theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has issued guidance to local authorities on taking into account the provision of Motability Scheme transport to parents when considering requests for the provision of home to school transport for a SEND child. \p Georgia Gould: The department issues statutory guidance for local authorities on travel to school for children of compulsory school age, 5 to 16. This explains that a child’s eligibility for free travel is not affected by any further benefits or allowances a parent may receive, including the higher rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance which may (but need not) be used to lease a vehicle through the Motability Scheme.

For young people in post-16 education, it is for local authorities to make decisions about whether to take into account the provision of Motability Scheme transport when considering requests for transport to education or training for a young person with special educational needs and disabilities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-03)

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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of awarding Qualified Teacher Status to PhD holders without requiring completion of a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. \p Georgia Gould: Qualified teacher status (QTS) is the professional qualification for teachers in primary and secondary schools. Having a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is not required to become a qualified teacher but many Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses also offer an academic award such as a PGCE.

QTS is usually achieved following successful completion of an ITT Course. All ITT courses leading to QTS must incorporate the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework in full. This framework is underpinned by the best independently verified evidence about what makes great teaching.

To achieve QTS, individuals must demonstrate all Teachers’ Standards. Subject expertise is a critical part of great teaching, but teachers also need to understand how children learn; how to plan a curriculum and structure lessons; how to adapt their teaching to the needs of the children in their classes, including those with special educational needs; and how to manage behaviour effectively.

Evidence shows that high-quality teaching is the most important in-school factor that improves outcomes for children, which is why we think it is right that only teachers who have met the Teachers’ Standards are awarded QTS.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-03)

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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data her Department holds on the proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils who do not speak English as their first language who arrived in the UK in each of the last five years. \p Georgia Gould: The requested data on the number of primary and secondary school pupils who have English as an additional language can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2024-25.

The most recent data has been available since 5 June 2025.

A pupil is recorded to have English as an additional language if they are exposed to a language at home that is known or believed to be other than English. This measure is not a measure of English language proficiency or a good proxy for recent immigration.

The department does not hold data for the number of pupils who have recently arrived in the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-03)

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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of amending statutory guidance on home to school transport so that local authorities are required to consider providing free or subsidised transport from more than one parental address in cases of formally agreed 50/50 shared custody. \p Georgia Gould: The Education Act 1996 requires local authorities to arrange free home-to-school travel for eligible children of compulsory school age, 5 to 16. The department publishes statutory guidance to help them fulfil this duty. Neither the guidance, nor the law, expects local authorities to provide an eligible child with free travel to and from more than one address. It would not be reasonable for them to do this in every case.

The guidance does however stipulate that local authorities should make clear in their school travel policies how they will determine a child’s home address for the purposes of assessing their eligibility for travel, including in circumstances where their parents do not live together and the child spends part of the week with each parent.

There are no plans to change this, but local authorities do have a discretionary power to arrange travel for other children and may use this to arrange travel to and from more than one address if they choose to do so.
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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is available to teachers to improve (a) confidence and (b) skills in delivering financial education. \p Georgia Gould: I refer the hon. Member for Solihull West and Shirley to the answer of 7 January to Question 21190.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the reasons for changes to the number of private school pupils between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic year. \p Olivia Bailey: The latest school census data, as at January 2025, reveals pupil numbers remain firmly within historical patterns seen for over 20 years. This information can be accessed at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2024-25.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support children's wellbeing in schools in Newton Abbot constituency. \p Olivia Bailey: The government has set a bold new ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children in our history. On 19 June, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, announced a new approach to enrichment, PE and school sport.

The government has committed to offer free breakfast clubs in every state-funded school with primary-aged pupils in England. From the start of this term, free breakfast clubs are being funded in 750 early adopter schools across England, ahead of national roll out, including two in Newton Abbott.

We are also providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every school by expanding Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs). 31% of schools and colleges in Newton Abbot constituency were supported by an NHS-funded MHST in March 2025.

This data has been available since 16 May 2025 at national, regional and local authority level, and since 10 July 2025 at constituency level. Around six in ten pupils nationally are expected to have access to an MHST by March 2026.
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Sarah Dyke:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of schools that have the budget to provide free school meals in the next 5 years in a) Somerset and (b) England. \p Olivia Bailey: I refer the hon. Member for Glastonbury and Somerton to the answer of 5 September 2025 to Question 71911.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the introduction of VAT on independent school fees on the ability on non-affluent families to afford private school education. \p Olivia Bailey: HM Treasury published a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) on applying VAT to independent school fees. This is a comprehensive assessment of the VAT policy, including impacts on individuals and families and can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees/applying-vat-to-private-school-fees#who-is-likely-to-be-affected.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure schools reach Sustainable Development Goal 4.7. \p Olivia Bailey: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The work of the department contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 4.

