theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of funding for a statue of Dame Vera Lynn. \p Sir Chris Bryant: There has been no assessment. Organisations – public and private – are able to freely propose, fund, develop and deliver memorials; marking a variety of incidents and historical figures in a way that they are best-placed to deem appropriate and sensitive to their local area.

It is for those groups to work with the relevant local planning authority and other organisations to identify a suitable site and obtain the necessary planning permissions.
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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussion she has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) Royal Parks on allocating land for a Spitfire AA810 Project memorial. \p Sir Chris Bryant: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has not had any discussions with Cabinet colleagues regarding the allocation of land for a Spitfire AA810 Project memorial.

DCMS officials are in discussion with The Royal Parks regarding the proposed land for the memorial, which is managed by The Royal Parks.
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Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on funding for (a) public and (b) school libraries. \p Sir Chris Bryant: The Secretary of State has a range of discussions with Cabinet colleagues across the whole of her portfolio. DCMS officials regularly discuss funding for public libraries with their counterparts across His Majesty’s Government including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government with regard to local government funding.

Public libraries are funded by local authorities. Each local authority is responsible for assessing the needs of their local communities and designing a delivery model to meet those requirements within available resources.

The government is committed to getting local government back on its feet. The final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government, which is a 6.8% cash terms increase on 2024-25.

Responsibility for school libraries falls to the Department for Education.
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Katie Lam:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of microplastics on artificial sports fields on the (a) respiratory health and (b) safety of children while playing sports. \p Stephanie Peacock: Artificial Grass Pitches (AGPs) currently play a crucial role in getting more people active across the UK. They provide durable, safe, year-round playing surfaces which can sustain up to 80 hours of use per week - significantly more than grass pitches, helping more people to access the benefits of physical activity.

The Government is aware of potential impacts which AGPs have related to the spread of rubber crumb - which contains microplastics. While, currently, there is no clear alternative, DCMS continues to work closely with Defra and the wider sector to help identify a viable long-term solution, which can maximise opportunities to get active in the most healthy and sustainable way possible.

In 2017, the European Chemical Agency published findings from a study which found there is no reason to advise people against playing sports on synthetic turf containing recycled rubber granules as infill material. Further European-led research published in the scientific journal Science of the Total Environment in 2020 reported there were no health concerns for AGPs, and in 2024 the US Environmental Protection Agency published a report noting no significant difference in chemical exposure between players on artificial grass and those on natural grass fields.
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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of providing financial support to established (a) community and (b) charitable groups. \p Stephanie Peacock: This government recognises the vital role that charitable organisations and community groups play in providing crucial support to families and individuals across the country. These organisations, as well as the wider Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector, are integral to the Government’s vision for national renewal and delivery of the five national missions.

DCMS officials regularly review the health and sustainability of the sector; working with leading research institutions to review available data on a range of sector based issues, including financial stability.

The department continues to promote availability of funding for smaller charities in several ways, including delivery of a number of grant schemes, such as the ‘Know Your Neighbourhood Fund’. Support for charities is also available through social investment which provides access to grants, repayable finance and a blend of the two. In particular, this government is continuing to look at how dormant assets can be used to support the availability of finance to facilitate VCSEs becoming more entrepreneurial and financially resilient. An estimated £350 million will flow into the Dormant Assets Scheme between 2024-28, with details on how this money will be distributed to be provided in due course.
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Sir Iain Duncan Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to improve enforcement against unlicensed gambling operators. \p Stephanie Peacock: We are committed to working closely with the Gambling Commission to ensure that illegal gambling, in all its forms, is addressed.

In the past year, the Commission has significantly increased its disruption activity and has a renewed focus on finding innovative ways to tackle the illegal market. Since April 2024, they have issued over 1,150 cease and desist, and disruption notices. In the same period, over 118,000 URLs relating to illegal gambling have been referred to search engines, Google and Bing, with over 81,000 URLs removed by those search engines.

The Crime and Policing Bill, introduced in Parliament on 25 February 2025, will grant the Gambling Commission with new powers to more quickly and effectively take down illegal gambling websites.
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Alex Ballinger:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to improve the effectiveness of measures to prevent consumers from accessing unlicensed online gambling operators. \p Stephanie Peacock: We are committed to working closely with the Gambling Commission to ensure that illegal gambling, in all its forms, is addressed. The Gambling Commission assesses information gathered from multiple sources and works closely with partner agencies to prevent access to illegal websites by consumers in Great Britain.

