wo...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department monitors the number of newly qualified nurses who are unable to secure NHS nursing posts within six months of qualification.

Answer: Training places for nurses are not centrally commissioned by Government. Instead, they are determined by local employers and education providers who decide the number of learners they admit based on learner demand and provider capacity.We are improving wo...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the number of Band 5 nursing posts available to newly qualified nurses in England.

Answer: Training places for nurses are not centrally commissioned by Government. Instead, they are determined by local employers and education providers who decide the number of learners they admit based on learner demand and provider capacity.We are improving wo...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the availability of Band 5 nursing posts for newly qualified nurses in Greater Manchester.

Answer: Training places for nurses are not centrally commissioned by Government. Instead, they are determined by local employers and education providers who decide the number of learners they admit based on learner demand and provider capacity.We are improving wo...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure continuity in specialist surgical workforce development following the transfer of NHS England functions into the Department of Health and Social Care and the withd

Answer: NHS England made the decision in 2025 to discontinue central funding of the salary support component of the Training Interface Group (TIG) programme, and to target financial resources more effectively to address regional workforce priorities.Regions or pr...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to support advanced specialist surgical skills development in areas previously supported by Training Interface Group fellowships, including cleft, ENT, plastic, hand a

Answer: NHS England made the decision in 2025 to discontinue central funding of the salary support component of the Training Interface Group (TIG) programme, and to target financial resources more effectively to address regional workforce priorities.Regions or pr...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the number of Training Interface Group fellowship posts affected by the withdrawal of central funding and national support, broken down by surgical

Answer: NHS England made the decision in 2025 to discontinue central funding of the salary support component of the Training Interface Group (TIG) programme, and to target financial resources more effectively to address regional workforce priorities.Regions or pr...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England will commission a national assessment of regional variation in access to left atrial appendage occlusion or closure services.

Answer: NHS England has not undertaken national assessment of the impact of centralisation of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) services on travel or waiting times and there are also no plans to undertake a review of regional variation. These services are de...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment NHS England has made of the impact of centralisation of left atrial appendage occlusion or closure services on patient travel times and waiting times.

Answer: NHS England has not undertaken national assessment of the impact of centralisation of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) services on travel or waiting times and there are also no plans to undertake a review of regional variation. These services are de...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many provider centres approved to deliver left atrial appendage occlusion or closure services are currently inactive or not routinely delivering procedures; and what steps NHS England is taking

Answer: NHS England has not undertaken national assessment of the impact of centralisation of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) services on travel or waiting times and there are also no plans to undertake a review of regional variation. These services are de...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England routinely monitors geographical variation in the delivery of specialised services including left atrial appendage occlusion or closure; and what action it takes where provision

Answer: NHS England has not undertaken national assessment of the impact of centralisation of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) services on travel or waiting times and there are also no plans to undertake a review of regional variation. These services are de...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what operational, clinical or supply-side factors informed the decision to phase the expansion of the shingles vaccination programme to adults aged 60 and over between 2028 and 2033.

Answer: The shingles vaccine was previously available as part of the national immunisation programme to those aged 70 years old and over. In 2019, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended that the shingles vaccination programme shoul...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what factors his Department is considering before responding to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s November 2024 advice that the shingles vaccination programme should be expanded

Answer: The Government is considering the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s advice on shingles vaccinations, examining factors including clinical benefits, affordability and cost effectiveness.No decision has yet been taken on any expansion of the...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that adults who are already older than the eligible age when the shingles vaccination programme is expanded are not disadvantaged by the timing of the rollout.

Answer: The Government is considering the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s advice on shingles vaccinations, examining factors including clinical benefits, affordability and cost effectiveness.No decision has yet been taken on any expansion of the...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the clinical, operational, procurement and supply-side barriers to expanding the shingles vaccination programme to adults aged 80 and over.

Answer: The Government is considering the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s advice on shingles vaccinations, examining factors including clinical benefits, affordability and cost effectiveness.No decision has yet been taken on any expansion of the...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the NHS of shingles-related GP appointments, A&E attendances and hospital admissions among adults aged 80 and over between the Joint Committee o

Answer: The Government is considering the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s advice on shingles vaccinations, examining factors including clinical benefits, affordability and cost effectiveness.No decision has yet been taken on any expansion of the...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of adults aged 80 and over who may develop shingles between the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s November 2024 advice on expandi

Answer: The Government is considering the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s advice on shingles vaccinations, examining factors including clinical benefits, affordability and cost effectiveness.No decision has yet been taken on any expansion of the...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to consider patient safety issues in its review of cannabis-based products for medicinal use, including prescribing to p

Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care has worked closely with the Home Office and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the development and implementation of the law change in 2018 to permit the prescribing of unlicensed can...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs’ review of cannabis-based products for medicinal use will specifically consider prescribing to patients with serious mental illness, advertising

Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care has worked closely with the Home Office and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the development and implementation of the law change in 2018 to permit the prescribing of unlicensed can...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what dates the Cannabis Interchange Group has met since 1 January 2020; who attended each meeting; and whether she plans to publish the agendas, minutes and papers of those meetings.

Answer: The Home Office is not aware of a group called “the Cannabis Interchange Group”. Officials from the Home Office and the Department of Health and Social Care liaise frequently on issues connected to the use of controlled drugs in healthcare, including Cann...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of current arrangements for monitoring prescribing volumes of cannabis-based products for medicinal use by provider and prescriber.

Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care has worked closely with the Home Office and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the development and implementation of the law change in 2018 to permit the prescribing of unlicensed can...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with the MHRA on the regulation of private clinics advertising consultations for cannabis-based products for medicinal use.

Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care has worked closely with the Home Office and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the development and implementation of the law change in 2018 to permit the prescribing of unlicensed can...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many investigations the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has opened into the (a) advertising and (b) promotion of unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use by priv

Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care has worked closely with the Home Office and healthcare regulators in the development and implementation of the law change in 2018 to permit the prescribing of unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use an...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the application of Regulation 167 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to the supply of unlicensed cannabis-based products f

Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care has worked closely with the Home Office and healthcare regulators in the development and implementation of the law change in 2018 to permit the prescribing of unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use an...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with the (a) Care Quality Commission, (b) General Medical Council, (c) Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and (b) the Secretary of State for

Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care has worked closely with the Home Office and healthcare regulators in the development and implementation of the law change in 2018 to permit the prescribing of unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use an...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the safe prescribing of cannabis-based products for medicinal use.

Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care has worked closely with the Home Office and healthcare regulators in the development and implementation of the law change in 2018 to permit the prescribing of unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use an...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of changes to tax treatment affecting the Motability Scheme from 1 July 2026 on the affordability of new leases for disabled people.

Answer: At Budget 2025 the government announced tax changes to the Motability scheme which will save over £1 billion over the next five years. The VAT relief for top-up payments made to lease more expensive vehicles will be removed for new leases from July 2026, ...

Answered 27 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has had discussions with Motability Operations Ltd on the potential safety implications of changes to tyre replacement limits under the Motability Scheme.

Answer: Responsibility for the terms and administration of the Scheme sits with Motability Foundation and its Board of Governors. The Department for Work and Pensions meets quarterly with Motability Foundation, to discuss the Scheme’s operation. The changes to th...

Answered 27 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) statutory and (b) policy rules prevent NHS funding for an elective procedure being combined with a patient contribution to meet the cost of treatment by an independent-sector provider.

Answer: Where a patient opts to pay for private care, their entitlement to services within the National Health Service remains and may not be withdrawn. However, the NHS should not subsidise private care. Therefore, it is important there is as clear a distinction...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether patients who have waited longer than 18 weeks for consultant-led elective treatment have a right to request transfer to an alternative NHS or NHS-funded independent-sector provider able to

Answer: Patients in England have a right to request their local integrated care board (ICB) find an alternative provider when they have been waiting, or expect to wait, over 18 weeks to begin treatment for consultant-led care.When notified, ICBs are required to t...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps integrated care boards are required to take when a patient awaiting consultant-led elective treatment has waited longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment.