Citizenship education provides a framework to prepare pupils to be active, informed and responsible citizens. The national curriculum for citizenship is mandatory at key stages 3 and 4, where pupils learn about democracy, politics, parliament and voting, as well as human rights, justice, media literacy, the law, and the need for mutual respect. Primary schools can choose to teach citizenship following the non-statutory framework.

Climate change and the environment are included within the current national curriculum in geography and science, with an environmental science A level available. The department is also developing a new GCSE in natural history, which will equip young people to understand the protection and conservation of the environment and respect the natural world.
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Dr Rupa Huq:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the operation of the Prevent programme in schools. \p Olivia Bailey: Schools have a statutory duty to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. This includes referring individuals susceptible to radicalisation to Prevent, for support.

In the most recent departmental survey, 98% of school leaders responsible for Prevent were confident in their school’s ability to train staff to recognise and refer radicalisation concerns. 94% were confident in their school’s ability to deal with a safeguarding incident related to terrorism or extremism.

Schools are already highly experienced in safeguarding children, and the department has confidence in the professional judgement of teachers if they decide a referral is appropriate.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing monthly start dates for the 30 hours funded childcare scheme. \p Olivia Bailey: The government’s Plan for Change sets out a commitment to give children the best start in life, breaking the link between background and opportunity.

Children become eligible for an early education and childcare place from 1 September, 1 January or 1 April, the term after they reach the relevant age and meet relevant eligibility criteria.

Depending on when a child is born and when the eligibility criteria are met, there will be differing periods to wait until the relevant termly date.

Termly deadlines enable local authorities and childcare providers to plan and ensure sufficient early years places are available for parents each term, as there are clear periods for when children are likely to enter into a place.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when Ministers in her Department last met representatives of the independent school sector to discuss issues facing that sector. \p Olivia Bailey: The last meeting was held on 22 July 2025.
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James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department’s Spending Review settlement includes funding for a multi-year extension to the Holiday activities and food programme. \p Olivia Bailey: Through our Plan for Change, we are committed to giving every child the best start in life. On 28 August 2025 we confirmed over £600 million for the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme for the next three financial years (from 2026/27) which equates to just over £200 million each year.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what mental health support is available to young people after receiving exam results. \p Olivia Bailey: There are a range of support options available to young people after receiving their exam results, including advice from their school or college in the first instance.

Students can also get exam results advice through the National Careers Service, or speak to a professional adviser on next steps and the range of alternative options available.

YoungMinds have a range of resources available to support young people’s mental health around the results period, including a parent helpline and dedicated guidance for students who may feel disappointed with their exam results. There is also a list of further mental health resources for young people, parents and carers, and education staff in Ofqual’s student guide for 2025, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofqual-student-guide-to-exams-and-assessments-in-2025.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that children receive adequate financial support during the school holidays in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Olivia Bailey: I refer the hon. Member for Surrey Heath to the answer of 3 October 2025 to Question 73205.
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Damien Egan:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has for the Holiday activities and food programme after 31 March 2026. \p Olivia Bailey: I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Bristol North East to the answer of 3 October 2025 to Question 73205.
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David Burton-Sampson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to ensure the continuation of Holiday Activity Funding. \p Olivia Bailey: Through the department’s Plan for Change, we are committed to giving every child the best start in life. On 28 August 2025, we confirmed over £600 million for the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme for the next three financial years (from 2026/27).
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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to mandate a National Activities Safeguarding Framework for Children and Vulnerable Adults participating in extracurricular activities. \p Olivia Bailey: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The majority of out-of-school settings providers do a good job of delivering safe and enriching education and activities.

These providers have a legal duty of care to ensure the safety of children that attend their setting and protect them from harm. Local authorities are also legally responsible for safeguarding children in their areas and, when there are concerns, we expect them to intervene using the wide range of powers available to them. Similarly, local authorities have a statutory duty to make enquiries about safeguarding concerns under the Care Act 2014. Statutory guidance for the Care Act 2014 makes clear that local authorities must ensure that the services they commission are safe, effective, and of high-quality.

