theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Israeli government's E1 settlement plan. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: On 21 August, the Foreign Secretary and 26 international partners joined a statement condemning the E1 settlement development. The Ambassador of Israel to the United Kingdom was also summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in response to the plans. The decision by the Israeli Higher Planning Committee to approve plans for settlement construction in the E1 area, East of Jerusalem, is unacceptable and, if implemented, would divide a Palestinian state in two, mark a flagrant breach of international law and critically undermine the two-state solution. We condemn this decision and call for its immediate reversal in the strongest terms. The Israeli government must stop settlement construction in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to the UN on the need for an independent verifiable assessment of the number of missiles fired by Hamas into Israel between (a) July 2022 and September 2023, (b) October 2023 and January 2024 and (c) February 2024 and May 2025. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK regularly uses - and will continue to use - our seat on the United Nations Security Council and our voice in the UN to condemn Hamas' terror attacks against Israel. The UK has consistently stressed that Hamas can have no place in the future governance of Gaza and should never again threaten Israel's security. Israel already produces data on the number of missiles fired by Hamas into Israel. Israelis and Palestinians must be able to live in peace and security. Hamas must cease all such attacks.
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Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the visa applications of students in Gaza accepted to British universities. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We are working urgently to support Chevening Scholars and fully funded scholarship holders in Gaza who have offers from British universities to leave and take up their places in the UK. The Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary and I are in regular contact on operationalising support. We are doing everything we can to support their safe exit and onward travel to the UK, but the situation on the ground in Gaza makes this extremely challenging.
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Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with President Trump on global security. \p Stephen Doughty: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are deepening defence and security ties with the US to uphold peace and security, working together to respond to a more contested and volatile world.  Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary regularly engage with our US counterparts on wide ranging security issues. When the Foreign Secretary last spoke with Marco Rubio, they discussed efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, the war in Ukraine, and our commitment to Iran never developing or acquiring a nuclear weapon.
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Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support investment in memory assessment clinics in Yeovil constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). We would expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

The Government is committed to improving dementia care and is empowering local leaders with the autonomy they need to provide the best services to their local community, including those with dementia. That is why we have published the D100: Assessment Tool Pathway programme, which brings together multiple resources into a single, consolidated tool. This will help places and systems identify where improvements need to be targeted and help create communities and services where the best possible care and support is available to those with dementia.

Under the 10-Year Health Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services. We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. The Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia. It will set national standards for dementia care and redirect NHS priorities to provide the best possible care and support.
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Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients over 25 in (a) Coventry and Warwickshire and (b) Stratford-on-Avon constituency are on waiting lists for ADHD (i) assessment and (ii) treatment. \p Stephen Kinnock: There is, at present, no single, established dataset that can be used to monitor waiting times for assessment and diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for individual organisations or geographies in England. Although the data requested is not held centrally, it may be held locally by individual National Health Service trusts or commissioners.

On 29 May, NHS England published management information on ADHD waiting lists at a national level for the first time, as part of its ADHD data improvement plan.

NHS England has released technical guidance to integrated care boards (ICBs) to improve the recording of ADHD data, with a view to improving the quality of ADHD waiting list data and publishing more localised data in future, and has also captured examples from ICBs who are trialling innovative ways of delivering ADHD services. This information is being used to support systems to tackle ADHD waiting lists and provide support to address people’s needs.

NHS England also established an ADHD taskforce which brought together those with lived experience with experts from the NHS, education, charity and justice sectors to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including in accessing services and support. An interim report was published on 20 June, with the final report expected later this year.
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Kim Leadbeater:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with NHS England on ensuring that GP practices follow the NICE guideline entitled Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management, last updated on 13 September 2019, on Shared Care Agreements in cases where a patient has received a diagnosis from a qualified provider. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has regular discussions on a wide range of matters with NHS England.

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) in England to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including providing access to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment and treatment, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.

It is for the responsible clinician to decide on the most appropriate treatment plan to manage ADHD in discussion with their patient. This decision is based on the clinician’s expertise regarding treatment options, evidence, risk and benefits and the patient’s personal circumstances as part of a shared decision-making process. The NICE guidelines on ADHD set out the considerations that healthcare professionals should take into account when considering treatment options.

