theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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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 help ensure that the national cancer plan includes measures to support collaboration with partners across the cancer ecosystem. \p Ashley Dalton: The National Cancer Plan will seek to foster improved collaboration with partners across the cancer ecosystem, including the voluntary and community sector.

The 10-Year Health Plan laid out our vision for a Neighbourhood Health Service, which will rebalance our health system so that it fits around people’s lives, not the other way round. At its core, 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, in a hospital if necessary.

The Neighbourhood Health Service will mean millions of patients are treated and care for closer to their home by new teams of professionals; and neighbourhood health centres will provide easier, more convenient access to a full range of healthcare services on people’s doorsteps.

We will soon launch the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP). The NNHIP will support systems across the country to test new ways of working, share learning, and scale what works, making Neighbourhood Health the norm, not the exception.

The National Cancer Plan will be published later in 2025 and will set out further details on measures to support collaboration with cancer partners.
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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to monitor progress on the delivery plan for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC).

We have assessed the myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), research portfolio funded through the NIHR and the MRC and acknowledge that this is an under-funded area. The level of funding awarded is directly related to the number and quality of applications received and we have historically received a small number of applications for funding in this area. Between 2019/20 and 2023/24, the NIHR committed approximately £3.7 million to research projects and programmes on ME/CFS. In the same period, the MRC committed approximately £2.9 million to research into ME/CFS. We welcome funding applications for research into ME/CFS. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made based on the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

We aim to publish the final delivery plan for ME/CFS shortly. The plan will focus on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating condition. Following the publication of the final delivery plan, we will monitor the progress across all actions in the delivery plan, with project management arrangements in place to ensure timely implementation and periodical reports to stakeholders as appropriate.

Together with the MRC, we are actively exploring next steps for research in ME/CFS, and we will outline in the delivery plan further research actions and the additional support we will offer to the research community to increase the volume and quality of applications. This includes a new funding opportunity for a development award focussed on evaluating repurposed pharmaceutical inventions for post-acute infection syndromes and associated conditions, including ME/CFS. This funding opportunity is a key component of our response to the need for further research-based evidence related to the diagnosis, management, and treatment of post-acute infection conditions, including ME/CFS. We are also planning an NIHR and MRC hosted showcase event for post-acute infection conditions, including ME/CFS and long COVID, research later this year to stimulate further research in this field.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he will respond to Question 59924 on aplastic anaemia tabled on 13 June 2025. \p Ashley Dalton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 July 2025 to Question 59924.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that aplastic anaemia is (a) recognised and (b) included on the NHS England website; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing accessible information on this condition for (i) patients and (ii) healthcare professionals. \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 aplastic anaemia.

There are over 7,000 rare diseases often needing highly specialised input, and so the National Health Service website is not always the most appropriate platform to disseminate such information. We receive many requests for new topics, including aplastic anaemia, and each one is assessed and prioritised according to a set of criteria. The factors considered when making these decisions include demand for the topic, how well it aligns to achieving strategic priorities, whether it will provide a cost saving for the NHS, suitability for a national audience, prevalence of the condition/symptom and whether other healthcare information providers are better placed to host the information than us, for example, charities. At this stage there are no plans to add aplastic anaemia to the NHS website.

However, we continue to add further information on rare diseases to the resources provided by the NHS Genomics Education Programme (GEP). These resources are designed for all healthcare professionals and include information on rare diseases for non-specialists through ‘bitesize’ genomics content. The GEP has a ‘just in time’ resource called ‘GeNotes’ and has developed a two-week Massive Open Online Course to support clinicians in a general approach to rare disease. NHS England has an established patient advisory group for genomics education to ensure lived experience and patient voices are an integral part of the GEP resources and to determine the direction of travel for the programme aligned to their priorities. Additionally, work continues in partnership with Medics For Rare Disease to expand the programme’s remit into non-genetic rare disease.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of family hubs on (a) neighbourhood health and (b) integrated community-based health services. \p Ashley Dalton: We are committed to moving towards a Neighbourhood Health Service, with more care delivered locally to create healthier communities, spot problems earlier, and support people to stay healthier and maintain their independence for longer.

The Family Hubs and Start for Life programme supports the three reform shifts set out in the Government’s Health Mission, including the shift from hospital to community. It is already delivering a community-based model to transform health outcomes for babies, children, and their families.