Answer: Patients in England have a right to request their local integrated care board (ICB) find an alternative provider when they have been waiting, or expect to wait, over 18 weeks to begin treatment for consultant-led care.When notified, ICBs are required to t...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria his Department uses to determine whether a person has undertaken all or a majority of their medical training outside Ireland for the purposes of section 4 of the Medical Training (Pri

Answer: The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 implements the Government’s commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training places, and UK medical graduates and other doctors with significant Nat...

Answered 19 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 on British citizens studying for UK-awarded medical degrees delivered outside the B

Answer: The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 implements the Government’s commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training places, and UK medical graduates and other doctors with significant Nat...

Answered 19 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of students enrolled before the passage of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 on UK-awarded medical degrees delivered outside the Bri

Answer: The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 implements the Government’s commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training places, and UK medical graduates and other doctors with significant Nat...

Answered 19 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to publish guidance on the eligibility criteria for priority status under section 4 of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 for students graduating with UK-award

Answer: The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 implements the Government’s commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training places, and UK medical graduates and other doctors with significant Nat...

Answered 19 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to introduce transitional or grandfathering arrangements for students who enrolled before the passage of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 on UK-awarded me

Answer: The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 implements the Government’s commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training places, and UK medical graduates and other doctors with significant Nat...

Answered 19 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average number of days overdue was for Named Day Written Parliamentary Questions to his Department which were overdue for a substantive answer at the end of the 2024–26 Parliamentary Sessi

Answer: Information on the number of Written Parliamentary Questions the Department had not answered substantively before prorogation is available at the following link:https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions?SearchTerm=prorogation&DateFr...

Answered 15 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Named Day Written Parliamentary Questions to his Department were overdue for a substantive answer at the end of the 2024–26 Parliamentary Session.

Answer: Information on the number of Written Parliamentary Questions the Department had not answered substantively before prorogation is available at the following link:https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions?SearchTerm=prorogation&DateFr...

Answered 15 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Written Parliamentary Questions to his Department had not received a substantive answer by the end of the 2024–26 Parliamentary Session; and what the tabling date was of the oldest such Qu

Answer: Information on the number of Written Parliamentary Questions the Department had not answered substantively before prorogation is available at the following link:https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions?SearchTerm=prorogation&DateFr...

Answered 15 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patient pathways in the net reduction in the referral-to-treatment waiting list since 1 September 2025 were removed as a result of (a) completed treatment, (b) patient-initiated cancellati

Answer: Validation is a routine part of providers’ waiting list management which ensures patient records are accurate, that patients are on the best pathway to meet their needs, and that they still need their appointments.Over 85% of removals from the Referral to...

Answered 15 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of patient pathways removed from referral-to-treatment waiting lists following data validation exercises in each year since 2020.

Answer: Validation is a routine part of providers’ waiting list management which ensures patient records are accurate, that patients are on the best pathway to meet their needs, and that they still need their appointments.Over 85% of removals from the Referral to...

Answered 15 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 15 January 2026 to Question 82954 on Surgery: Waiting Lists, what payments NHS England and his Department have made for waiting-list data validation exercises since

Answer: Validation is a routine part of providers’ waiting list management which ensures patient records are accurate, that patients are on the best pathway to meet their needs, and that they still need their appointments.Over 85% of removals from the Referral to...

Answered 15 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department ahs provided dedicated support has been provided to West Northamptonshire Council in the context of the Local Road Maintenance Ratings 2025 to 2026; and whether a peer review has been com

Answer: As part of the publication of the local road maintenance ratings for 2025/26, the Department for Transport confirmed that it will provide red-rated authorities with a dedicated support programme to help improve local outcomes. This is in the form of exper...

Answered 24 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the suitability of using estimated free sugars data within the 2018 Nutrient Profile Model for regulatory purposes.

Answer: The Government has committed to updating the standards behind the current advertising and promotions restrictions on ‘less healthy’ food and drink.The advertising and promotions restrictions currently rely on the outdated Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) 20...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the practical achievability of product reformulation in relation to the 2018 Nutrient Profile Model.

Answer: The Government has committed to updating the standards behind the current advertising and promotions restrictions on ‘less healthy’ food and drink.The advertising and promotions restrictions currently rely on the outdated Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) 20...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he considers the impact assessment carried out in relation to the 2018 Nutrient Profile Model to remain adequate.

Answer: The Government has committed to updating the standards behind the current advertising and promotions restrictions on ‘less healthy’ food and drink.The advertising and promotions restrictions currently rely on the outdated Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) 20...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of final-year students from (a) Queen Mary University of London Malta, (b) Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia and (c) the City St George’s, U

Answer: The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026, which came into force on 6 March 2026, implements the Government’s commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training places, and to prioritise UK me...

Answered 27 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with NHS England on proposals to reduce reliance on resident doctors in response to industrial action.

Answer: As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government has committed to create a new model of care, fit for the future. In spring we will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan to create a workforce ready to deliver that transformed service.The 10 Year Workforce...

Answered 24 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the withdrawal of additional speciality training places for resident doctors in 2026-27 on NHS workforce planning.

Answer: On 22 March, the Government made a formal offer to the British Medical Association (BMA) Resident Doctors Committee (RDC) to seek to resolve their dispute. This was the product of joint negotiation with BMA RDC officers. The offer included a package of me...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an estimate of of the cost to the NHS of the resident doctors’ strike beginning on 7 April 2026.

Answer: We have estimated cost of strikes at £50 million per day for resident doctors currently. This would mean that the six-day strike beginning 7 April 2026 is estimated to cost approximately £300 million. We continue to update estimates as new data becomes av...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an estimate of the number of NHS appointments and procedures postponed due to the resident doctors’ strike beginning on 7 April 2026.

Answer: NHS England routinely publishes information on postponed inpatient and outpatient appointments during periods of industrial action, and this information will be published in due course. Further information will be available at the following link:https://w...

Answered 24 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential risks of system level Single Point Of Access (SPOA) on patient choice; and what guidance his Department will issue to integrated care boards

Answer: The policy intention for the Elective Single Point of Access (SPoA) model is fully compatible with NHS England’s Patient Choice Guidance, published in December 2023. Patients must continue to be offered a choice of provider at the appropriate point in the...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the UK National Screening Committee's final terms of reference; when those terms were last reviewed; and whether he has made an assessment of their adequacy.

Answer: Last year, the 10-Year Health Plan was published following a national conversation to make the National Health Service work better for people.We know that significant unmet need remains for people living with rare diseases, and in February this year we pu...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children have been diagnosed with metachromatic leukodystrophy since 2022; how many of those were diagnosed in time to receive NHS-commissioned treatment; and whether he has made an assess

Answer: Last year, the 10-Year Health Plan was published following a national conversation to make the National Health Service work better for people.We know that significant unmet need remains for people living with rare diseases, and in February this year we pu...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent additions have been made to the newborn screening programme; and what process is used to determine future additions.

Answer: Last year, the 10-Year Health Plan was published following a national conversation to make the National Health Service work better for people.We know that significant unmet need remains for people living with rare diseases, and in February this year we pu...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has issued guidance to the UK National Screening Committee on taking proactive steps to consider adding new conditions to the newborn screening programme.