Shared care within the NHS refers to an arrangement whereby a specialist doctor formally transfers responsibility for all or some aspects of their patient’s care, such as prescription of medication, over to the patient’s general practitioner (GP). The General Medical Council (GMC) has issued guidance on prescribing and managing medicines, which helps GPs decide whether to accept shared care responsibilities. The GMC has made it clear that GPs cannot be compelled to enter into a shared care agreement. GP practices may decline such requests on clinical or capacity grounds. If a shared care arrangement cannot be put in place after the treatment has been initiated, the responsibility for continued prescribing falls upon the specialist clinician. This applies to both NHS and private medical care.
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Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of mid-year efficiency requirements as set out by NHS partners on the sustainability of hospice services. \p Stephen Kinnock: Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. While no specific assessment has been made at the national level, ICBs are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations, which includes consideration of the potential impact of any efficiency requirements on the provision of services to patients.

To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.
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Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many of the 2,000 GPs recruited through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme have been recruited in Taunton and Wellington constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: Data for July 2025 shows that since October 2024, 2,097 newly qualified general practitioners have been recruited through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, nine of which were recruited in the NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board, in which the Taunton and Wellington constituency is located. The data is not available at constituency level.
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Adrian Ramsay:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much was spent on primary care NHS dental services net of patient charge revenue in (a) cash and (b) real terms in each financial year since 2010-11. \p Stephen Kinnock: The table attached shows the total spend on primary care National Health Service dental services net of patient charge revenue in cash and real terms in each financial year since 2010/11. Data for 2024/25 is not published yet.

Additional document (docx, 24.8KB)
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Sarah Green:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the time taken to respond to the Hughes Report recommendations on women impacted by valproate and pelvic mesh. \p Ashley Dalton: 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 departments, including the Cabinet Office. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) increase clinical and public awareness of small bacterial overgrowth symptoms and (b) ensure that patients with digestive problems receive the proper diagnosis and treatment. \p Ashley Dalton: In the diagnosis and treatment of digestive conditions like small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) we expect health professionals to take into account best practice guidance, including that published by the National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) and professional organisations.

In NICE’s Clinical Knowledge Summary on the assessment, investigation, and referral of chronic, which is more than four weeks' duration, diarrhoea in adults, health professionals are advised to consider SIBO when looking for features suggestive of an underlying cause such as systemic illness affecting gastrointestinal motility. The guidance is available at the following link:

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/diarrhoea-adults-assessment/management/chronic-diarrhoea-more-than-4-weeks/

The British Society of Gastroenterology provides resources and guidelines on SIBO, particularly in the context of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While not all individuals with IBS have SIBO, there's a significant overlap, with studies suggesting that up to 80% of IBS patients may also have SIBO. Additionally, the British Dietic Association provides resources and guidelines on dietary management for IBS, which can be relevant for SIBO due to the overlap in symptoms and potential dietary triggers.

The NHS.UK website offers extensive information for the public on gut health, covering topics from digestive health tips and healthy eating for a healthy gut to specific conditions that are associated with SIBO including IBS, coeliac disease, and diverticular disease. The site provides advice on diet and managing common digestive issues. The national charity Guts UK also offers information, support, and resources for people with digestive health conditions, including on SIBO.

The Getting it Right First Time gastroenterology programme aims to improve the diagnosis and management of digestive problems by streamlining referrals, promoting early specialist triage, and implementing proactive care. The programme focuses on ensuring that patients are seen by the right specialists promptly, leading to earlier diagnosis and more appropriate management of digestive issues.

Additionally, community diagnostic centres (CDCs) offer a variety of diagnostic tests and scans for digestive problems, providing faster, more convenient access to diagnostic services closer to patients’ homes. NHS England is continuing to roll out CDCs, with additional capacity being delivered in 2025/26.
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Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve specialist paediatric Pancreatic Cancer services in the NHS as part of the 10 year plan. \p Ashley Dalton: In England, children with cancer have their care managed by specialist paediatric cancer multi-disciplinary teams, whose responsibility it is to provide high-quality care through the effective coordination of integrated, disease specific pathways. This includes arranging for access to specialist pancreatic services, where clinically appropriate.

