theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Baroness McIntosh of Pickering:To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the water usage by data centres in the United Kingdom, and what sustainable sources of water will be used for this purpose. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Defra works closely with other Government Departments on plans to support the economic opportunities data centres bring, whilst making sure these developments are sustainable for local water supplies. Defra will continue to work with Ofwat to identify ways in which we can reduce overall water demand and achieve a secure supply of water for customers and the environment.

The water requirements of data centres vary, largely depending on the type of cooling systems used. Air cooled systems do not require very much water but are much more energy intensive. Closed loop systems reuse water, so have much lower water requirements than open loop systems.

As part of meeting the national statutory target to reduce the use of public water supply in England per head of population by 20% by 2038, Defra have set out an interim target to reduce non-household water use by 9% by 2030. We are currently working with TechUK, the trade association for data centres, to increase Defra and the Environment Agency's understanding of current water usage and cooling technologies being used.

When data centres are planned and designed, consideration should be given to the types of cooling technology being selected and the corresponding water needs. The water for cooling systems does not need to be drinking water quality. Consideration must also be given to where the data centre is going to be located to ensure that any water needs can be met.

The Environment Agency’s upcoming National Framework for Water Resources (2025) highlights the need for joined-up planning between different water-using sectors to identify collaborative solutions for water resources.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Lord Watson of Invergowrie:To ask His Majesty's Government how many schools which are currently Ofsted graded “Requires Improvement” or equivalent but were graded “Good” or “Outstanding” at their last inspection; and what plans they have at national level to provide school improvement support to these schools. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: As part of this government’s plan to deliver a better accountability system that sets clear expectations, encourages improvement and spreads excellence, the use of single headline grades was stopped in September 2024, and it is our intention to introduce school report cards from the next academic year. As of 28 February 2025, there are 924 schools graded ‘requires improvement’, which were graded ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ in their previous inspection.

The department is strengthening its tools for faster and more effective school improvement. These schools will be eligible for our new Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) universal service to drive high and rising standards. RISE teams will signpost schools to effective practice, encourage peer-to-peer support, and bring schools together to share their knowledge and innovation. This includes organising regional events, conferences and networking opportunities, aligned to our four national priorities of attainment, attendance, mainstream inclusion and reception year quality.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-13)

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Lord Lucas:To ask His Majesty's Government whether, in view of the judgment in Lindsey Smith, R (on the application of) v The Chief Constable of Northumbria Police, they intend to review the rules that allow civil servants to display political symbols. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: The Government notes the judgment in Lindsey Smith, R (on the application of) v The Chief Constable of Northumbria Police, and is considering any wider implications for the Civil Service.

Civil servants are expected to carry out their roles serving the government of the day in accordance with the core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality and the standards of behaviour set out in the Civil Service Code.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-13)

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Lord Scriven:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 28 June (HL8464), which data areas King's College London was asked to review by NHS England or the Department of Health and Social Care in the unpublished LeDeR report, and the reasons for each request. \p Baroness Merron: NHS England works with Kings College London, the academic partner for LeDeR, to produce the LeDeR annual report. Since they submitted their draft report, NHS England has collaborated with them on further iterations with the aim to finalise as soon as possible.

The Department has provided feedback on later iterations of the report on practical data issues with the aim to ensure findings were accurately presented and could be clearly interpreted by the public. Feedback related to definition of technical language, additional context for demographic statistics, and apparent inconsistencies. A final version of the report addressing feedback was shared with the Department on 25 June 2025.

We are committed to publishing the latest report soon after Parliament returns alongside a Written Ministerial Statement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-08)

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Baroness Neville-Rolfe:To ask His Majesty's Government what are the rules that apply to hospitals on Do Not Resuscitate decisions; whether in all relevant cases patients are explicitly asked to agree on their use; and whether they have any plans to tighten rules around such use. \p Baroness Merron: Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) is a medical decision made by a qualified clinician.