Answer: Last year, the 10-Year Health Plan was published following a national conversation to make the National Health Service work better for people.We know that significant unmet need remains for people living with rare diseases, and in February this year we pu...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2026 to Question 99743, whether his Department has met with ArchAngel MLD Trust, the MPS Society, MLD Support UK and the Newborn Screening Collaborative; and whe

Answer: Last year, the 10-Year Health Plan was published following a national conversation to make the National Health Service work better for people.We know that significant unmet need remains for people living with rare diseases, and in February this year we pu...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2026 to Question 99741, what evidence the UK National Screening Committee considered in reaching its recommendation on screening for metachromatic leukodystrophy

Answer: Last year, the 10-Year Health Plan was published following a national conversation to make the National Health Service work better for people.We know that significant unmet need remains for people living with rare diseases, and in February this year we pu...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department uses international data when assessing evidence for rare diseases; and if he will make an assessment of the potential role of such data in relation to metachromatic leukodyst

Answer: Last year, the 10-Year Health Plan was published following a national conversation to make the National Health Service work better for people.We know that significant unmet need remains for people living with rare diseases, and in February this year we pu...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2026 to Question 99744, what steps his Department is taking to improve the availability and quality of evidence for rare diseases.

Answer: Last year, the 10-Year Health Plan was published following a national conversation to make the National Health Service work better for people.We know that significant unmet need remains for people living with rare diseases, and in February this year we pu...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2025 to Question 99742 on Screening: Babies, whether the research being undertaken to understand delays in diagnosis will include consideration of (a) the perf

Answer: Last year, the 10-Year Health Plan was published following a national conversation to make the National Health Service work better for people.We know that significant unmet need remains for people living with rare diseases, and in February this year we pu...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that inpatient mental health services have sufficient staffing levels and the appropriate skill mix to provide safe and therapeutic care.

Answer: As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, the Government is recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health workers by the end of this Parliament. Over 8,000 of these workers h...

Answered 16 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking, with NHS England and integrated care boards, to address systemic failings in inpatient mental health care.

Answer: Anyone receiving mental health treatment should be able to expect consistently safe, high‑quality care. Families, staff, and the public deserve answers when things go wrong in mental health settings and it is vitally important that, where care falls short...

Answered 16 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of mental health crisis and inpatient provision in Northamptonshire following changes to services at St Andrew’s Hospital.

Answer: St Andrew’s site in Northampton provides care for a complex mix of patients on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. The decision by NHS England relates to inpatients at St Andrew’s Northampton site only. It is important to note that Care Quality Commis...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that families and carers of patients affected by changes to services at St Andrew’s Hospital in Northampton are involved in decisions about alternative

Answer: The failings exposed at St Andrew’s Hospital in Northampton site are completely unacceptable. The accounts of poor care, patient harm, and sustained risks to vulnerable people are deeply distressing, and the safety and wellbeing of patients remains our fo...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients affected by changes to services at St Andrew’s Hospital in Northampton are transferred safely to appropriate alternative mental health pr

Answer: The failings exposed at St Andrew’s Hospital in Northampton site are completely unacceptable. The accounts of poor care, patient harm, and sustained risks to vulnerable people are deeply distressing, and the safety and wellbeing of patients remains our fo...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to publish the methodology used by NHS England to calculate projected PET-CT activity volumes, including any assumptions relating to future demand growth and pathway developments i

Answer: NHS England is responsible for commissioning prostate‑specific membrane antigen (PSMA) radiotracers for positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET‑CT) imaging for adults with high‑risk primary or recurrent prostate cancer. The commissioning pol...

Answered 16 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of whether NHS England’s projected PET-CT activity volumes for prostate cancer under the forthcoming commissioning arrangements align with current regional activity leve

Answer: NHS England is responsible for commissioning prostate‑specific membrane antigen (PSMA) radiotracers for positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET‑CT) imaging for adults with high‑risk primary or recurrent prostate cancer. The commissioning pol...

Answered 16 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of whether the modelling assumptions underpinning projected PSMA PET-CT activity volumes within the forthcoming PET-CT commissioning arrangements are (a) forward-looking

Answer: NHS England is responsible for commissioning prostate‑specific membrane antigen (PSMA) radiotracers for positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET‑CT) imaging for adults with high‑risk primary or recurrent prostate cancer. The commissioning pol...

Answered 16 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the cost of shipping and air freight following the conflict in the Middle East on the supply of generic medicines to the UK; and what steps he

Answer: We continue to monitor the impact of the Middle East conflict on the medical supply chain, including on generic medicines. While we understand that transport costs have risen, there are currently no reported shortages of medicines due to the conflict.If s...

Answered 30 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Life Sciences Sector Plan includes provision to protect and promote the resilience of the UK’s medicines supply chain.

Answer: A thriving life sciences sector is key to supporting the United Kingdom’s resilience and securing our medicines supply chain. Through the Life Sciences Sector Plan, the Government is making the UK one of the best places in the world to develop and manufac...

Answered 30 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has for non-specific symptom pathways for earlier diagnosis of leukaemia and other blood cancers.

Answer: Early diagnosis is a key focus of the National Cancer Plan. It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including blood cancers, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcom...

Answered 31 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of interventional radiology services in England.

Answer: The Elective Reform Plan, which was published in January 2025, committed to increasing surgical and diagnostic capacity for services such as interventional radiology. This is a step towards returning to the National Health Service constitutional standard ...

Answered 23 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of current and projected workforce needs in interventional radiology; and what steps his Department is taking to support training and recruitment in this spe

Answer: We set out in the 10-Year Health Plan for England that over the next three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts, with a focus on specialties where there is the greatest need. We will set out next steps in due course.The Government is co...

Answered 19 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of regional variation in access to 24/7 interventional radiology services in England.

Answer: The Elective Reform Plan, which was published in January 2025, committed to increasing surgical and diagnostic capacity for services such as interventional radiology. This is a step towards returning to the National Health Service constitutional standard ...

Answered 23 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patient pathways from the net reduction in the referral-to-treatment waiting list reported since 1 September 2025 were removed as a result of (a) completion of treatment and (b) data valid

Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of patient pathways removed from referral-to-treatment waiting lists following data validation exercises since 2020.

Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2026 to Question UIN 82954, what payments NHS England has made for waiting list data validation exercises (a) since 1 September 2025 and (b) in 2025–26 to date.

Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to restrict the sale of high sugar and high caffeine energy drinks to children aged 16 and under before the next King's Speech.

Answer: The Government has a commitment to ban the sale of energy drinks to children under 16 years old, which is subject to a consultation. We subsequently ran a 12-week consultation, which was open from 3 September 2025 to 26 November 2025.We are carefully cons...

Answered 23 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the role of community-based diagnostic services and AI-supported electrocardiogram interpretation in the early detection of inherited cardiac conditions i

Answer: A number of diagnostics are used to detect inherited cardiac conditions in young people at an early stage, including electrocardiograms (ECGs) and imaging. National Health Service artificial intelligence-supported ECG interpretation helps detect inherited...

Answered 9 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of electrocardiogram screening for young people engaged in organised sport, including the clinical effectiveness and cost effectivene

Answer: The Government is guided by the independent scientific advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). It is only where the offer to screen provides more good than harm that a screening programme is recommended. The UK NSC makes its recommendation...

Answered 3 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will set out the timetable for the UK National Screening Committee’s review of screening for sudden cardiac death in young people; and whether the large-scale screening audit data due for pub

Answer: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) is currently re-examining the evidence for sudden cardiac death screening in young people and will open a public consultation on this in the spring. The UK NSC secretariat is not aware of the audit referred to ...

Answered 3 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether Integrated Care Boards will be required to designate a named lead for the implementation of statutory guidance issued under the Down Syndrome Act 2022.

Answer: Under the Down Syndrome Act 2022, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is required to give guidance to relevant authorities in health, social care, education, and housing services on what they should be doing to meet the n...

Answered 9 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what mechanisms will be used to monitor compliance by public bodies with statutory guidance issued under the Down Syndrome Act 2022.

Answer: Under the Down Syndrome Act 2022, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is required to give guidance to relevant authorities in health, social care, education, and housing services on what they should be doing to meet the n...