We have acted to improve sector safety by updating the safeguarding code of practice for out-of-school setting providers and accompanying guidance for parents and carers. We also published new e-learning for out-of-school providers and strengthened guidance for local authorities.

We are seeking to further improve safeguarding standards and have published a call for evidence to help improve our understanding of safeguarding within the sector. This will help gather evidence required to inform potential approaches, such as a national framework, and enhance the safety of these settings.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data her Department holds on the number and proportion of children and young people who were referred to Prevent who had Education, Health and Care Plans in the 2023-24 academic year. \p Olivia Bailey: The information requested is not held centrally. The department does not hold data on the number and proportion of children and young people who were referred to Prevent who had education, health and care plans.

Annual Prevent statistics are published by the Home Office each year and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/individuals-referred-to-prevent-to-march-2024. The latest statistics show the number of individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent programme from April 2023 to March 2024, their demography, and associated characteristics.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which schools are taking part in the Early Language Support for Every Child Programme in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire. \p Olivia Bailey: The Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) pathfinder programme, co-led by the Department for Education and NHS England, is designed to support earlier intervention and targeted support, helping children thrive in mainstream settings and ensuring every child has the best possible start in life.

Through our ‘Whole System Testing’ approach, the programme is being delivered across nine ELSEC pathfinder sites, each comprising a mix of early years and primary school settings. In the North West, Oldham is the designated ELSEC pathfinder site. Nationally, therapy support teams have reached around 20,000 children to date, and over 3,000 staff members have been upskilled to deliver interventions since the programme began.

A final evaluation is scheduled to take place after the end of the summer term in 2026. This will explore the overall impact of the ELSEC programme and provide a robust evidence base to inform future decisions and next steps in shaping inclusive education and early support systems.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has issued guidance to schools on consulting a child’s (a) EHCP and (b) SEND coordinators before they are referred to Prevent. \p Olivia Bailey: The department publishes non-statutory Prevent duty: safeguarding learners vulnerable to radicalisation non-statutory guidance to support education settings and designated safeguarding leads (DSL) to comply with the Prevent duty and make Prevent referrals. The guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-prevent-duty-safeguarding-learners-vulnerable-to-radicalisation.

In most circumstances, the DSL has responsibility to make Prevent referrals. Where relevant, DSLs are expected to work with special educational needs co-ordinators when deciding whether to make a referral, and to liaise relevant agencies so that children’s needs are considered holistically.

Departmental guidance includes a school’s risk assessment framework to support Prevent referral decisions. The framework is clear that contextual and environmental factors should be considered.

The department publishes comprehensive advice resources on our Educate Against Hate website, and to further to support teachers in protecting children from extremism and radicalisation, we also have a team of regional co-ordinators who work directly with education institutions in England.
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Tom Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of funding for new Best Start Family Hubs is classified as capital spending. \p Olivia Bailey: ​​Ensuring every child has the best start in life, the chance to achieve and to thrive, is the cornerstone of the government’s Opportunity Mission.

​Capital allocations will be announced in due course.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made of the (a) condition and (b) efficiency of radiator-based heating systems in schools. \p Olivia Bailey: Responsible bodies (the relevant local authority, academy trust or voluntary-aided body) are responsible for the condition and efficiency of heating systems in their schools.

The department assesses the condition of the school estate through its Condition Data Collection (CDC) programme, which includes an assessment of the condition of heating systems. This is shared with responsible bodies and schools. This programme does not include an assessment of the efficiency of radiator-based heating systems. Further information on the current Condition Data Collection 2 (CDC2) programme and a report of the key findings of Condition Data Collection 1 (CDC1), can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/condition-data-collection-2-cdc2-programme#access-cdc2-reports. The full school-level data from CDC1 can be found here: https://depositedpapers.parliament.uk/depositedpaper/2285521/details.

The department also publishes non-statutory guidance on heating system selection as well as life cycle and maintenance in Building Bulletin 101: Guidelines on ventilation, thermal comfort and indoor air quality in schools, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-bulletin-101-ventilation-for-school-buildings.
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Jess Asato:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's policy paper Giving every child the best start in life strategy, published on 7 July 2025, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that parenting support delivered as part of the strategy is evidence-based. \p Olivia Bailey: As part of the ‘Giving every child the best start in life’ strategy, the department is investing in evidence-based parenting and home learning environment (HLE) interventions delivered through Best Start Family Hubs. These programmes are designed to support children’s early development across key domains, including communication and language, early literacy, cognitive skills, and social, emotional and behavioural wellbeing.