A DNACPR decision is made on an individual, namely person by person, basis, and should, wherever possible, involve the person concerned or, where the person lacks capacity, their families, carers, guardians or other legally recognised advocates. Guidance from clinical bodies such as the British Medical Association, The Resuscitation Council UK and Royal College of Nursing reflects this.

In 2021, the Department established a Ministerial Oversight Group, responsible for the delivery and required changes to ensure adherence to guidance across the system about how DNACPRs are used. As part of this work, a set of Universal Principles for Advance Care Planning were jointly published in March 2022 by a coalition of partner organisations across health and social care. The principles can be applied in all settings to support people; their families and professionals share the same understanding and expectations for DNACPR decisions.

Patient-facing guidance setting out how DNACPR decisions should be made and how individuals or their families can get support if they have concerns about a DNACPR, including second opinions and review, is provided on NHS.UK in an online-only format.

Currently, no active work is being undertaken to revise DNACPR guidance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-08)

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Lord Scriven:To ask His Majesty's Government whether staff working on the Learning Disability Mortality Review programme are included in the planned 50 per cent reduction in staffing costs for integrated care boards and NHS England. \p Baroness Merron: We recognise the Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) programme as a crucial source of evidence that helps to identify the key improvements needed to tackle health disparities and prevent avoidable deaths of people with a learning disability and autistic people.

Work is progressing at pace to develop the design and operating model for the new integrated organisation, and plan for the smooth transfer of people, functions and responsibilities. We are assessing the full range of current functions across both organisations and options for future allocation. At this stage, it is too early to say what precise changes in personnel and organisational design will be.

NHS England has asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners of health and care services and reduce duplication of responsibilities within their structure with the expectation of achieving a reduction in their running cost allowance. NHS England has circulated a draft of ‘The Model ICB – blueprint’ document to all ICBs to assist them in shaping their future plans. A copy of the document is attached.

Additional document (pdf, 334.2KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-08)

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Lord Hunt of Kings Heath:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that, following the abolition of NHS England, responsibility for the commissioning of transplant services in the NHS will become the direct responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Care. \p Baroness Merron: NHS England is the national commissioner for all solid organ transplant services, excluding renal transplant services, which were delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) from April 2025 as part of a wider programme of work to delegate to ICBs. Further information on this delegation is available on the NHS.UK website, in an online only format. As part of the ongoing work to integrate NHS England’s functions into the Department, future plans are being considered for specialised services, such as transplantation, for which NHS England is currently accountable. This work will take account of Organ Utilisation Group recommendation 12, which highlights the ongoing need for robust national level oversight of transplant services. Further information on the Organ Utilisation Group is available on the NHS.UK website, in an online only format.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-08)

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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to The Hughes Report published on 7 February 2024, when they will provide interim compensation to people impacted by sodium valproate. \p Baroness Merron: 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. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-08)

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Lord Scriven:To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the proposed abolition of NHS England, where the Learning Disability Mortality Review programme will be based; and whether the number of staff working on the programme will be reduced. \p Baroness Merron: We recognise the Learning Disabilities Mortality Review programme as a crucial source of evidence that helps to identify the key improvements needed to tackle health disparities and prevent avoidable deaths of people with a learning disability and autistic people.

Work is progressing at pace to develop the design and operating model for the new integrated organisation, and plan for the smooth transfer of people, functions and responsibilities. We are assessing the full range of current functions across both organisations and options for future allocation. At this stage, it is too early to say what precise changes in personnel and organisational design will be.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-08)

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Baroness Northover:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the reclassification of medicines with long histories of safe prescribing to be sold over the counter. \p Baroness Merron: The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department and regulates medicine, medical devices, and blood components for transfusion in the United Kingdom, with responsibility for ensuring that medicines meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, and efficacy.

A Reclassification Alliance was established between industry, the MHRA, and the Department to explore opportunities for improving the reclassification of medicines in the UK. The MHRA has developed an updated reclassification procedure and in April 2024 published updated reclassification guidance. In November 2024, the MHRA also held a reclassification webinar for industry, which focused on the updated procedure and reclassification guidance. In addition, earlier this year, the Government published a list of conditions and categories identified for potential reclassification.