Answered 9 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of diagnostic overshadowing for people with Down syndrome; and whether that issue will be included in the final statutory guidance und

Answer: In 2023, NHS England produced a guide for frontline staff to support people with learning disabilities which asks staff to be aware of diagnostic overshadowing. NHS England does not hold data on the extent of diagnostic overshadowing for people with Down ...

Answered 4 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that references to learning disability and support needs in the draft statutory guidance under the Down Syndrome Act 2022 reflect the needs profile of

Answer: Under the Down Syndrome Act, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is required to give statutory guidance to relevant authorities in health, social care, education, and housing services on what they should be doing to meet ...

Answered 4 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the final statutory guidance issued under the Down Syndrome Act 2022 will include Down syndrome-specific training for health, education and social care professionals.

Answer: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Maidenhead on 5 January 2026 to Question 103131.

Answered 4 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of responses to the consultation on the draft statutory guidance under the Down Syndrome Act 2022.

Answer: Through the implementation of the Down Syndrome Act 2022, the Government is striving to improve life outcomes for people with Down syndrome, raise awareness and understanding of their needs, and break down barriers to opportunity that they, and other disa...

Answered 26 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the additional 1,000 medical specialty training posts referred to in the 10 Year Workforce Plan will be allocated in the current calendar year or phased over multiple years.

Answer: NHS England is currently in discussions with local National Health Service providers on proposals to expand specialty training posts, with a view to introducing these through an additional recruitment round in 2026.NHS England has written to NHS Providers...

Answered 18 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the planned level of funding per post is for the additional 1,000 medical specialty training posts referred to in the 10 Year Workforce Plan; and how this compares with the current level of fu

Answer: NHS England is currently in discussions with local National Health Service providers on proposals to expand specialty training posts, with a view to introducing these through an additional recruitment round in 2026.NHS England has written to NHS Providers...

Answered 18 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the National Cancer Plan’s commitment to provide £70 million more in local authority Stop Smoking Services, whether that funding will be provided on an annual basis until 2030.

Answer: To help people quit, the Government has invested an additional £70 million in both 2024/25 and 2025/26 to support local authority led Stop Smoking Services in England. We are already seeing the impact this has made, as the first year of additional funding...

Answered 2 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of block contract arrangements on the level of NHS productivity.

Answer: No formal assessment of the impact of block contract arrangements on National Health Service productivity has been made. However, the 10‑Year Health Plan sets out the Government’s intention to move away from block contracts, paid irrespective of how many ...

Answered 24 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department’s policy is on managing NHS trusts that are not meeting elective recovery targets where services are delivered under block contract arrangements.

Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of elective care services, based on the needs of their population.The NHS Payment Scheme is the set of rules, prices, and guidance that determine how providers of National Health Service-...

Answered 24 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of block contract arrangements on elective care performance by NHS trusts.

Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of elective care services, based on the needs of their population.The NHS Payment Scheme is the set of rules, prices, and guidance that determine how providers of National Health Service-...

Answered 24 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS trusts are paid for the delivery of elective treatment through block contract arrangements.

Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of elective care services, based on the needs of their population.The NHS Payment Scheme is the set of rules, prices, and guidance that determine how providers of National Health Service-...

Answered 24 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department’s policy is on NHS trusts delivering elective care under block contract arrangements.

Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of elective care services, based on the needs of their population.The NHS Payment Scheme is the set of rules, prices, and guidance that determine how providers of National Health Service-...

Answered 24 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of uprating Pension Protection Fund compensation for members who lost indexation from April 1997, to reflect the value their pensions would have

Answer: Indexation in the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) on pensions built up on or after 6 April 1997 (post-1997 indexation) broadly reflects the statutory requirements for Defined Benefit schemes more generally, which are in line with the consumer prices index, ...

Answered 12 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that Plan 2 student loan borrowers are informed of the changes to repayment thresholds due to take effect in April 2027.

Answer: The government announced on 26 November 2025, as part of Autumn Budget 2025, the repayment threshold to apply to English Plan 2 student loans from April 2027 to April 2030. The Student Loans Company (SLC) publish confirmation of the repayment threshold to...

Answered 13 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has conducted an equality impact assessment on the freeze to the Plan 2 student loan repayment threshold due to take effect in April 2027.

Answer: It was announced at the Autumn Budget that the repayment and interest thresholds for Plan 2 student loans will be frozen from the 2026/27 financial year until April 2030, when they will increase annually by inflation.The department will release an equalit...

Answered 27 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of the freeze to the repayment threshold from April 2027 on average annual repayments for Plan 2 student loan borrowers.

Answer: It was announced at the Autumn Budget that the repayment and interest thresholds for Plan 2 student loans will be frozen from the 2026/27 financial year until April 2030, when they will increase annually by inflation.The department has produced the attach...

Answered 27 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of freezing the Plan 2 student loan repayment threshold from April 2027 on existing student loan borrowers.

Answer: It was announced at the Autumn Budget that the repayment and interest thresholds for Plan 2 student loans will be frozen from the 2026/27 financial year until April 2030, when they will increase annually by inflation.The department has produced the attach...

Answered 27 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer to Question UIN 82954, answered on 15 January 2026, what activities the £18,818,566 paid by NHS England for validation exercises (April to September 2025) funded; whether tho

Answer: NHS England has provided funding to increase validation of waiting lists in 2025/26, as part of the Government's plans for a more productive and improved approach to elective care which is better for patients. A £33 fee is provided for each additional ref...

Answered 13 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered freezing or reducing the small business multiplier in response to rising fixed costs for SMEs.

Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 101363.

Answered 15 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to publish analysis of the business rates burden by sector and business size following the 2026 revaluation.

Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 101363.

Answered 15 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the comparative impact of the 2026 business rates revaluation on (a) small retailers and (b) online distribution centres.

Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 101363.

Answered 15 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to introduce further transitional relief for small businesses facing increases in business rates liabilities following the 2026 revaluation.

Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 101363.

Answered 15 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the 2026 business rates revaluation on small businesses operating in high street premises.

Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 101363.

Answered 15 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many exit payments of £150,000 and more were made by integrated care boards in the 2024-25 financial year.

Answer: Data reported in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2024/25 is limited to providing high-level data on the total number and cost of exit payments, including non-contractual severance payments. This data is not broken down to identify the name...

Answered 24 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what payments NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board made to its former Chief Executive in connection with his departure in October 2025; and what the amounts were for (a) redundancy and (b) pay

Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department considers trail hunting to form part of the UK’s rural cultural heritage.

Answer: DCMS and each of the Devolved Governments are working to create inventories of living heritage in the UK. The criteria are set out here: https://livingheritage.unesco.org.uk/info/guidance/criteria.

Answered 22 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the number of jobs in rural areas that will be affected by a ban on trail hunting.

Answer: The department intends to launch a consultation seeking views on how to deliver a ban on trail hunting. The responses to that consultation will be used to inform our assessment of the potential impact of a ban on trail hunting on the economy in rural comm...

Answered 15 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of a ban on trail hunting on the economy in rural communities.

Answer: The department intends to launch a consultation seeking views on how to deliver a ban on trail hunting. The responses to that consultation will be used to inform our assessment of the potential impact of a ban on trail hunting on the economy in rural comm...

Answered 15 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to consult (a) rural stakeholders and (b) trail hunting organisations prior to the introduction of legislative proposals to ban trail hunting.

Answer: We intend to launch a consultation seeking views on how to deliver a ban on trail hunting. We will welcome input from all quarters, including from rural stakeholders and trail hunting organisations.

Answered 15 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Integrated Care Boards do not (a) implement minimum waiting times and (b) make reductions to Indicative Action Plans in ways that could risk patie

Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) have existing contractual powers to manage activity by providers, which were enhanced in 2025/26 with central support for setting and managing activity. The NHS Standard Contract includes the ability to set indicative activit...