The effectiveness of the programme will take time to be realised, as long-term evaluation is required. The programme is subject to two national, independent evaluations to understand its implementation and impact.
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Darren Paffey:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of (a) the potential merits of adding fluoride to drinking water and (b) the potential impact of this on oral health for children. \p Stephen Kinnock: Water fluoridation is an evidence based, effective public health intervention for improving the oral health of children and adults. The 2022 Health Monitoring Report showed that five-year-olds were less likely to experience dental caries, and less likely to experience caries of high severity, in areas with a fluoridation scheme. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-fluoridation-health-monitoring-report-for-england-2022

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our plans to expand water fluoridation in the north east of England by 2030, and that we will assess further rollout in areas where oral health outcomes are worst.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Leader of the House of Lords on the commencement date for the Committee stage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. \p Ashley Dalton: Ministers and officials from the Department are regularly in touch with their counterparts across Government. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill has had its Second Reading in the House of Lords, and the Committee stage will take place when parliamentary time allows. We expect the bill to complete its passage within this parliamentary session.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many overheating incidents have been logged in NHS hospitals in the East of England in each of the last five years. \p Karin Smyth: There were 665 overheating incidents logged in National Health Service hospitals in the East of England over the past five years. The following table shows the number of overheating incidents logged in NHS hospitals in the East of England in each of the last five years:

Year

Overheating incidents in East of England

2023/24

77

2022/23

105

2021/22

218

2020/21

265

2019/20

Not collected

Source: Estates Returns Information Collection data, available at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection
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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to continue the children's hospice grant beyond March 2026. \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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Jess Asato:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to develop central commissioning guidance for clinically-based domestic violence and abuse specialists. \p Ashley Dalton: In May 2025, the Department of Health and Social Care worked with the Ministry of Justice in developing central commissioning guidance for Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) working in a range of settings, including healthcare. These advocates provide tailored emotional and practical support to victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse, regardless of whether the victim is reporting to the police. The guidance advises commissioners to consider how they resource and encourage ISVA and IDVA services to best serve victims' needs, for example considering additional specialised training beyond an advocate’s core role.
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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to (a) improve the early detection of cancer, (b) reduce cancer care waiting times and (c) increase cancer survival rates. \p Ashley Dalton: As the chances of survival are higher if a cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, early diagnosis is a key priority for the Government. The forthcoming National Cancer Plan, which will complement the 10-Year Health Plan and support delivery of the Government’s Health Mission, will set out further actions to improve early diagnosis.

Reducing waiting times for cancer care is also a priority for the Government. As the first step to ensuring faster diagnosis and treatment, we have delivered an extra 100,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week.

The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for all cancer patients across the country, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment. It will aim to ensure that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and will ultimately bring this country’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.
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Paul Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will ensure national access to HIV peer support through (a) in-community, (b) in-clinic and (c) online services in partnership with voluntary sector organisations. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government is committed to ending new HIV transmissions in England by 2030, and is developing the new HIV Action Plan, which we aim to publish this year. The plan will address ways to optimise rapid access to treatment and retention in care, and will improve the quality of life for people living with HIV, including consideration of peer support services.

A key component of the Government’s successful HIV emergency department opt-out testing programme includes a recommendation that 10% of the funding allocated to each site should be used to support community and peer support services for individuals diagnosed with a blood borne virus.

NHS England holds overall accountability for the commissioning of HIV services, and since April 2025, commissioning responsibility, including support services for those living with HIV, has been delegated to the integrated care boards. In April 2024, NHS England published the updated national Service Specification for Adult HIV services, which sets out the standards of care that HIV providers are expected to meet, including the availability of community, psychological, and psychosocial support for patients.
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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to increase cardiac screening for people with a familial risk of sudden cardiac death. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK National Screening Committee last reviewed screening for sudden cardiac death in young people in December 2019. After carefully considering the evidence, the committee concluded that a screening programme in all young people under the age of 39 years old should not be offered in the United Kingdom. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/screening-for-risk-of-sudden-cardiac-death-not-recommended

Research showed that current tests are not accurate enough to use in young people without symptoms. Incorrect test results can cause harm by giving false reassurance to individuals with the condition, which may have been missed by the screening test, whilst individuals without the condition may receive a positive test result, which can lead to unnecessary tests and treatments.
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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the National Screening Committee plans to publish an update to guidance on screening for sudden cardiac death in people under 39. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) is currently examining the evidence for this condition and will open a public consultation to seek comments from members of the public and stakeholders on this in due course. Further information, including on how to keep up to date on the work of the UK NSC, is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-national-screening-committee
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take through the national cancer plan to help (a) reduce inequalities in cancer care and (b) improve outcomes in underserved communities. \p Ashley Dalton: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Mid Leicestershire on 16 June 2025 to Question 58897.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of multiple sclerosis. \p Ashley Dalton: At the national level, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), including the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit.