To support local authorities in commissioning high quality provision, the department will provide guidance on the commissioning of parenting and HLE interventions with a strong evidence base and proven impact. We are working in partnership with the National Centre for Family Hubs, the Foundations What Works Centre for Children & Families, and Nesta to help local areas identify and implement the most effective programmes. This will ensure greater consistency and quality across the country and support our ambition for 75% of children to achieve a good level of development by 2028.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has issued to schools and educational settings on responding to terrorist attack threats. \p Olivia Bailey: This government is committed to ensuring that children, young people, and adult learners are safe from terrorist incidents and attacks.

The department publishes comprehensive counter-terrorism guidance for those working in education settings. This is part of a series of resources that have been developed in collaboration with the National Counter-Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and sector partners. The guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-security-and-preparedness-for-education-settings.

The guidance is aimed at all those working in settings who have responsibilities for emergency responses, site security, communication and leadership. It is also for all those working across education settings, including non-teaching staff, who have responsibility for keeping learners safe and to help develop good preparedness and response plans.

The guidance provides detailed advice on emergency planning, embedding a security culture in the setting, response options, working with local partners, and case studies.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which elements of the Global Combat air programme are included within the scope of the Industrial Strategy partnership with the Japanese government agreed in March 2025. \p Luke Pollard: The UK and Japan are pioneering an Industrial Strategy Partnership (ISP) focusing on green and digital transformation, economic security and inclusive regional growth. The ISP aims to deepen UK-Japan industrial and technology collaboration through programmes such as GCAP.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recommendation 2 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what recent progress he has made on establishing a roadmap for delivering deeper interoperability with NATO allies by January 2026. \p Al Carns: The Strategic Defence Review is clear that our defence policy is 'NATO First'. The Armed Forces must be capable of operating as part of a NATO force by design. We are taking this forward with and through NATO, which will produce an Interoperability Plan for the Alliance by the end of the year. The Military Strategic Headquarters has appointed an interoperability champion to support the implementation of this plan.

The UK's own roadmap for delivering deeper interoperability with NATO allies will be developed alongside our Integrated Force Design. Officials within the Department meet regularly to discuss both initiatives, however, information regarding the total number of meetings is not held in the format requested.
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Marsha De Cordova:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of suspending the UK-Israel trade and partnership agreement, in the context of the human rights situation in Gaza and the West Bank. \p Chris Bryant: The UK Government has recently announced a number of measures in relation to the actions of the Netanyahu Government, seeking to reinforce its support for the two-state solution, to pursue a lasting ceasefire, to secure the return of the hostages and ensure greater access to humanitarian aid in Gaza. We remain committed to our existing trading relationship with Israel and the existing UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement (TPA). Our trading relationship underpins key areas of UK life and exports to Israel support thousands of jobs in the UK. Suspension of any trade agreement with another country risks unpredictable consequences and significant economic disruption for British businesses.

Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and harm prospects for a two-state solution. Settlements are not part of the State of Israel. Goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the TPA. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity. We have been clear that if Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many seats were booked on deportation charter flights in the last year; and how many were used. \p Alex Norris: In the year 5 September 2024 to 4 September 2025 inclusive, the capacity available for those being returned on the 64 returns charter flights that operated was 3717 seats. Of these, 2972 seats were used across the 64 returns charter flights.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many charter flights for deportations were scheduled in the last 12 months; and how many took place. \p Alex Norris: In the year 5 September 2024 to 4 September 2025 inclusive, 69 returns charter flights were arranged, 64 were operated and five did not take place.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the backlog in deportation cases. \p Alex Norris: As committed to in the Immigration White Paper (12 May 2025), the Government will shortly publish a formal Asylum Policy Statement setting out radical reforms to modernise the asylum system and strengthen border security. These proposals will include a new protection offer, accelerated decision-making, fast-track appeals and returns, as well as reforms to family rights and Article 8 claims.

Latest published information shows that at the end of Q2 2025 there were 19,390 foreign national offenders (FNOs) living in the community having completed their custodial sentences and subject to deportation.

The Home Office faces significant and complex challenges when seeking to return those who have no right to be in the UK to their country of origin or lawful place of return. Despite these barriers, we are fully committed to making our communities safer by deporting those who break our laws.