Answered 13 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) his Department and (b) NHS England has issued guidance to Integrated Care Boards on the use of minimum waiting times for elective care.

Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) have existing contractual powers to manage activity by providers, which were enhanced in 2025/26 with central support for setting and managing activity. The NHS Standard Contract includes the ability to set indicative activit...

Answered 13 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changes to Indicative Action Plans and the introduction of minimum waiting times on patients with ongoing care needs, including th

Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) have existing contractual powers to manage activity by providers, which were enhanced in 2025/26 with central support for setting and managing activity. The NHS Standard Contract includes the ability to set indicative activit...

Answered 13 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of the 2025 Autumn Budget on business rates for pubs and hospitality venues; and whether she plans to review the business rates settlement for community-based pubs facing s

Answer: The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years...

Answered 8 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the July 2019 implementation date of the Contingent Reimbursement Model Code on victims of authorised push payment scams that occurred before that d

Answer: The Government takes the issue of fraud very seriously and is dedicated to protecting the public from this appalling crime. To protect consumers, under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has introduced a manda...

Answered 7 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of NHS policies on private access for patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome seeking faster access to speciali

Answer: Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) is diagnosed by a combination of general practitioners (GPs) and specialist clinicians. GPs can diagnose PoTS in many cases but, if they are unsure of symptoms or if symptoms are complex, they will refer pa...

Answered 7 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of NHS referral pathways for patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, including the coordination of care between cardio

Answer: Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) is diagnosed by a combination of general practitioners (GPs) and specialist clinicians. GPs can diagnose PoTS in many cases but, if they are unsure of symptoms or if symptoms are complex, they will refer pa...

Answered 7 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase access to specialist care for patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, including reducing waiting times to see clinicians with releva

Answer: Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) is diagnosed by a combination of general practitioners (GPs) and specialist clinicians. GPs can diagnose PoTS in many cases but, if they are unsure of symptoms or if symptoms are complex, they will refer pa...

Answered 7 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the time taken for leukaemia diagnosis; and whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for its policies of the findin

Answer: The National Cancer Plan will seek to improve outcomes for all cancers, including non-stageable cancers such as leukaemia. The Department remains committed to the early diagnosis of cancer and to improving outcomes for patients. However, we recognise that...

Answered 20 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has considered including emergency presentation as a metric for tracking early cancer diagnosis across all tumour types, including non-stageable cancers such as leukaemia, in the forthco

Answer: The National Cancer Plan will seek to improve outcomes for all cancers, including non-stageable cancers such as leukaemia. The Department remains committed to the early diagnosis of cancer and to improving outcomes for patients. However, we recognise that...

Answered 20 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to involve cancer charities in the delivery and governance of the forthcoming National Cancer Plan.

Answer: The National Cancer Plan will build on the shift from hospital to community set out by the 10-Year Health Plan and will seek to foster improved collaboration with the voluntary and community sector to deliver this.Governance mechanisms for monitoring impl...

Answered 7 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what consideration he has given to including prehabilitation and rehabilitation as core elements of cancer treatment in the forthcoming National Cancer Plan.

Answer: The Department is working with NHS England to support local systems to deliver effective rehabilitation and prehabilitation services. The National Cancer Plan will aim to improve how the physical and psychosocial needs of people with cancer can be met, wi...

Answered 7 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the National Cancer Plan will include measures to improve cancer research capacity in hospitals in the North of England.

Answer: Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests over £1.6 billion per year in research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Cancer is a major area of NIHR spending at £141.6 million in 2024/25, re...

Answered 7 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has held recent discussions with the Scottish Government on the inclusion of data from NHS Scotland in the UK Pelvic Floor Registry; and what his expected timescale is for fu

Answer: As a Government department, the Department of Health and Social Care engages constructively and works collaboratively with the devolved administrations on areas of shared interest, including information sharing, coordination, and issues that have United K...

Answered 9 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to provide financial support to redress schemes relating to pelvic mesh and valproate proposed by devolved governments.

Answer: The Government is carefully considering the work by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government departme...

Answered 7 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent engagement his Department has had with the devolved Administrations in relation to the recommendations of The Hughes Report, published on 7 February 2024; and whether any Ministerial-le

Answer: While health is predominantly devolved, the Department holds some reserved functions and working together across the United Kingdom on health and social care is ingrained in the values of our National Health Service and social care sector.The Patient Safe...

Answered 29 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Education on supporting small healthcare professions whose training courses may be financially unviable despite being essential to NH

Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care works closely with the Department for Education to support the availability of a diverse range of training routes into health and care careers. While the Government is committed to ensuring sustainable training pat...

Answered 5 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of therapeutic radiography apprenticeship provision; and what steps she is taking to support the long-term viability of those courses.

Answer: The department works closely with the Department for Health and Social Care to support the availability of a diverse range of training routes into health and care careers. We have worked with the health and care sector to design the Level 6 prosthetics an...

Answered 29 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the sustainability of prosthetics and orthotics apprenticeship provision in England; and what steps she is taking to support its continuation.

Answer: The department works closely with the Department for Health and Social Care to support the availability of a diverse range of training routes into health and care careers. We have worked with the health and care sector to design the Level 6 prosthetics an...

Answered 29 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it is his intention to expand Start for Life funding to the 78 local authorities currently without provision.

Answer: The 10-Year Health Plan sets out an ambitious agenda on how we will improve the nation’s health by creating a new model of care that is fit for the future.We recognise that local authorities are ambitious, seeking to deliver universal support to families ...

Answered 14 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of not extending Start for Life funding to all councils delivering Best Start Family Hubs on (i) the developmental domains assessed in the Early

Answer: We are committed to delivering the 10-Year Health Plan ambition to match Healthy Babies, formerly Start for Life, to Best Start Family Hubs over the next decade.There is strong evidence that the 1,001 days from pregnancy to the age of two years old set th...

Answered 7 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on child development outcomes of not matching Start for Life funding with the expansion of Best Start Family Hubs.

Answer: We are committed to delivering the 10-Year Health Plan ambition to match Healthy Babies, formerly Start for Life, to Best Start Family Hubs over the next decade.There is strong evidence that the 1,001 days from pregnancy to the age of two years old set th...

Answered 7 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of diagnosis rates for mental health conditions in England.

Answer: On 4 December 2025, we launched an independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism. The review will look to understand the similarities and differences between me...

Answered 8 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care what recent discussions he has had with the mental health sector on diagnoses of mental health conditions.

Answer: The independent review into prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism will appoint an advisory working group. This will be a multidisciplinary group of leading academics, clinicians, e...

Answered 8 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who his Department plans to consult as part of any review into the prevalence and overdiagnosis of mental health conditions and neurodivergence.

Answer: The independent review into prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism will appoint an advisory working group. This will be a multidisciplinary group of leading academics, clinicians, e...

Answered 8 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to publish the Terms of Reference for any review into the prevalence and overdiagnosis of mental health conditions and neurodivergence.

Answer: On 4 December 2025, we launched an independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism. The review will look to understand the similarities and differences between me...

Answered 8 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the scope and timeframe is of any planned review into the overdiagnosis of mental health conditions and neurodivergence.

Answer: On 4 December 2025, we launched an independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism. The review will look to understand the similarities and differences between me...

Answered 8 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is undertaking a review into the prevalence and overdiagnosis of mental health conditions and neurodivergence.

Answer: On 4 December 2025, we launched an independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism. The review will look to understand the similarities and differences between me...

Answered 8 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2025 to Question 93697, what the average time taken was by the UK National Screening Committee to evaluate proposals for additions to the newborn screening prog

Answer: The process from a proposal to screen newborns for a condition, to a decision whether to roll out a national screening programme is multi staged, and the time taken will vary from one condition to the next. This includes procuring evidence products, secur...