The 10-Year Health Plan for England includes a number of important actions that will improve children’s health and paediatric health services.

A National Cancer Plan for England will also be published this year. The plan will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and earlier diagnosis to accessing treatment and ongoing care. It will apply to all cancer types, including pancreatic cancer, and will include a specific focus on children and young people with cancer.
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Tom Gordon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of having a universal screening programme for type 1 diabetes. \p Ashley Dalton: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for South Northamptonshire on 25 July 2025 to Question 67791.
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Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2025 to Question 67789 on Diabetes: Health Services, if he will make it his policy to collect data on the cost of diabetic ketoacidosis. \p Ashley Dalton: A central mission of the Government is to build a health and care system that is fit for the future. Tackling preventable ill health, such as type 2 diabetes, is crucial. Shifting the focus from treatment to prevention is one of three shifts for the Government’s mission for a National Health Service that is fit for the future and is a cornerstone of supporting people to live healthier lives.

Preventing diabetes, like obesity, is a complex issue and requires multi-faceted action across both the public and private sector. Prevention involves collaboration across the public and private sectors to tackle underlying issues such obesity, poor diets, and lifestyle issues.

The Department is taking steps to prevent type 2 diabetes through programmes such as the NHS Health Check, England’s flagship cardiovascular disease prevention programme for those aged between 40 and 74 years old, which aims to identify people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and some cases of dementia, and to signpost them to behavioural support such as weight management and clinical treatment if needed.

Once identified, those at risk of developing type 2 diabetes can also be referred by their general practitioner into the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. The programme is highly effective, cutting the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 37% for people completing the programme, compared to those who do not attend.

The annual costs of treating patients over 18 years old and children with diabetic ketoacidosis is not available, as this data is not routinely collected and/or analysed nationally. There are currently no plans to collect this data.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing funding for research into secondary breast cancer in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Ashley Dalton: Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Cancer is one of the NIHR’s largest areas of spend at over £133 million in 2023/24, reflecting its high priority. These investments are pivotal towards efforts to improve cancer prevention, treatment, and outcomes. The Early Detection using Information Technology in Health trial is an important example of this. In February 2025 the Department announced that nearly 700,000 women across the country will take part in a world-leading trial to test how cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier. The trial is backed by £11 million of Government support via the NIHR, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/world-leading-ai-trial-to-tackle-breast-cancer-launched

Additionally, the Frimley Park Integrated Care System, located within the constituency mentioned, is part of the NIHR’s Research Delivery Network, and they play a key role in supporting the delivery of research, including secondary breast cancer.

The level of funding for research generally depends on funding applications received. The NIHR continues to welcome high quality, high impact funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including secondary breast cancer.
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Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the increase in Food Security Agency charges for the 2025/26 financial year on small and medium-sized abattoirs. \p Ashley Dalton: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) conducts and charges for official controls, inspections, in abattoirs, which help to ensure that food hygiene and animal welfare standards are met. The controls are an intrinsic component in our food system which provide reassurance for the wider food industry and consumers, as well as trading partners to facilitate meat exports. Information on the 2025/26 charge rates is available on the FSA’s website at the following link:

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/charges-for-controls-in-meat-premises

As in previous years, the impact of charges is offset by a taxpayer-funded discount which provides the greatest proportional support to smaller businesses. The impact of the support on different sized food businesses in England and Wales for 2025/26 is set out in the Cost Data Slides which the FSA has published at the following link:

https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/Meat%20hygiene%20cost%20data%202025-2026%20_1.pdf

The FSA is currently conducting an evaluation of the support provided via the discount and will assess the impact of any changes it might propose in the light of this evaluation.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what step his Department plans to take to build neighbourhood health services in partnership with (a) Macmillan and (b) other charities that have experience in (i) designing and (ii) delivering community-based services for people with long-term conditions. \p Ashley Dalton: The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our vision for neighbourhood health. The Neighbourhood Health Service will embody our new preventative principle that care should happen as locally as it can, digitally by default, in a patient’s home if possible, in a neighbourhood health centre when needed, and only in a hospital if necessary.

We expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations, and they should be co-designed with communities and system partners. While we will be clear on the outcomes we expect, we will give significant licence to tailor the approach to local need.