The Government is committed to ensuring that medicines are available to patients in the most convenient and accessible manner, provided that it is safe to do so. The reclassification of medicines from prescription-only to over-the-counter status is a vital part of this commitment. The reclassification agenda aligns with broader Government initiatives, including the NHS 10-Year Health Plan and the Health Sector Strategy, which aim to improve patient access and reduce pressure on general practice through enhanced pharmacy services.

The MHRA welcomes discussions with industry as to how we can assess more applications, especially of novel types, which will aid patient choice in the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-08)

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Lord Kamall:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of the increased deployment of drone technology to deliver urgent medical supplies to (1) remote, and (2) urban, areas. \p Baroness Merron: The Government is committed to innovation in drones and other growth sectors, with further information available on the GOV.UK website in an online only format, and work is ongoing across Government, including between the Department and the Civil Aviation Authority, to support the safe and effective introduction of drones into medical logistics.

The Department continuously reviews the available evidence surrounding the use of drones in medical logistics and is supportive of new trials to further build this evidence base, in particular regarding the benefits of the use of drones to deliver urgent medical supplies in remote and urban areas. Last year, the Department of Health and Social Care, working in collaboration with the Department for Transport, Innovate UK, and UK Research and Innovation, supported five pilot projects, allocating them a total of £500,000, to explore the use of drones in the National Health Service. Given the potential of drones to improve how the NHS delivers patient care, the Department of Health and Social Care is supportive of trials that explore the use of drones in medical logistics.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-08)

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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government what support they will provide to NHS trusts in rolling out value-based procurement to ensure that patient outcomes such as dignity and quality of life are prioritised alongside value for money as assessed in the context of reductions in whole system costs. \p Baroness Merron: The Department has been working in partnership with NHS England and the NHS Supply Chain to develop national Value Based Procurement (VBP) Standard Guidance which will be published in early 2026. The guidance shifts the procurement focus from upfront cost to how a product can best deliver improved patient outcomes and value.

The Department is conducting live pilots to test the draft standard guidance, with National Health Service trusts and integrated care boards, from September to December 2025. Insights from the pilots will be used to refine the guidance and implementation plans ahead of final publication, including the support needed for NHS trusts to adopt the guidance.

Under the 10-Year Health Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services. Supporting this, the VBP Standard Guidance will enable the procurement of the most effective products that improve patient experience and outcomes, including for those living with dementia and requiring absorbent incontinence products, as well as improve NHS efficiency.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-08)

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Lord Scriven:To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the provision in the Mental Health Bill that removes learning disabilities from the definition of a mental health condition, why the new joint executive team of the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England includes the post of National Priority Programme Director for Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism. \p Baroness Merron: Under the proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act, learning disability and autism are still classed as a 'mental disorder', as they are under the existing Mental Health Act. The Mental Health Bill also introduces a new definition of 'psychiatric disorder' under the act, which covers all mental disorders other than learning disability and autism. In future, it will only be possible to detain those people with a learning disability and/or autistic people who also have a psychiatric disorder that needs treatment under the act. This change seeks to ensure that people are only detained when they have a mental disorder that warrants hospital treatment, and which has a reasonable prospect of providing a therapeutic benefit for that disorder.

Mental health, learning disabilities, and autism are all important areas in their own right for both the Department and NHS England, and require leadership at the highest levels to ensure services in these areas meet the ambitions we have set.

Our new proposed structure incudes several senior director roles responsible for leading on particular clusters of services, one of which will include mental health, learning disabilities, and autism.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-08)

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Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 11 September (HL10233), whether they aim to have legislation as a result of a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU fully implemented and taking effect in 2027. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: As stated in the response to HL10233, the Government’s aim is to conclude negotiations and have legislative arrangements in place no later than 2027. We will update Parliament when an implementation plan has been agreed with the EU.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-08)

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Lord Jones of Penybont:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the opportunities for the promotion of industrial hemp. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Growers are the best judge of what planting is suited to their land type and long-term agronomic strategy, but Defra recognises the valuable addition industrial hemp can be to some farms as a break crop.