NHS England has also established a Neurology Transformation Programme, a multi-year, clinically led programme, which has developed a new model of integrated care to support integrated care boards (ICBs) to deliver the right service, at the right time for all neurology patients, including those with MS. This focuses on providing access equitably across the country, care as close to home as possible, and early intervention to prevent illness and deterioration in patients with long-term neurological conditions. A toolkit is being developed to support ICBs to understand and implement this new model, which will include components on delivering acute neurology services, improving health equity in neurology, and improving community neurology services. The Neurology Transformation Programme has developed an Adult Neurology ICB dashboard, which includes specific data on MS disease-modifying therapies. Additionally, NHS England has also developed guidance for systems on improving access to disease-modifying treatments for MS closer to home, which includes successful delivery models and good practice case studies.

We have set up a United Kingdom-wide Neuro Forum, facilitating formal, biannual meetings across the Department, NHS England, the devolved administrations and health services, and the Neurological Alliances of all four nations. The new forum brings key stakeholders together, to share learnings across the system and discuss challenges, best practice examples, and potential solutions for improving the care of people with neurological conditions, including MS.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced guidance on the management of MS in adults, which includes a number of recommendations on recognising the signs and symptoms of MS and the initial assessment and diagnosis of MS. NICE has recommended a number of new medicines for use in the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS that are now routinely available for use in the treatment of National Health Service patients. In December 2024, NICE recommended Ublituximab for treating relapsing-remitting MS, and more recently in April 2025, NICE recommended Cladribine for treating active relapsing-remitting forms of MS.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will conduct a child rights impact assessment of the proposed merger of NHS England and his Department. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government is completely focused on delivery during this period of change, including taking forward our Health Mission and putting in place measures to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.

It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, including those to children, as is due process. These ongoing assessments will inform our programme as appropriate.

The Government is committed to transparency and will consider how best to ensure that the public and parliamentarians are informed of the outcomes.
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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of offering prostate cancer screening to men considered to be at high risk on (a) NHS costs and (b) health outcomes. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department is guided on screening policy by the UK National Screening Committee. The committee has commissioned a university to carry out a high quality review and cost effectiveness model of the evidence for a national prostate cancer screening programme. The work will include costs and health outcomes. This includes targeted approaches to high risk groups and an offer to all men defined by age. The committee expects to receive the report later this year.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people from groups that have previously been less likely to have had cervical screening who will be offered self-sampling kits under the NHS Cervical Screening Programme in its first year in (a) Milton Keynes and (b) Buckinghamshire. \p Ashley Dalton: This information is not held at the requested geographical level.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of self-sampling on levels of uptake for cervical screening among (a) socioeconomic and (b) ethnic groups. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department undertook an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) into the introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling in under-screened populations, which will be published shortly. The findings of this EQIA, which considered national and international evidence, suggest that there is potential for HPV self-sampling for under-screened groups to improve participation in cervical screening by reducing some of the barriers to participation experienced by people with different protected characteristics, leading to improved participation and ultimately preventing more cervical cancers and associated deaths.

The self-testing kits which detect HPV, which is a group of viruses that can lead to cervical cancer, allow women to carry out this testing in the privacy and convenience of their own homes.

The programme specifically targets those groups consistently missing vital appointments, with younger women, ethnic minority communities facing cultural hurdles, people with a disability, and LGBT+ people all set to benefit.
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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will implement a national youth health strategy to reduce mortality in people under 39 that includes (a) mental health conditions and (b) sudden cardiac death. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government is already taking action to improve the physical and mental health of young people. The Government is co-producing a National Youth Strategy which will set out a long-term vision for young people, aged 10 to 21 years old, and up to 25 years old for those with special educational needs and disabilities, and provide them with meaningful choices and chances.