Through our National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme, we will work with places across all systems to spread and scale up good practice and learning, create exemplars, and build the culture and capability required for delivery. This will be an inclusive, large-scale change programme for all system partners, including the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector.

The Department is developing the National Cancer Plan which will seek to foster improved collaboration with partners across the cancer ecosystem, including the voluntary and community sector. We will continue to work closely with Macmillan and other cancer partners as part of our engagement to inform the development of the plan.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to reduce the number of allergy-related deaths. \p Ashley Dalton: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 July 2025 to Question 64001.
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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of providing funding for (a) continuous glucose monitoring and (b) other preventive technologies on (i) NHS expenditure and (b)  complications arising from type II diabetes. \p Ashley Dalton: Data from the National Diabetes Audit suggests that the number of people with type 2 diabetes using continuous glucose monitoring is increasing. In 2022/23, 37,000 people were using continuous glucose monitoring, rising to 95,000 people in 2023/24, and to 155,000 people in 2024/25. Metrics that are useful for health systems to monitor access to glucose monitoring will be published later this year

Unlike for medicines, there is no national pathway to prioritise and nationally fund the highest impact health technology, including wearable technology. As a result, we see significant unwarranted variation in uptake, weakening the perceived attractiveness of the United Kingdom’s market. From April 2026, building on and adapting our experience with medicines, we will begin expanding NICE’s technology appraisal process, which includes mandated funding by the NHS, to cover some devices, diagnostics, and digital products. This will focus on those that meet the NHS’ most urgent needs and support financial sustainability.

By 2035, all patients will have access to wearables. Wearables will enable patients and their carers to better manage their care by having access to their health data such as blood pressure and glucose levels. They will also enable remote monitoring to alert a patient’s care team to any issues so that appropriate interventions can be made quickly before they progress. The 10-Year Health Plan aims to reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and enhance the care of patients living with diabetes through the delivery of the three shifts:
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that the upcoming national cancer plan prioritises improving (a) patient experience and (b) quality of life. \p Ashley Dalton: The National Cancer Plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, as well as prevention, research, and innovation. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to better the experiences and outcomes for people with cancer. The National Cancer Plan will build on the three shifts set out by the 10-Year Health Plan. These shifts will enable rapid progress on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer, as well as supporting those living with cancer to better manage their condition and improve their quality of life.

The National Cancer Plan will aim to improve how the physical and psychosocial needs of people with cancer can be met, with a focus on personalised care to improve quality of life. It will address how the experience of care can be improved for those diagnosed, treated, and living with and beyond cancer.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to help improve the post-treatment recovery of NHS cancer patients. \p Ashley Dalton: Where appropriate, every person diagnosed with cancer will have access to personalised care, including a holistic needs assessment, a care plan, and health and wellbeing information and support. This includes the provision of information, empowering people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer and their treatment. Personalised care ensures that each person’s care is planned holistically, covering mental and physical health as well as any practical or financial concerns.

Moreover, the NHS Cancer Programme, through local Cancer Alliances, is working to ensure that physical activity is fully integrated across the whole cancer pathway, which includes opportunities within rehabilitation for people who have undergone treatment.

The National Cancer Plan, due to be published later this year, will set out plans to improve the experiences and outcomes for people at every stage of the cancer pathway, including post-treatment.
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Patrick Hurley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of expanding (a) prehabilitation and (b) rehabilitation services in cancer care on (i) NHS costs and (ii) patient outcomes. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department and NHS England are taking a number of steps to support systems to deliver cost-effective, lifesaving prehabilitation and rehabilitation services. Local planning for prehabilitation and rehabilitation services, and any expansion of them, is a matter for National Health Service trusts and Cancer Alliances to take forward in their local areas.

NHS England has highlighted the positive impact of efficient prehabilitation and rehabilitation on cancer outcomes and the potential to lead to cost savings. The ‘PRosPer’ Cancer Prehabilitation and Rehabilitation learning programme, launched in partnership between NHS England and Macmillan Cancer support, aims to support allied health professionals and the wider healthcare workforce in developing their skills in providing personalised care, prehabilitation, and rehabilitation in the cancer pathway.