In the past year, the Commission has significantly increased its disruption activity and has a renewed focus on finding innovative ways to tackle the illegal market. The Crime and Policing Bill, introduced in Parliament on 25 February 2025, will also grant the Gambling Commission with new powers to more quickly and effectively take down illegal gambling websites.
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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has received representations from (a) President Trump and (b) the US government on the potential hosting of The Open at Turnberry. \p Stephanie Peacock: Sporting bodies operate independently of the Government, and decisions on tournament hosting venues are rightly a matter for the relevant sporting bodies.

This would be a matter entirely for The R&A and its operational team.
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Sammy Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of retaining the hybrid model of television distribution. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government’s project on the future of TV distribution is seeking to understand how people receive their television now and in the next decade. This will include assessing the advantages of hybrid television distribution models, as well as other options such as IPTV transition. As part of this process, a wide range of views are being sought on all of the options.

Before any decision is made in relation to the availability of services beyond 2034, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on digital terrestrial television as their primary means of watching television. DCMS recently commissioned research to understand the barriers preventing DTT only users from adopting IPTV, the motivations and enablers that led others to make the switch, and how these factors vary across demographic groups. This will help the Department assess any potential impacts and support that may be needed, should there be a future transition to IPTV.
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Sammy Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the future of terrestrial TV distribution in Northern Ireland. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government’s project on the future of TV distribution is seeking to understand how people receive their television now and in the next decade. As part of this process, a wide range of views are being sought. Membership of the Stakeholder Forum includes a range of broadcasters active in Northern Ireland, including the BBC (who operate BBC Northern Ireland) and ITV (who operate UTV). The forum also benefits from the perspectives of a number of groups representing the interests of Northern Irish and UK-wide audiences, such as Voice of the Listener and Viewer, Digital Poverty Alliance and Silver Voices.

The Government will engage with the devolved governments to understand the unique characteristics of broadcasting in each nation well in advance of any decision being taken.
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Rachel Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which Government department is responsible for the UK's events industry strategy. \p Stephanie Peacock: The UK is a world leader in the events industry. The events industry spans many sectors and has cross-cutting interests across a number of Government Departments including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Business and Trade, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Cabinet Office and the Home Office on safety and security elements.

The Department for Business and Trade works closely with the events sector to ensure they are engaged and able to shape developing government policy and any business issues the sector is facing are captured and addressed.

There have been a number of sector specific strategies published, including the Gold Framework which set out how the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and UK Sport work jointly to support the bidding for and staging of major sporting events at a UK level. In addition, UK Sport published a major event strategic framework, Making Live Sport Matter, which sets out a target list of major events hosting for the coming decade.

DCMS will also be launching a new Visitor Economy Growth Strategy later this year, which will include the business events industry. It will set out a clear, joined-up plan for driving growth, improving the visitor offer and strengthening the UK's appeal in an increasingly competitive global market.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 7 April 2025 to Question on Public Consultation; Young People, if she will list the DCMS-funded youth programmes through which young people were invited to participate in the long-term strategy for communities. \p Stephanie Peacock: We invited young people from #iWill and UK Youth Parliament to participate in the roundtables.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential financial impact of the Football Governance Bill on the (a) administrative and (b) compliance activities of English football clubs. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Regulator will work with clubs to ensure the new regulatory regime is light touch and streamlined. The government’s impact assessment estimates compliance costs to be between £22.8 million and £46.1million over ten years.

The largest clubs in scope are expected to experience an increase of between 0.5 full-time equivalents (FTE) and 2.5 FTE, depending on existing levels of compliance. We anticipate the smallest clubs in scope are expected to experience a total increase of between 0.1 FTE and 0.5 FTE, depending on existing levels of compliance.

Regulation will improve the financial sustainability of clubs and the same assessment estimated that the benefit of regulation would far offset the cost.
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Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support the development of new padel facilities. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.

Sport England provides long term investment to the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis and padel tennis in Britain. It receives up to £10.2 million for five years to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives that will benefit everyone.

The Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities programme is focused on investment into sports pitches and ancillary facilities, like changing rooms and clubhouses.

All future funding of sports facilities beyond 2025/26 will be considered as part of the forthcoming Spending Review.