The 10-Year Health Plan to reform the National Health Service will make it fit for the future and better support children, young people, and adults. The Government is committed to taking a cross-Government strategic approach to children and young people’s mental health, and will recruit 8,500 additional mental health staff by the end of the Parliament and will expand mental health support teams in schools in England.

NHS England is currently working with a range of stakeholders to review the national service specification for inherited cardiac conditions. This will support patients who often present as young adults with a previously undiagnosed cardiac disease, or families requiring follow up due to a death from this cause, including sudden cardiac death. The service specification can be accessed at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cardiology-inherited-cardiac-conditions.pdf

There are no current plans to implement a national youth health strategy.
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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of (a) trends in the level of ultra-processed food consumption and (b) the potential impact of those foods on public health. \p Ashley Dalton: United Kingdom dietary recommendations are based on robust independent risk assessments by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). The SACN has considered the impact of processed foods on health in position statements published in 2023 and 2025.

The SACN did not assess trends in ultra processed food (UPF) consumption. However, a review of the available evidence that uses the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) dataset to apply the NOVA food processing classification system was conducted. The 2023 position statement found that estimates of UPF intake varied by age group, varying from 51% to 57% in adults, 68% in adolescents, and 64% in children up to 11 years old. The SACN, however, identified limitations in applying the NOVA classification to dietary data such as the NDNS, due to the broadness of the NOVA definition and the fact that the dietary data rarely captures the detail, for example the presence of additives, included in the NOVA definition.

The SACN concluded that the observed associations between higher consumption of UPFs and adverse health outcomes are concerning, but it is unclear whether these foods are inherently unhealthy due to processing or due to their nutritional content. The SACN noted that diets high in UPFs are often energy dense, high in saturated fat, salt, or free sugars, high in processed meat, and/or low in fruit and vegetables and fibre. The SACN has previously concluded in previous robust risk assessments that consumption of excess energy, saturated fat, salt, free sugars, and processed meat is linked to poor health outcomes, and that higher consumption of fruit and vegetables, wholegrain foods, and fibre reduces health risks.

The SACN recommended that on balance, most people are likely to benefit from reducing their consumption of processed foods high in energy, saturated fat, salt, and free sugars, and low in fibre. This is based on the nutrient content of many UPFs and concerns raised in relation to health.

The SACN will continue to keep the topic of UPFs under review and will consider it again at its horizon scanning meeting in 2026. The Government continues to invest in research on UPFs through the National Institute for Health and Care Research and UK Research and Innovation.
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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will conduct a review on the prevention of sudden cardiac death that includes (a) an estimation of the incidence of sudden cardiac death, (b) methods to (i) detect and (ii) minimise cardiac conditions and (c) recommendations for future research. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS England is currently working with a range of stakeholders to review the national service specification for inherited cardiac conditions. This covers patients who often present as young adults with previously undiagnosed cardiac disease or families requiring follow up due to a death from this cause, including sudden cardiac death. The service specification can be accessed at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cardiology-inherited-cardiac-conditions.pdf  Over the past five financial years, 2019/20 to 2023/24, The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has invested £145 million in cardiovascular and stroke research directly through NIHR research programmes. The NIHR has also made other significant investments in NIHR infrastructure that collectively strengthen specialist facilities, the workforce, and support services to enable research in the health and care system. This investment has enabled significant cardiovascular disease and stroke research funded by other funders to take place.
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Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to meet the World Health Organisation’s vaccination target for the human papillomavirus vaccine. \p Ashley Dalton: In March 2025, NHS England published the Cervical cancer elimination plan by 2040 –for England, which outlines how the National Health Service will improve uptake and coverage across human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical screening. This is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/cervical-cancer-elimination-by-2040-plan-for-england/

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) monitors uptake of HPV vaccination nationally, regionally and by local authority and publishes annual reports at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/vaccine-uptake#hpv-vaccine-uptake

While HPV vaccination uptake rates in England have been very high, vaccine coverage by cohort has been steadily declining since the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2023 to 2024 academic year, this decline appeared to be stabilising.

NHS-commissioned School Aged Immunisation Service providers have robust catch-up plans in place for the adolescent HPV vaccination programme based on population need, to offer vaccination to those young people who may have missed out at the point of initial offer.