The National Cancer Plan, to be published later this year, will look at how to improve patient outcomes across the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, including prehabilitation and rehabilitation services where appropriate.
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Patrick Hurley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the National Cancer Plan will expand innovation in cancer screening to ensure people from deprived areas are encouraged to participate. \p Ashley Dalton: The National Cancer Plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, as well as prevention, research, and innovation. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to better the experiences and outcomes for people with cancer. Our goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next 10 years.

Reducing inequalities is a key priority for the National Cancer Plan. The plan will look at targeted improvements needed across different cancer types to reduce disparities in cancer survival and develop interventions to tackle these. This includes looking at protected characteristics, as well as inequalities related to socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and geographic location. We know that people living in deprived areas are less likely to have their cancers diagnosed at an early stage, when treatment can be more effective, and we want to reduce the gap in early diagnosis between those living in the richest and poorest areas through the National Cancer Plan.

The Lung Cancer Screening Programme has been successful at reducing the gap in early diagnosis. It has led to over 5,000 more lung cancers being diagnosed at stages 1 and 2. The National Cancer Plan will look to learn lessons from the success of this programme.

We are working closely with cancer partners as part of our engagement to inform the development of the plan, and continue to prioritise the key areas raised, including cancer screening.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to build partnerships with (a) charities, (b) community organisations and (c) people with lived experience of cancer. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department is committed to engaging with charities, community organisations, and people with lived experience of cancer to make sure that the Government hears and learns from different voices to meet the challenges in cancer care in England.

The forthcoming National Cancer Plan for England, due for publication in the second half of 2025, will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway. The Department’s goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next 10 years, and the Department has sought the views of charities, community organisations, and people with lived experience of cancer to understand how we can do more to achieve this ambition.

The Department also has the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Health and Wellbeing Programme, which is a mechanism through which the Department, NHS England, and UK Health Security Agency work together with VCSE organisations to: drive the transformation of health and care systems; promote equality; address health inequalities; and help people, families, and communities to achieve and maintain wellbeing.
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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of giving teachers an emergency covid booster. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to serious disease from COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

The JCVI has advised that since 2020, population immunity to COVID-19 has been increasing. COVID-19 is now a relatively mild disease for most people, with rates of hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 having reduced significantly since the disease first emerged. The currently available COVID-19 vaccines provide limited protection against transmission and mild disease.

On 13 November 2024, the JCVI published advice on the COVID-19 vaccination programme for spring 2025, autumn 2025, and spring 2026. This advice is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026

On 26 June 2025, the Government accepted the JCVI’s advice that in autumn 2025, a COVID-19 vaccination should be offered to adults aged 75 years old and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and the immunosuppressed aged six months old and over.

There are no plans to offer an emergency COVID-19 vaccination to any group. In line with JCVI advice, teachers as a group will not be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. Teachers who are otherwise eligible, for example because of their own health conditions, will be offered the vaccine as part of the autumn 2025 vaccination programme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

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Sarah Dyke:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many community hospital beds will be provided in each of the next five years in Somerset. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_239

Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) tackle health inequalities and (b) help increase life expectancy in Manchester Rusholme constituency. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government recognises that the United Kingdom faces significant health inequalities which is why, in the 10-Year Health Plan, we have set out the goal to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest regions. Through prioritising prevention, expanding community care, and improving access in underserved areas, we will create a fairer Britain where everyone can access quality care, regardless of background, income, or postcode.

One example of how we are tackling health inequalities in Manchester is, as announced in January 2025, Manchester City Council receiving approximately £2.12 million in Family Hubs and Start for Life programme funding as part of a £126 million boost for families. This will support our aim of reducing inequalities in health and education outcomes as well as our commitment to giving every child the best start in life.

In addition to this, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ North West Regional Team provides system leadership for population health and for reducing health inequalities across the North West. This includes working with local authorities and integrated care systems to develop and deliver population health programmes at a local level, supporting regional NHS England priorities, and long-term planning on prevention and health inequalities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_240

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) support and (b) provide treatment for people with secondary breast cancer in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Ashley Dalton: It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including secondary breast cancer, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes for all patients across England, including in the Surrey Heath constituency.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) evaluates all new licensed medicines and makes recommendations on whether they should be routinely funded by the NHS based on their costs and benefits. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE. Since April 2018, NICE has recommended 24 of the 25 breast cancer medicines it has evaluated, and they are now available for the treatment of NHS patients.