That is why are legislating to introduce a 24-week timeframe, this will speed up the appeals process for foreign criminals subject to ensuring that a fair hearing can take place.

This government has already removed 5,179 FNOs in its first year in office, a 14 per cent increase on the previous twelve months, and we will continue to ensure there is no hiding place for foreign criminals in our country.

The latest figures on the increase in returns can be found at: Returns from the UK between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025 - GOV.UK.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department’s policy is on restricting multiple appeals against deportation. \p Alex Norris: In most deportation cases, there is no right of appeal unless the person concerned makes a human rights or protection claim, in which case there is a right of appeal against a decision to refuse the claim.

As part of efforts to fix the broken asylum system the Government inherited, proposals are being developed to ensure immigration and asylum appeals are heard more quickly, with safeguards to maintain high standards, mechanisms to surge capacity when needed, and processes to accelerate and prioritise cases. These proposals will also include new procedures to tackle repeat applications and last-minute claims that frustrate removal action.

Currently, where a person has already brought an appeal on human rights or protection grounds and then makes further submissions, they are subject to a robust test which if not met means their submissions will be rejected without a right of appeal. There is only an appeal where a person raises something that has not previously been considered which, taken together with any previously considered material, creates a realistic prospect of success.

Where a person has permission to stay in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme, there is a right of appeal against a decision to make a deportation order against them, in compliance with the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU. That right can only be exercised once, unless another deportation decision is made.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_1

Monica Harding:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the availability of specialist clinical provision for people with Huntington’s Disease in Surrey. \p Ashley Dalton: Working under the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as Huntington’s Disease.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for working with their local communities to understand the needs of the local populations and make decisions about how best to commission services that meet those needs, including the treatment of Huntington’s Disease, in partnership with other local commissioners and organisations. Details on local clinical provisions are best answered by the ICB, in this case NHS Surrey Heartlands.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_2

Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority case rulings with reference (a) AUTH/3815/8/23 and (b) 3886/3/24 on Moderna’s NextCOVE trial in children, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of those rulings on the nature of his Department's future work with that company on mRNA (i) research and (ii) development. \p Ashley Dalton: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the Health Research Authority, and the Research Ethics Committee (REC) review and approve clinical trials on the basis of the benefits and risks, in line with the UK Clinical Trials regulatory (UK CTR) framework.

The safety of those participating in clinical trials is the MHRA’s first priority, and our oversight of trial conduct is informed by the trial’s sponsor efficiently notifying us of safety issues during the conduct of their trial.

Sponsors and investigators involved in the conduct of clinical trials are expected to have robust processes to ensure compliance with The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations, which includes compliance with the provision and use of documentation that has been approved for use by a REC.

Where doubts about the safety, conduct, or scientific validity of a clinical trial are identified, the MHRA may take action, in line with the UK CTR, which could include requiring changes to be made to the trial protocol, or suspension or termination of a trial.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_3

Terry Jermy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure adequate (a) training and (b) support for GPs in helping to diagnose cancer. \p Ashley Dalton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 28805 on 14 February 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_4

Connor Naismith:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help raise awareness of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in (a) hospitals, (b) schools and (c) local authorities. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government is committed to improving support for all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, including those with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

The Government recognises that foetal alcohol spectrum disorders can have a significant impact on the early years development of children. As a result, schools must use their best endeavours to make sure a child or young person gets the special educational provision they need. This includes monitoring the progress of pupils regularly and putting support in place where needed, including arranging diagnostic tests where appropriate. To support all teachers, we are implementing a range of high-quality teacher development programmes, from initial teacher training and into early career teaching, through to the reformed suite of leadership and specialist national professional qualifications, to ensure that teachers have the skills to support all pupils to succeed.

The Department asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to produce a Quality Standard in England for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) to help providers and commissioners improve both diagnosis and support for people affected by FASD. This includes guidance on individualised management plans, which help to coordinate care across a range of healthcare professionals, as well as education and social services, and improve outcomes. The Quality Standard also covers support during pregnancy to improve awareness and prevent the disorder. It was published in March 2022, and is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs204

Healthcare providers advise pregnant women about the risks of alcohol consumption, document alcohol use, and refer children with probable prenatal alcohol exposure for assessment.