Defra and the Home Office have listened carefully to experienced growers, and we believe that the changes to the Home Office hemp licensing system, currently in delivery, will be key to unlocking the crop’s huge potential. These reforms will enable an expansion of the growing area, better alignment of licences with the farming calendar and rotation planning, and an increase in the number of varieties growers can access.

Defra has also commissioned several studies looking at hemp cultivation, to better understand how the crop can contribute to achieving environmentally sustainable actions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-08)

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Baroness McIntosh of Pickering:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage farmers and growers to produce fast-growing willow coppice and miscanthus to be used as an energy source for power stations such as Drax. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: While we anticipate that demand for SRC and miscanthus will grow in the coming decades, it is not Government policy to prescribe which crops farmers should prioritise. British farmers know their own land best - carefully planning their planting to suit the weather, their soil type, and their long-term agronomic strategy. We will continue to support farmers, so they can make the right decisions for them and the productivity of their land. Government only provides support for electricity generation from sustainable biomass. The detailed sourcing of sustainable biomass by power stations is a commercial decision for the companies concerned.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-08)

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Baroness Warsi:To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to mosques and Islamic centres to strengthen security following recent vandalism, desecration, and threats of violence. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: There is no excuse for violence or threats targeted at Muslim communities and we support the police in taking strong action against those who carry out these crimes.

The Government is committed to protecting the right of individuals to practise their religion freely at their chosen places of worship and community centres. We regularly work closely with the police to assess threats and review the protections in place for communities.

The Protective Security for Mosques Scheme provides protective security measures, such as security personnel services, CCTV, intruder alarms and secure perimeter fencing, to mosques and associated Muslim faith community centres. These protective security measures are also available to Muslim faith schools. We have made up to £29.4 million available for this important work in 2025/26.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-08)

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Baroness Warsi:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recent series of attacks on mosques across the UK in August and September. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: There is no excuse for violence or threats targeted at Muslim communities and we support the police in taking strong action against those who carry out these crimes.

The Government is committed to protecting the right of individuals to practise their religion freely at their chosen places of worship and community centres. We regularly work closely with the police to assess threats and review the protections in place for communities.

The Protective Security for Mosques Scheme provides protective security measures, such as security personnel services, CCTV, intruder alarms and secure perimeter fencing, to mosques and associated Muslim faith community centres. These protective security measures are also available to Muslim faith schools. We have made up to £29.4 million available for this important work in 2025/26.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-08)

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Baroness Warsi:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with counter-terrorism policing units about online reports of threats to kill directed at mosques and Muslim communities. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: There is no excuse for violence or threats targeted at Muslim communities. The Government is committed to safeguarding the right to practise faith freely and safely, including at places of worship.

While we do not disclose details of operational discussions, the Home Secretary regularly meets Counter Terrorism Policing to discuss current threats and risks.

We have robust legislation to address threatening, abusive and harassing behaviour, including laws against inciting racial and religious hatred. Online hate is also a priority illegal harm under the Online Safety Act 2023, which places legal duties on platforms to proactively prevent and remove such content, and to take other steps to reduce abuse on their platforms.

We continue to support the police in taking strong action against those who seek to harm or intimidate communities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-08)

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Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of women identified as "pregnant from Ireland" who were forcibly returned from Britain to Ireland in the 20th century and what plans they have to offer recompense to those affected. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Irish Government is implementing a redress scheme which provides compensation to survivors of historical wrongs in Ireland. The Department for Work and Pensions is considering how to legislate so that UK residents who receive this compensation do not have their benefits affected. The ongoing legalisation the PQ is in relation to is Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill

The Home Office has, to the best of its knowledge, confirmed that it does not hold the information requested.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

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Lord Moynihan:To ask His Majesty's Government how much of the budget of UK Sport has been directly allocated to UK national governing bodies of sport in each of the past 10 years. \p Baroness Twycross: UK Sport publishes a full breakdown of funding to UK national governing bodies across all Olympic and Paralympic Games cycles.