UKHSA works closely with charities and academics to develop resources that can be used to raise awareness of HPV and the importance of vaccination including for boys. NHS England has improved digital communications on vaccinations, including expanding the NHS app, and has improved access to the HPV vaccine outside of schools through community clinics at convenient times and locations.
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Ben Lake:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review report, published on 8 July 2020, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of launching a public inquiry into the potential harms of anti-seizure medication. \p Ashley Dalton: Everyone who has been harmed following use of anti-seizure medication has our deepest sympathies. We fully understand the importance of patient safety, which is a top priority for this government. It is vital we do all we can to stop harm from happening in the first place.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency rigorously monitors and reviews all emerging data and risks in relation to anti-seizure medication and communicates information on risks to patients. Following Baroness Cumberlege’s 2020 Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety (IMMDS) Review, which examined the anti-seizure medication Sodium Valproate in detail, several actions have been taken to ensure that valproate is only prescribed when clinically appropriate. These include ensuring valproate is not started in new patients younger than 55 years old unless two specialists independently consider and document that there is no other effective or tolerated treatment, or there are compelling reasons that the reproductive risks do not apply.

One of the conclusions of the IMMDS Review was that a public inquiry would not best serve the interests of those affected by each of the interventions covered by the review. We have no plans to launch a public inquiry into the potential harms of anti-seizure medication.
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Paula Barker:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of children aged between 12 and 16 years inclusive that have taken illegal drugs. \p Ashley Dalton: There are two official national surveys on illicit drug use among children. NHS England’s Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People surveys pupils aged between 11 and 15 years old in England. In 2023, 13% of pupils reported that they had taken drugs.

The Crime Survey for England and Wales, published by the Office for National Statistics, reported that in the year ending March 2024, 15% of young people aged 16 to 19 years old reported using any drugs in the past 12 months.
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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on implementing the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme. \p Ashley Dalton: The Family Hubs and Start for Life programme is now in its fourth year of delivery, and we are seeing important progress. 75 local authorities have established a network of family hubs and are providing universal, preventative services that benefit babies, children, and their families. Local authorities are developing services based on local need to improve health and educational outcomes, delivered through integrated, multi-agency workforces. Through Start for Life funding, families with babies can access support for perinatal mental health, parent-infant relationships, and infant feeding.

The effectiveness of the programme will take time to be realised, as long-term evaluation is required. The programme is subject to two national, independent evaluations to understand its implementation and impact. We are already seeing evidence of promising progress as demonstrated by the thematic review undertaken by the Care Quality Commission and Ofsted.
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Steve Yemm:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take through the (a) NHS 10 Year Plan and (b) National Cancer Plan to increase levels of participation in NHS cancer screening programmes for (i) cervical, (ii) bowel, and (iii) breast cancer. \p Ashley Dalton: The National Health Service continues to prioritise improving cancer screening uptake. Early diagnosis is a key focus of the National Cancer Plan, which will build on the three shifts in care set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, including from sickness to prevention, to diagnose cancers earlier. Through the 10-Year Health Plan, the NHS will reach patients earlier, to catch illness before it spreads, and to prevent it in the first place.

Furthermore, in March 2025, NHS England published its Cervical cancer elimination plan by 2040 – plan for England, setting out how the NHS will improve equitable uptake and coverage across cervical screening to meet the goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. Further information on the Cervical cancer elimination plan by 2040 – plan for England is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/cervical-cancer-elimination-by-2040-plan-for-england/

From January 2026, screening providers in the NHS Cervical Screening Programme in England will be able to offer human papillomavirus self-sampling kits to women if they have not attended their appointment for six months or more following routine invitation.

The NHS is also planning to publish a Breast Screening Programme Uptake Improvement Plan to help improve uptake and address inequalities. NHS England also launched the first ever national NHS Breast screening campaign to widespread media attention. It ran across television, radio, social media, and outdoor advertising during February and March 2025, targeting women of breast screening age, with a focus on those least likely to attend, including younger women, those in deprived areas, ethnic minorities, and disabled women.

The bowel cancer screening standards have recently been reviewed, with changes taking effect from 1 April 2025. This will update the achievable and acceptable thresholds for both uptake and coverage. To further increase coverage, NHS England is delivering new approaches to communicating with people about screening through the NHS App and improving the way eligible people are identified and invited for screening through the transformation of screening programme digital services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-10)

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Paula Barker:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the proportion of children aged 12-16 who are vaping. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS England publishes estimates of the prevalence of vaping in children in the Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England Survey. This survey covers children in years 7 to 11 in secondary school, the majority of whom will be aged 12 to 16 years old, although some 11 year olds will also be included.