In addition, healthcare professionals conduct thorough neurodevelopmental assessments and develop tailored management plans for diagnosed individuals, aiming to improve early identification and provide comprehensive support to help children achieve their full potential.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_5

Brian Mathew:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential of targeted mutation treatments through genetic treatment for rare cancers. \p Ashley Dalton: Improvements in genomic capabilities have accelerated the development of new precision medicines which can target genomic mutations, including for rare cancers. To help make precision medicines available to patients, the National Health Service has supported access to clinical trials, where the eligibility is based on genomic variants. They also support the adoption and spread of innovative medicines through an innovative genomic testing service and commercial medicines framework.

In October 2022, NHS England published the first NHS Genomics Strategy, Accelerating Genomic Medicine in the NHS, which outlines the vision for embedding genomics in the NHS over the next five years. The strategy includes a commitment to work with partners, including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, to identify and prepare for the rapid introduction of companion diagnostic genomic testing. This is critical to ensuring easy access to innovative precision medicines and technologies. Further information on Accelerating Genomic Medicine in the NHS is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/B1627-Accelerating-Genomic-Medicine-October-2022.pdf

Additionally, the National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, including genetic treatments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_6

Harpreet Uppal:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to change food-labelling regulations to make sugar levels in in food products clearer. \p Ashley Dalton: The level of sugar in food and drink is already shown on food and drink packaging, in the majority of cases, which enables consumers to make informed choices. There are no plans at this time to change food labelling regulations regarding sugar levels in food. However, we continue to monitor the evidence on how food labelling impacts the choices and consumption habits of consumers.

General food labelling legislation sets out requirements for food labelling. It is mandatory for food and drink packaging to include a nutrition declaration, which shows the quantities of nutrients contained within them, including sugar. The legislation also allows for the inclusion of voluntary additional information on the packaging, which may help to inform consumers.

The United Kingdom has implemented the multiple traffic lights (MTL) label, which is a voluntary front-of-pack nutrition labelling system. It provides nutritional information for products at a glance in a simple and easy way that consumers can understand. The MTL label shows the quantity of energy, fat, saturates, sugar, and salt contained in the food or drink. The UK was one of the first countries to introduce a national front-of-pack labelling system and it continues to be widely used by consumers and some businesses.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_7

Paul Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the uplift in the Public Health Grant is allocated effectively by local authorities to tackle the rising rates of sexually transmitted infections in England. \p Ashley Dalton: Dedicated local sexual health services play a key public health role in the diagnosis, early treatment, and management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Individual local authorities, funded through a ring-fenced Public Health Grant (PHG), are responsible for commissioning decisions about the sexual health services that best meet the needs of their local populations, including providing open-access sexual health testing and treatment services.

In 2025/26, we are increasing funding through the PHG to £3.858 billion, providing local authorities with an average 5.4% cash increase and a 3% real terms increase. This represents a significant turning point for local health services, marking the biggest real-terms increase after nearly a decade of reduced spending.

We continue to support the delivery of local sexual health services, including addressing rates of STIs, by providing guidance and data to support local decision makers. In October 2024, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published the STI Prioritisation Framework, which, combined with ongoing support from the UKHSA, will enable local systems to identify which combination of interventions to focus on for which populations, informed by the local situation.

The Department is also investing over £6 million to deliver a National HIV Prevention Programme between 2021 to 2026 to raise awareness of HIV, and STI testing and prevention strategies. Also, the Department, the UKHSA, NHS England, and a broad range of system partners are developing the new HIV Action Plan, which we aim to publish this year. A key objective of the plan will be to stabilise and support system enablers, including the wider sexual and reproductive health system.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_8

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to reduce waiting times for treatment for musculoskeletal conditions in (a) Slough, (b) Berkshire and (c) England. \p Ashley Dalton: Over 17 million people in England live with a musculoskeletal (MSK) condition.

The Government is delivering the joint Department for Work and Pensions, Department of Health and Social Care, and NHS England Getting It Right First Time MSK Community Delivery Programme, which will work directly with integrated care boards in England to further reduce MSK community waiting times, improve data, and enable referral pathways to wider support services.

On 6 January 2025, NHS England published the new Elective Reform Plan, setting out funding to boost bone density scanning (DEXA) capacity, to support improvements in early diagnosis and bone health. This is expected to provide an estimated 29,000 extra scans per year once all are fully operational. DEXA scans are a vital component for the early diagnosis of osteoporosis.

The Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care System (ICS), along with the Frimley ICS, which together cover the Berkshire area, is also working with all providers of MSK management to reduce waiting times and improve positive outcomes and experiences for patients requiring MSK care.