Answered 7 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2025 to Question 93697, if he will meet with representatives of ArchAngel MLD Trust, the MPS Society, MLD Support UK, the LSD Collaborative, and Alex – The Leuk

Answer: My rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will carefully consider a UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) recommendation on metachromatic leukodystrophy when it is presented to him, before making a decision. The Secretary o...

Answered 7 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2025 to Question 93696, what recent steps he has taken to implement the UK Rare Diseases Framework commitment to faster diagnosis; and how this is reflected in

Answer: The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases. Helping patients get a final diagnosis faster is one of the four priorities of the UK Rare Diseases Framework. We published the annual England action plan in February 2...

Answered 19 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2025 to Question 93697, whether he has made an estimate of the number of (a) preventable deaths and (b) cases of irreversible disability in children with Metach

Answer: When evaluating the evidence relating to a health condition such as metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) considers important issues relating to the condition, the test, the treatment and the effectiveness of a s...

Answered 7 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2025 to Question 93697, whether he has made an estimate of the differences in the number of conditions screened for in newborns between the UK and other countri

Answer: Screening programmes in the United Kingdom have a more rigorous approach towards evaluating the benefits and harms of screening compared to many other countries such as the United States of America and Italy.The independent UK National Screening Committee...

Answered 7 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to address regional and rural-urban disparities in ambulance response times, with reference to the performance of East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Answer: We acknowledge that ambulance performance has not consistently met expectations in recent years, and we are taking serious steps to improve performance across the country, including rural and semi-urban areas. That is why we published our Urgent and Emerg...

Answered 22 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average ambulance response time for Category 2 calls was in rural parts of the East Midlands in each of the last 12 months; and how this compares with response times in urban areas in the

Answer: We acknowledge that ambulance performance has not consistently met expectations in recent years, and we are taking serious steps to improve performance across the country, including rural and semi-urban areas. That is why we published our Urgent and Emerg...

Answered 22 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of ambulance response times in rural areas of the East Midlands; and what steps are being taken to improve response times in those communities.

Answer: We acknowledge that ambulance performance has not consistently met expectations in recent years, and we are taking serious steps to improve performance across the country, including rural and semi-urban areas. That is why we published our Urgent and Emerg...

Answered 22 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of how the proposed new regulatory regime for non-transferable securities and mini-bonds would have applied to the High Street Group scheme had it been in force at the time; and what con

Answer: The Government recognises the impact of the collapse of the High Street Group (HSG) on those who invested with it. The administrators of HSG estimate that the value of investments affected is about £123 million. As the regulator of financial services in t...

Answered 15 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she will ask the Financial Conduct Authority and other relevant bodies to review their handling of intelligence and complaints relating to High Street Group and similar unauthorised mini-bond schemes; and to

Answer: The Government recognises the impact of the collapse of the High Street Group (HSG) on those who invested with it. The administrators of HSG estimate that the value of investments affected is about £123 million. As the regulator of financial services in t...

Answered 15 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the banking sector and the Payment Systems Regulator on improving the ability of banks to identify and flag potentially suspicious payments linked to unauthorised investment schemes

Answer: The Government recognises the impact of the collapse of the High Street Group (HSG) on those who invested with it. The administrators of HSG estimate that the value of investments affected is about £123 million. As the regulator of financial services in t...

Answered 15 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the redress and support mechanisms available to retail investors who have suffered losses in unauthorised mini-bond schemes that fall outside the Financial Services Co

Answer: The Government recognises the impact of the collapse of the High Street Group (HSG) on those who invested with it. The administrators of HSG estimate that the value of investments affected is about £123 million. As the regulator of financial services in t...

Answered 15 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an estimate of (a) the number of retail investors and (b) the total value of investments affected by the collapse of High Street Group mini-bonds and related schemes; and what assessm

Answer: The Government recognises the impact of the collapse of the High Street Group (HSG) on those who invested with it. The administrators of HSG estimate that the value of investments affected is about £123 million. As the regulator of financial services in t...

Answered 15 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government plans to publish a detailed roadmap for improving national missile defence capabilities, including timelines and funding commitments.

Answer: The Strategic Defence Review announced up to £1 billion of investment in Integrated Air and Missile Defence. This announcement responds to the threat the UK faces and will shape our future Integrated Air and Missile Defence capability. Work to deliver the...

Answered 10 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the UK’s vulnerability to long-range missile threats, including ballistic and cruise missile systems; and what steps he is taking to strengthen integrated air and

Answer: The Strategic Defence Review announced up to £1 billion of investment in Integrated Air and Missile Defence. This announcement responds to the threat the UK faces and will shape our future Integrated Air and Missile Defence capability. Work to deliver the...

Answered 10 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of changes in the diagnosis rates of mental health conditions and neurodivergence in England in the last five years

Answer: No assessment has been made. The independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism will examine the similarities and differences between these conditions, focusing on prev...

Answered 19 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what evidence his Department has received on the potential over-diagnosis of mental health conditions and neurodivergence.

Answer: The most recent evidence about the prevalence of mental health conditions and neurodiversity comes from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2023/24, which provides data on the prevalence of both treated and untreated mental health disorders and neurode...

Answered 17 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the mental health and neurodivergence sectors on over-diagnosis.

Answer: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced on 4 December 2025, via a Written Ministerial Statement, the launch of an independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyp...

Answered 15 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether organisations in the mental health sector will be asked to contribute evidence to the Department’s review into the over-diagnosis of mental health conditions and neurodivergence.

Answer: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced on 4 December 2025, via a Written Ministerial Statement, the launch of an independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyp...

Answered 15 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to consult stakeholders in the mental health and neurodivergence sectors as part of its review into over-diagnosis.

Answer: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced on 4 December 2025, via a Written Ministerial Statement, the launch of an independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyp...

Answered 15 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the terms of reference for the Department’s review into the prevalence and potential over-diagnosis of mental health conditions and neurodivergence.

Answer: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced on 4 December 2025, via a Written Ministerial Statement, the launch of an independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyp...

Answered 15 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the proposed scope and timetable for his Department’s review into the prevalence of the potential over-diagnosis of mental health conditions and neurodivergence.

Answer: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced on 4 December 2025, via a Written Ministerial Statement, the launch of an independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyp...

Answered 15 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is undertaking a review into the prevalence of the over-diagnosis of mental health conditions and neurodivergence.

Answer: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced on 4 December 2025, via a Written Ministerial Statement, the launch of an independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyp...

Answered 15 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she plans to take to ensure that future changes to vehicle taxation do not discourage the take-up of electric vehicles or disproportionately impact workers who rely on long-distance commuting.

Answer: From April 2025, zero emission and hybrid cars, vans and motorcycles started to pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) in a similar way to petrol and diesel vehicles; the standard annual rate is £195. As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing El...

Answered 4 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential financial impact on long-distance commuters and early adopters of electric vehicles of the decision to apply standard rates of vehicle excise duty to electric

Answer: From April 2025, zero emission and hybrid cars, vans and motorcycles started to pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) in a similar way to petrol and diesel vehicles; the standard annual rate is £195. As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing El...

Answered 4 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that increased workloads among HMPPS Probation staff are matched by appropriate pay and support.

Answer: We have taken immediate steps to reduce probation workload where possible. “Probation Reset” was fully implemented on 1 July 2024, followed by the introduction of “Impact” on 28 April 2025. These initiatives are among several designed to alleviate workloa...

Answered 5 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of delayed pay awards on staff morale, workload and retention in the Probation Service.

Answer: We recognise that fair and competitive pay is a key part of supporting and retaining our valued probation workforce.Staff retention and morale is vitally important to us, and we continuously monitor staff workload and retention. The first Recruitment and ...