Current funding awards for the Los Angeles 2028 cycle ( https://www.uksport.gov.uk/our-work/investing-in-sport/current-funding-awards ) can be found on UK Sport’s website as well as historical funding figures for the Rio, Tokyo and Paris Games ( https://www.uksport.gov.uk/our-work/investing-in-sport/historical-funding-figures ).

Based on these published allocations, UK Sport has invested approximately £1.25 billion directly into Olympic and Paralympic performance sports programmes since the Rio 2016 cycle.

Historical Funding Figures (pdf, 317.8KB)

Current funding awards (pdf, 254.1KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support collaboration between artificial intelligence researchers and video game developers to increase innovation and high-skilled employment. \p Baroness Twycross: The government recognises AI’s established role in the UK's video game sector, such as supporting content generation and character behaviours. As technology advances, AI has the potential to further enhance creativity, efficiency, and accessibility in games development.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has invested in the Centre for Doctoral Training in Intelligent Games and Game Intelligence (IGGI) since 2014. IGGI has produced over 60 PhD graduates at the intersection of AI, games, and human-computer interaction, focused on using games to drive innovation, improve well-being, and tackle societal challenges. Graduates have turned research into business value across the creative industries, including roles at Sony AI and Google DeepMind. The Government will continue engaging with the games industry to understand opportunities and challenges regarding responsible use of AI, to ensure the UK’s innovative games industry thrives in the age of AI.

Our Creative Industries Sector Plan, published in June, announced a number of measures that will support innovation across the creative industries. This includes a £100 million investment to support R&D creative clusters across the UK; and the UKRI will lead efforts to significantly increase public funding and leverage substantial industry investment to promote R&D and innovation in the Creative Industries.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

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Lord Moynihan:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the accuracy and limitations of the sex-determining region Y test for determining the sex of British athletes; and whether they plan to commission further genetic and physiological data about the biological sex of British athletes. \p Baroness Twycross: We have always been clear that when it comes to women's sport, biology matters. We will continue to support sports to develop policies that protect fairness and safety, particularly when it is not possible to balance those factors with inclusion.

It is for each sport's National Governing Body to set their own policies for who can participate in domestic competitions, and it is for International Federations to determine the rules for their sports at the international level of competition.

This Government remains committed to working with UK Sport, the British Olympic Association, and the British Paralympic Association to ensure that UK athletes can compete under clear, fair, and legally robust international regulations.

Since a universal, one-time genetic test for all athletes in the female category across all Olympic and Paralympic sports is not yet set out or mandated, no estimate of the total cost has been made by the Government.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

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Baroness Scott of Needham Market:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that hospital and community services effectively prevent and manage malnutrition among people with severe and very severe myalgic encephalomyelitis in England. \p Baroness Merron: We published the final delivery plan for myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), on 22 July, which focuses on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease.

The commissioning of ME/CFS services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards based on the needs of their local population. The ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan includes an action for the Department and NHS England to explore whether a specialised service should be prescribed by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for very severe ME/CFS. Officials from the Department have commenced discussions with NHS England on how best to take forward this action.

To support healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of conditions like ME/CFS, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published guidance for ME/CFS in October 2021, a copy of which is attached.

It recommends that people with ME/CFS should be referred for a dietetic assessment by a dietitian with a special interest in ME/CFS if they are losing weight and at risk of malnutrition. The guidance also states that clinicians should recognise that symptoms of severe and very severe ME/CFS may mean that people are unable to eat and digest food easily and may need support with hydration and nutrition, and that the support provided could include oral nutrition and enteral feeding.

NICE guidelines are evidence-based, informed by clinical expertise, and represent best practice. Although NICE guidelines are not mandatory, healthcare professionals are expected to take them fully into account.