To assess the adequacy of existing treatment options for people with secondary breast cancer, NHS England funded an audit into primary and metastatic breast cancer. Using routine data collected on patients diagnosed in an NHS setting, the audit brings together information to look at what is being done well, where it’s being done well, and what needs to be done better. The audit was published on 12 September 2024, by the National Cancer Audit Collaborating Centre, and the NHS is now acting on the findings.

To further support people with cancer, including people with secondary breast cancer in the Surrey Heath constituency, NHS England has committed to ensuring that every person diagnosed with cancer has access to personalised care. This includes needs assessments, a care plan, and health and wellbeing information and support. Through the provision of information, personalised care empowers people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer. This approach ensures that each person’s care is planned holistically, covering mental and physical health, as well as any practical or financial concerns.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_241

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of including dementia specialist nurses as core members within plans for a new Neighbourhood Health Service. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Neighbourhood Health Service will bring together teams of professionals closer to people’s homes to work together to provide comprehensive care in the community. We expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations, and this could include dementia specialist nurses. While we will be clear on the outcomes we expect, we will give significant licence to tailor the approach to local need. While the focus on personalised, coordinated care will be consistent, that will mean the service will look different in rural communities, coastal towns, or deprived inner cities.

The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). We would expect ICBs to commission services, which may include dementia specialist nurses/admiral nurses, based on local population needs, taking account of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. NICE recommends providing people living with dementia with a single named health or social care professional who is responsible for coordinating their care.

Under the 10-Year Health Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services.  We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_242

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that work undertaken by community pharmacists is not unnecessarily duplicated in neighbourhood health centres. \p Stephen Kinnock: As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, community pharmacies will have a vital role in the Neighbourhood Health Service, working closely with other primary care providers at a neighbourhood level and delivering more clinical services.

What a Neighbourhood Health Service or Neighbourhood Health Centre looks like is best decided locally, depending on local needs. We expect that the skills of community pharmacists and their teams will be fully used by local commissioners and that community pharmacies will be provided with access to local phlebotomy pathways in those neighbourhoods where they are commissioned services that require blood tests.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_243

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of (a) trends in the level of online abuse of sport people and (b) the effectiveness of online safety provisions. \p Feryal Clark: The government is extremely concerned by the online abuse of sportspeople and will continue working with the sports sector to tackle this.

The Online Safety Act strengthens protections for public figures online. Harassment and hate crime are priority offences under the Act, requiring companies to proactively search for, remove and limit users’ exposure to such content and activity.

DSIT is working with Ofcom to develop a longer-term monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the Act’s impact, including assessing relevant data and crime statistics.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_244

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress his Department has made on procuring a new supplier to deliver Project Gigabit connections in North Shropshire constituency. \p Chris Bryant: Project Gigabit is designed to adapt in the event that a contracted supplier can no longer complete its planned delivery, utilising a mix of contracts and interventions to enable us to continue to bring fast, reliable broadband to hard-to-reach premises across the UK.

In North Shropshire, Building Digital UK (BDUK) will be seeking to agree the extent to which Openreach may be able to extend its network to reach premises that require support from Project Gigabit.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_245

Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to issue guidance to local authorities on when they should accept that there is a housing duty after the abolition of Section 21 notices. \p Matthew Pennycook: Following Royal Assent of the Renters’ Rights Bill, the government will make any necessary amendments to the Homelessness Code of Guidance.

Ahead of these changes, we will engage closely with local authorities and other relevant stakeholders to help them prepare for the Bill’s implementation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_246

Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that local authorities have adequate resource capacity to enforce the Renters' Rights Bill. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 32068 on 5 March 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_247

Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support people who have purchased a new home and subsequently believe they have been mis sold. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government expects all housebuilders to deliver good quality homes, and we know that the vast majority do so. When things do go wrong, the government expects housebuilders to make things right.

To help customers resolve issues with new homes which developers have been unable or unwilling to fix, the government has committed to establishing a statutory UK-wide New Homes Ombudsman to investigate and resolve complaints and provide new home buyers with effective redress. We will set out further details in due course.