Answered 5 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when staff working in HMPPS Probation Services will receive their pay award for 2025–26; and for what reason it has not been implemented.

Answer: We recognise that fair and competitive pay is a key part of supporting and retaining our valued probation workforce. We continue to work to deliver on the 2025-26 pay awards for Probation Staff who are members of the Civil Service. We could not start the ...

Answered 5 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to review access to energy efficiency schemes for households in (a) properties over 100 years old and (b) otherwise classified as difficult to insulate.

Answer: The government is committed to ensuring that no-one is left behind in the transition to Net Zero, supplying solutions that work for all buildings. The Warm Homes Plan will transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes fit for the ...

Answered 5 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of linking eligibility for (a) boiler replacement and (b) heating repairs to the completion of insulation measures in cases whe

Answer: Eligibility for government home improvement schemes is based on factors such as the household income, vulnerability and the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of the property. Information on government support including eligibility criteria can be found...

Answered 5 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Autumn Budget 2025, which tax reliefs for Motability and other qualifying schemes she plans to (a) withdraw and (b) amend; and what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of

Answer: At Budget 2025 the government announced tax changes to the Motability scheme which will save over £1 billion over the next five years.The VAT relief for top-up payments made to lease more expensive vehicles will be removed for new leases from July 2026, a...

Answered 4 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department is working with the Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority on a strategy to help tackle digital exclusion in financial services, particularly for older or d

Answer: Tackling digital exclusion, which disproportionately impacts certain demographics including older and disabled people, is a priority for Government. That’s why we published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan in February 2025, which sets out our immediate a...

Answered 5 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate the Financial Conduct Authority has made of the number of consumers who have reported difficulty accessing financial services due to mandatory mobile phone authentication.

Answer: The Government recognises the importance of ensuring people can access the financial products and services they need. The Government is committed to ensuring high standards of financial inclusion across the financial services sector. The Payment Services ...

Answered 1 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department is taking steps to help ensure that financial services firms offer alternatives to mobile phone authentication for customers who cannot use such technology.

Answer: The Government recognises the importance of ensuring people can access the financial products and services they need. The Government is committed to ensuring high standards of financial inclusion across the financial services sector. The Payment Services ...

Answered 1 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of financial services firms requiring mobile phone-based authentication as a condition of accessing online accounts on (a) disabled and (b) elderly con

Answer: The Government recognises the importance of ensuring people can access the financial products and services they need. The Government is committed to ensuring high standards of financial inclusion across the financial services sector. The Payment Services ...

Answered 1 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total cost has been to the public purse of housing asylum seekers in hotels located in the West Northamptonshire Council area since July 2024; and if she will provide a breakdown by hotel.

Answer: The Home Office publishes all available information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and accounts at: Home Office annual report and accounts: 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK. There are no plans to publish a breakdown of expenditure by premises...

Answered 8 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish a breakdown of spending on hotel accommodation for asylum seekers by local authority area.

Answer: The Home Office publishes all available information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and accounts at: Home Office annual report and accounts: 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK. There are no plans to publish a breakdown of expenditure by premises...

Answered 8 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) the Government’s plans to bring NHS England into the Department of Health and Social Care and (b) the planned 50% reduction in integrated

Answer: The Government will publish an impact assessment of its plan to bring NHS England into the Department alongside the primary legislation to enact this reform. We do not expect the integration to have an impact on the capacity of integrated care boards (ICB...

Answered 9 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the National Screening Committee and the newborn screening programme appropriately consider rare diseases.

Answer: When assessing the case for newborn screening for rare diseases, as with all other diseases and conditions, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) uses internationally recognised criteria, and a rigorous evidence review and consultation process. It ...

Answered 2 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what meetings or engagements Ministers or senior officials from his department have had with any of the following patient organisations to discuss newborn screening: (a) Genetic Alliance UK (b) UK

Answer: The Government remains committed to improving the lives of people living with rare diseases through the UK Rare Diseases Framework, which includes faster diagnosis as one of its four priorities.In all aspects of population and targeted screening, minister...

Answered 2 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to (a) merge and (b) align the (i) Section 1 (firearms) and (ii) Section 2 (shotgun) licensing systems in the Firearms Act 1968.

Answer: We will be undertaking a public consultation later this year on the greater alignment of the controls on shotguns with other firearms.The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February this year, included a commi...

Answered 20 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment the UK Health Security Agency has made of the fatality rate associated with invasive Candidozyma auris infection.

Answer: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) routinely monitors the candidozyma auris situation in England and shares information with hospitals and health system partners so they can put in place timely measures to protect patients.There is no published UKHSA d...

Answered 19 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason Candidozyma auris was added to schedule 2 of the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations in April 2025;and if he will publish any public health risk assessments informing that

Answer: Candidozyma, formerly Candida, auris is an emerging multi-drug resistant fungal pathogen. Candidozyma auris is becoming more widespread globally, can result in serious infections in vulnerable individuals, and has been associated with outbreaks in healthc...

Answered 19 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on cross-Government implementation of (a) proposals for a national evidence-based digital parenting offer and (b) other

Answer: Giving all babies and children the best start in life is the foundation of the Opportunity Mission and the first step towards delivering the Government’s commitment to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of St...

Answered 19 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of supporting the roll-out of evidence-based parenting programmes through the Start for Life offer to all local authorities.

Answer: The government has confirmed over £500 million of funding allocated for the delivery of Best Start Family Hubs, which includes funding for parenting programmes.Through these Hubs, all local authorities will deliver parenting evidence-based interventions (...

Answered 25 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help tackle travel costs for (a) children and (b) young people under 25 with cancer; and whether he plans to include policies on this matter within the national cancer pl

Answer: Since its launch on 4 February 2025, the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce has been exploring opportunities for clinical and non-clinical improvement across a range of areas via a series of monthly taskforce meetings. To date, these meetings have...

Answered 10 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what policies on (a) children and (b) young people under 25 he plans to include within the national cancer plan for England.

Answer: Since its launch on 4 February 2025, the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce has been exploring opportunities for clinical and non-clinical improvement across a range of areas via a series of monthly taskforce meetings. To date, these meetings have...

Answered 10 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent work the Children and Young People’s Cancer Taskforce has undertaken in relation to the national cancer plan; and how recommendations from the Taskforce will be reflected in that plan.

Answer: Since its launch on 4 February 2025, the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce has been exploring opportunities for clinical and non-clinical improvement across a range of areas via a series of monthly taskforce meetings. To date, these meetings have...

Answered 10 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to minimise wastage of covid-19 vaccine doses during autumn 2025; and whether he plans to review eligibility guidance to allow unused doses to be administered to

Answer: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is responsible for the procurement, storage, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The UKHSA seeks to minimise wastage by ensuring that the volumes of COVID-19 vaccine that are procured are in line with forecasted de...

Answered 5 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the (a) anticipated and (b) actual level of demand for health services was in 2025–26; and whether the actual level of demand has increased in line with the trends since the end of the pandemi

Answer: Demand and costs for health services in 2025/26 was assessed and agreed with HM Treasury through the 2021 Spending Review negotiations, which are not published, as per standard practice. The national analysis takes into account the effect of population ag...

Answered 19 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of (a) EU-derived clinical hour requirements for nurse education and (b) the regulatory framework for nurse education (i) in general and

Answer: To be able to legally work as a nurse in the United Kingdom, individuals must be fully registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The NMC sets the standards that must be met by domestic and international nurses and midwives wishing to be add...

Answered 19 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking with the Department for Education to support the delivery of the NHS workforce plan.

Answer: The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan which will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.We have engaged with a range of partne...

Answered 20 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what engagement his Department has had with (a) universities and (b) higher education providers in developing the new NHS workforce plan.

Answer: The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan which will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.We have engaged with a range of partne...