The latest figures for England are from the 2023 survey, which showed that 5% of children were regular vapers, 4% were occasional vapers, and 25% reported having ever tried vaping. The report is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/smoking-drinking-and-drug-use-among-young-people-in-england/2023
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of banning the advertising of alcohol products on the alcohol industry. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department has made no formal assessment of the impact of banning the advertising of alcohol products on the alcohol industry.

As part of the Plan for Change, the Government is committed to five missions. We will continue to work across Government to ensure all policies under consideration are assessed in order to understand the range of potential impacts both on public health and the health system, and on industry.
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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is with manufacturers of blood transfusion sampling bottles to improve their design. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for collecting and processing blood donations across England, to meet hospital demand for treating patients.

Blood collection tubes are used to collect blood samples at the time of blood donation. These samples are used to perform mandatory and discretionary infectious disease marker screening and blood grouping at every donation. Additional samples are taken from apheresis donors for tests such as haemoglobin levels, total protein testing. Sample tubes are also used for quality monitoring of components.

NHSBT is not aware of any issues surrounding the current containers and is therefore not actively working with manufacturers of blood transfusion sampling bottles, as the current design meets their needs.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when his Department plans to respond to the letter of May 2025 from the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton to the Cabinet Secretary on the role of special advisers at party political events. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: I refer the Hon. member to the answer of 24 June, UIN 59090.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 53901 on Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender Independent Review, how the UK Statistics Authority plans to inform (a) Parliament and (b) the public of whether the recommendations in the Review will be taken forward once the Authority Board has concluded its considerations of the Review. \p Georgia Gould: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 2nd July is attached.

Letter from the National Statistician (pdf, 94.5KB)
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54825 on Government Departments: Training, if he will publish the updated guidance on the use of external venues. \p Georgia Gould: A copy of the Cabinet Office's guidance on the use of external venues will be placed in the libraries of both Houses.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the entry in his Department's publication entitled Cabinet Office Commercial Pipeline 2024-26, of 31 October 2024 P2465: CO COMMERCIAL: Venue Booking Services, who the supplier is of those services. \p Georgia Gould: Calder Conferences Limited is the current supplier providing Venue Booking Services to the Cabinet Office. This contract started in February 2023 under the previous administration.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff in his Department have permission to work remotely outside the UK; and in which countries those staff are based. \p Georgia Gould: Cabinet Office staff may apply for permission to temporarily work remotely overseas in exceptional circumstances. Examples of this might include when accompanying a Civil Service or Armed Forces partner on an official posting.

There are <5 staff registered on payroll whose permanent working location is abroad. On security and data protection grounds, we are not able to share their location/s.

Separately, there is also a process for staff to request to take their IT overseas with them while on leave, for example if they believe they may need to be contacted during that time.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans the Prime Minister has to appoint an Envoy for the Nations and Regions. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: There are currently no plans to appoint an Envoy for the Nations and Regions.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43478 on Admiralty House, if he will make it his policy to rent out the two empty flats in Admiralty House at a market rate. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: This Government will take the same approach as the previous administration, as set out in my answer of 31 October 2024, Official Report, PQ 10703.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to establish an Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Deputy Prime Ministers are rightly supported in their role to deliver the additional responsibilities.

The Deputy Prime Minister’s responsibilities are set out on Gov.uk and any such plans would be set out in the usual way.
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Caroline Voaden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress his Department has made on implementing the UK-EU summit agreements. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: At the first UK-EU Summit, the Government agreed a substantial package to take forward our new Strategic Partnership with the EU. We are proceeding swiftly with technical negotiations to implement these commitments. We will keep Parliament updated on significant developments.
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Patricia Ferguson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Infected Blood Compensation Authority plans to prioritise older claimants when making payments. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The delivery of compensation is a matter for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) as an independent body.

In February, IBCA set out their plans to open the compensation service in stages to make sure it is effective and secure for all those claiming. This was a decision taken independently of the Government by the IBCA Board. Based on community feedback, IBCA are prioritising claims for registered infected people who have been told by a medical professional that they may have 12 months or less to live.