NICE ME/CFS guidance (pdf, 536.2KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

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Earl Howe:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to raise public awareness of foods that are high in fat and salt, and their associated health risks. \p Baroness Merron: The Department has a series of websites and digital tools that support adults and families to eat better, providing guidance on healthy eating, including raising awareness about foods that are high in fat and salt and suggesting healthier alternatives.

The Government recently launched the NHS Healthy Choices Quiz to help adults to identify changes that they can make to improve their health. It includes questions on their eating habits to enable them to assess their diet across five key areas, including fat and salt.

The NHS Food Scanner app shows people how much saturated fat, sugar, and salt is in everyday food and drink consumed by families in England. It helps people to choose foods that are lower in saturated fat and salt by encouraging them to look for more ‘greens’ and ‘ambers’ and cut down on 'reds'. It also suggests healthier alternatives, where these exist, with products that are lower in saturated fat/salt.

The new Best Start in Life campaign and website provide support and guidance on topics including healthy eating in pregnancy, and healthy weaning.

Better Health Families supports those with primary aged children to eat well and move more. It uses personalised email programmes, for instance Healthy Steps, social media, and other tools, for instance the Food Scanner app, to support families on their diet. Specific guidance is provided on the website for both salt and saturated fat.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

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Lord Harper:To ask His Majesty's Government whether any civil servants are working on the implementation of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill beyond the work necessary to improve the workability of the legislative drafting. \p Baroness Merron: The function of the team working within the Department is to fulfil the Government’s duty to the statute book, with regard to the legal and technical coherence of the bill.

Matters of policy have remained solely for the sponsoring members, the Hon. Member Kim Leadbeater in the Commons and the Rt Hon. Lord Falconer of Thoroton in the Lords, to determine.

None of this work to date has been done with the objective of implementing assisting dying. Should the bill gain Royal Assent, this work would form the basis of an implementation programme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

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Lord Farmer:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 24 October (HL10891), whether the father's NHS number, email address and telephone number will be added to a baby's Patient Demographic Service records through linking with the father's health record; and if so, who will add those details, how those details will be added, and when those details will be added relative to the baby's birth. \p Baroness Merron: A father’s, and second parent’s, National Health Service number, emails, and telephone numbers will become available via a look up rather than via an actual field population, if parents have shared their data on the General Registry Office. Information added to the baby’s Personal Demographics Service Record in England will be through an automated process, completed after the birth registration.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_8

Earl Howe:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to help individuals without access to digital services more easily participate in NHS blood donation volunteering opportunities. \p Baroness Merron: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England.

NHSBT regularly reviews their blood donor programme to improve access. While most people book blood or plasma donation appointments using the NHS Give Blood app or online, those without digital access can call the National Contact Centre on xx-xxxx-xxxx to book by phone with an agent. Additionally, many donor centres accept walk-ins if appointments are available, though booking ahead is recommended to avoid disappointment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will compensate individuals and families who have suffered from the effects of sodium valproate in the past 30 years, and if so, when. \p Baroness Merron: 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. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_10

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review or reform the basis on which National Institute for Health and Care Excellence assesses whether to authorise new drugs for NHS use. \p Baroness Merron: The Department regularly has discussions with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) about a range of issues. NICE is responsible for the methods and processes that it uses in the development of its guidance and recommendations and has processes in place to keep its methods and processes under review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

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Lord Scriven:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the letter from the chief executive of the Queen's Institute of Community Nursing to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care that raised concerns about the safety, quality and oversight of services. \p Baroness Merron: Community nurses will be a vital part of our ambitions to shift more care from hospital to the community.

Understanding current community nursing capacity and planning and monitoring future community nursing capacity as well as addressing variation across England is central to achieving our 10-Year Health Plan. As part of this, the Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Merron on 13 October (HL Deb cols 9–10), what plans they have to introduce an 18-week referral-to-treatment target for dementia to ensure parity with other conditions and to address current waiting times. \p Baroness Merron: We will deliver the first ever Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework 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.

The Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia and will set national standards for dementia care and redirect National Health Service priorities to provide the best possible care and support.