Answered 20 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on the NHS workforce of financial pressures faced by higher education institutions providing healthcare education.

Answer: No assessment has been made.We work closely with the Department for Education on a wide range of matters, including healthcare education and training funding. Matters relating to the income of universities are the responsibility of the Department for Educ...

Answered 28 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Learning Disability Nursing is adequately supported within the new NHS workforce plan.

Answer: The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan which will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it. We are working through how the plan w...

Answered 20 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the planned training intakes are for (a) medical school places, (b) GP trainee places, (c) nurses, (d) nursing associates, (e) midwives, (f) pharmacists and (g) dentists in (i) 2025, (ii) 2026

Answer: In England, the Office for Students (OfS) sets the maximum fundable limit for medical school and dental school places. For the 2025/26 academic year, the OfS has published its intake target at 8,126 for medical school places and 809 for dental school plac...

Answered 20 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan fact sheet, published on 30 June 2023, whether it is his policy to provide £2.4 billion funding for additional education and training places for h

Answer: The Government has been clear that the 2023 Long Term Workforce Plan was undeliverable and based on outdated models of care. We have committed to publishing the 10 Year Workforce Plan in spring 2026, which will represent a departure from previous plans an...

Answered 20 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to maintain levels of VAT relief available on vehicles purchased by disabled people through the Motability scheme.

Answer: The Government keeps all taxes under review, and the Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances.

Answered 28 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 76564 on Surgery: Waiting Lists, whether NHS England holds information on which ICBs use minimum waiting times for elective care.

Answer: Following consultation, NHS England publishes the NHS Standard Contract annually for use by commissioners in contracting for National Health Service-funded healthcare services. The Department is involved in the consultation process on the Standard Contrac...

Answered 3 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 76564 on Surgery: Waiting Lists, what discussions he had with NHS England on (a) the introduction of NHS standard contract technical guidance f

Answer: Following consultation, NHS England publishes the NHS Standard Contract annually for use by commissioners in contracting for National Health Service-funded healthcare services. The Department is involved in the consultation process on the Standard Contrac...

Answered 3 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact on (a) diver safety and (b) emergency access for people in the West Midlands of the proposed closure of the Midland Dive Chamber in R

Answer: NHS England has no immediate plans to decommission the hyperbaric oxygen therapy services in the Midlands. The responsibility for the delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for services ultimately rests with the appropriate National Health Servic...

Answered 12 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many removals from elective waiting lists there have been as a result of data validation exercises in 2025-26; and what the cost to his Department has been of those exercises.

Answer: Validation is a well-established component for the effective management of waiting lists, ensuring that the patients who are on the list should still be there. While we have significantly reduced the size of the total elective waiting list by over 206,000...

Answered 15 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Patients treated more quickly as NHS productivity rises over year, published on 22 September 2025, what estimate he has made of the monetar

Answer: National Health Service productivity is measured by comparing the amount of healthcare activity delivered, otherwise known as outputs, against the resources used, otherwise known as inputs, over time. To estimate the growth in costs, data is drawn from fi...

Answered 21 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Patients treated more quickly as NHS productivity rises over year, published on 22 September 2025, whether NHS pay awards were included in

Answer: National Health Service productivity is measured by comparing the amount of healthcare activity delivered, otherwise known as outputs, against the resources used, otherwise known as inputs, over time. To estimate the growth in costs, data is drawn from fi...

Answered 21 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Patients treated more quickly as NHS productivity rises over year, published on 22 September 2025, how the growth in costs used to measure

Answer: National Health Service productivity is measured by comparing the amount of healthcare activity delivered, otherwise known as outputs, against the resources used, otherwise known as inputs, over time. To estimate the growth in costs, data is drawn from fi...

Answered 21 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential impact of district valuer assessments on the opening of new GP surgeries.

Answer: The Chancellor has regular conversations with the Health Secretary on range of issues. The Spending Review 2025 announced the largest ever health capital budget, with a £2.3 billion real terms increase in capital spending over the SR period. The £102 mill...

Answered 20 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting times were for district valuer assessments of GP premises proposals in the most recent 12-month period for which data are available.

Answer: For context, the Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA) District Valuer Services (DVS) provide property advice to NHS bodies in England, including Current Market Rent (CMR) assessments for GP practice premises, under the NHS (General Medical Services - Premises ...

Answered 20 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of new general practice premises projects have appealed the valuation by the district valuer service; and how many of those appeals were upheld.

Answer: For context, the Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA) District Valuer Services (DVS) provide property advice to NHS bodies in England, including Current Market Rent (CMR) assessments for GP practice premises, under the NHS (General Medical Services - Premises ...

Answered 20 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many new general practice premises projects are awaiting a valuation by the district valuer; and what the average time taken is to complete such valuations.

Answer: For context, the Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA) District Valuer Services (DVS) provide property advice to NHS bodies in England, including Current Market Rent (CMR) assessments for GP practice premises, under the NHS (General Medical Services - Premises ...

Answered 20 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to publish data on the number of patients receiving Tofersen through NHS services.

Answer: I am aware that the marketing authorisation holder has established an early access programme (EAP) through which some NHS patients are currently accessing tofersen. This is a company-led EAP and therefore the Department nor NHS England centrally hold pros...

Answered 6 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with the Motor Neurone Disease Association on patient access to Tofersen.

Answer: Department officials recently met with the Motor Neurone Disease Association to discuss a range of issues, including patient access to tofersen.

Answered 6 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of regional variations in patient access to Tofersen.

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 30 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS trusts are providing Tofersen through the Early Access to Medicines Scheme.

Answer: The Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS) is a programme led by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which aims to give patients with life threatening or seriously debilitating conditions early access to medicines that show ear...

Answered 27 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable access to Tofersen for motor neurone disease patients.

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 30 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reductions in poultry biodiversity on the food chain.

Answer: The UK has a highly resilient poultry meat supply chain which has coped well in responding to the unprecedented challenges it has faced in the recent years. Conservation of animal genetic resources including poultry breeds contributes to biodiversity. The...

Answered 20 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of consulting stakeholders on a proportionate approach to managing avian influenza risks in relation to poultry shows.

Answer: Defra officials have engaged with stakeholders to better understand achievable conditions for poultry shows. This process helped to shape a set of template conditions which could mitigate the disease risk associated with some poultry gatherings (for examp...

Answered 20 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the UK Health Security Agency’s conclusion that the risk to the general public from avian influenza remai

Answer: Regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended, sets out the legal basis for permitting gatherings of poultry or other captive birds. In England, a licence to hold a bird gathering may be granted by Defra ...

Answered 20 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of other countries permitting poultry shows under biosecure conditions.

Answer: Regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended, sets out the legal basis for permitting gatherings of poultry or other captive birds. In England, a licence to hold a bird gathering may be granted by Defra ...

Answered 21 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the cultural and social contribution of poultry shows to rural communities.

Answer: Poultry shows play an important role in the cultural and social life of rural communities. Gatherings of birds, such as poultry shows, are currently individually risk assessed to reduce the risk of further outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. R...

Answered 1 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the potential economic impact of prohibiting poultry shows on (a) rural economies, (b) agricultural shows, (c) local businesses and (d) hobbyist breeders.

Answer: Regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended, sets out the legal basis for permitting gatherings (such as shows) of poultry or other captive birds. In England, a licence to hold a bird gathering may be g...

Answered 26 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the ban on poultry shows on the conservation of rare and traditional poultry breeds.

Answer: Regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended, sets out the legal basis for permitting gatherings of poultry or other captive birds. In England, a licence to hold a bird gathering may be granted by Defra ...

Answered 20 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s Epidemiology Report: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 outbreaks in Great Britain, October 2022 to March 2023, published on

Answer: This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only. Regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended, sets out the legal basis for permitting gatherings (such as shows) ...

Answered 20 Oct 2025