In developing the Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework, we are engaging with a wide group of partners to understand what should be included to ensure the best outcomes for people living with dementia. As part of this exercise, we will consider what interventions should be supported to improve diagnosis waiting times, which we know are too long in many areas. We are considering all options to help reduce variation, including reviewing metrics and targets.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

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Lord Booth:To ask His Majesty's Government how many meetings have been held to date by the task and finish group for the Modern Service Framework for Cardiovascular Disease; when these meetings took place; and when future meetings are scheduled to take place. \p Baroness Merron: The new Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework (CVD MSF) Task and Finish Group is co-chaired by Dr. Jessica Randall-Carrick and Sir Andrew Goddard. The CVD MSF will be published in 2026, and will support consistent, high quality, and equitable care whilst fostering innovation across the CVD pathway. The membership of the task and finish group has representation from over 30 stakeholders representing a wide range of organisations, including patient experience groups, charities, think tanks, and professional bodies related to CVD and associated conditions.

The CVD MSF Task and Finish Group has convened twice to date, on 7 October 2025 and most recently on 18 November 2025. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in mid-January 2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

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Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government what methodology they are using to measure the efficacy and impact on women’s health of the 2022 changes to the Abortion Act 1967 permitting early medical termination of pregnancy taking place in the patient's home. \p Baroness Merron: Abortion continues to be a very safe procedure for which major complications are rare at all gestations. The Department works closely with NHS England, the Care Quality Commission, and abortion providers to ensure that abortions are provided safely, in accordance with the legal framework set by the Abortion Act 1967.

It is a legal requirement under the 1967 Abortion Act that the Chief Medical Officer must be notified of all abortions within 14 days of the procedure. The Department provides the HSA4 abortion notification form for this purpose. HSA4 forms collect information on the practitioner terminating the pregnancy, details of the patient and their treatment, including abortion method, gestation of the pregnancy, and the certified grounds for terminating the pregnancy. It also records known complications, up until the time of the patient’s discharge from the abortion service. The Department routinely monitors and publishes data reported via abortion notifications.

To consider the completeness of abortion complications data submitted via abortion notifications, the Department committed to publishing a one-time analysis comparing data from the Department’s Abortion Notification System and the Hospital Episode Statistics. This was published in November 2023.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

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Lord Booth:To ask His Majesty's Government what appointments they have made to the task and finish group responsible for developing the modern service framework for cardiovascular disease. \p Baroness Merron: The new Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework (CVD MSF) Task and Finish Group is co-chaired by Dr. Jessica Randall-Carrick and Sir Andrew Goddard. The CVD MSF will be published in 2026, and will support consistent, high quality, and equitable care whilst fostering innovation across the CVD pathway. The membership of the task and finish group has representation from over 30 stakeholders representing a wide range of organisations, including patient experience groups, charities, think tanks, and professional bodies related to CVD and associated conditions.

The CVD MSF Task and Finish Group has convened twice to date, on 7 October 2025 and most recently on 18 November 2025. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in mid-January 2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence about (1) updating the baseline cost-effectiveness threshold, and (2) changing the reference case discount rate. \p Baroness Merron: The Department regularly has discussions with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) about a range of issues. NICE is responsible for the methods and processes that it uses in the development of its guidance and recommendations and has processes in place to keep its methods and processes under review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

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Lord Kamall:To ask His Majesty's Government whether a decision has been made about the platform that will host the proposed single patient record. \p Baroness Merron: No final decision has been made about how the single patient record will be delivered.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

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Lord Mott:To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to complete its assessment of DCVax-L. \p Baroness Merron: The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department and regulates medicine, medical devices, and blood components for transfusion in the United Kingdom, with responsibility for ensuring that medicines meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, and efficacy.

Northwest Biotherapeutics has submitted a Marketing Authorization Application to the MHRA for DCVax®-L, an immunotherapy for glioblastoma. The MHRA is unable to comment on applications during the process of review, but the MHRA can confirm that this application is not affected by any historical backlogs, and the agency is assessing all applications rapidly for safety, quality, and efficacy.