Sport policy is devolved but we continue to engage closely with partners in Wales across various areas including facilities investment.
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Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make it her policy to abolish Ofcom if its code of conduct for technology companies does not improve children's online safety. \p Feryal Clark: The government is clear that we expect significant improvements in children's online safety as platforms comply with their duties under the Online Safety Act.

Ofcom's child safety codes include over 40 measures to hold platforms accountable, ensuring safer social media with less harmful content, protection from strangers, and effective age checks.

Ofcom are clear that they will take strong enforcement action if companies do not take the necessary steps protect children. Where we need to strengthen the law to protect children online, we will do so.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether Building Digital UK has offered apprenticeships in each year since it was set up. \p Sir Chris Bryant: The Civil Service is committed to using apprenticeships to break down barriers to opportunity, support skills development and deliver more effective public services.

Building Digital UK has only made use of apprentices in its workforce since becoming an Executive Agency in April 2022, since when it has offered apprenticeships every year.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works in protecting artists against breaches of artistic copyright by AI models. \p Feryal Clark: The Department has not made its own assessment of the effectiveness of the Berne Convention in relation to AI models.

However, a recent meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which is responsible for the Berne Convention, included a session on the use of artistic and other copyright works by AI models.

The UK participated in this session and will continue to engage with WIPO and with other international partners as we consider the way forward on this important topic.
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Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Advanced Research and Invention Agency on geoengineering proposals that aim to block sunlight. \p Feryal Clark: The Secretary of State has regular discussions with ARIA on a range of matters. As set out in ARIA’s Framework Agreement, ARIA has unique operational freedoms, including over its research and project choice and its procedures. This independence allows ARIA to take bold steps to better understand the world we live in, and the Government supports ARIA exploring critical areas like this.

The government is not in favour of using Solar Radiation Modification. ARIA is an independent research body and they are conducting cautious, controlled research aimed at improving understanding of its risks and impacts. The government supports ARIA’s mission to fund transformational research programmes with long-term benefits.

For further detail on ARIA’s ‘Exploring Climate Cooling’ programme specifically, I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I provided on 2 May 2025 to Question UIN 47970.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many (a) phones, (b) laptops and (c) other electronic devices have been lost by their Department since 5 July 2024. \p Feryal Clark: The following table includes the number of lost department-issued devices by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology since 5 July 2024.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Solicitor General, how many people have been prosecuted for hate crimes in the last 12 months. \p Lucy Rigby: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutes hate crimes in England and Wales. In the year to December 2024, in England and Wales the CPS prosecuted 14,657 defendants for offences flagged as hate crimes with a charge rate of 87.4%, and a conviction rate of 86.1%. Further information can be found in quarterly data published on the CPS website: CPS quarterly data summaries | The Crown Prosecution Service.
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Valerie Vaz:To ask the Solicitor General, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making her advice to Cabinet colleagues on the legal implications of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill available in the public interest. \p Lucy Rigby: The fact that the Law Officers have advised or have not advised, and the content of their advice, must not be disclosed outside government without their authority. This principle is known as the Law Officers’ Convention and can be found at paragraphs 21.27 of Erskine May and 5.14 of the Ministerial Code. Such authority is rarely given since it would generally not be in the public interest to do so as it undermines the Convention
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Kirsty Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications posts there are in her Department; and what the salary band is for each post. \p Jo Stevens: In the Wales Office communications team, there are a total of 8 Full Time Equivalent Government Communication Service professionals.

Of this total, 2 work in the media discipline which covers press and media responsibilities.

This is the latest available data from June 2024.
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Harriet Cross:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the total cost to his Department was for sending a delegation to New York's Tartan Week in (a) 2023, (b) 2024 and (c) 2025.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ \p Ian Murray: Tartan Week in New York is the most significant annual event celebrating Scottish-US links across business and culture. This year, the Scotland Office engaged in a significantly expanded programme of business and investor engagement in New York, focusing on economic growth in Scotland.

Given the success of the Scotland Office’s participation in 2023 and 2024, which I saw first hand in my previous capacity as the Shadow Secretary of State, our goal was to expand our footprint in 2025 and take full advantage of the opportunities available in New York to grow Scotland’s economy. This was subsequently enabled by HMT’s decision to approve the Scotland Office’s Brand Scotland Business Case. This programme, a manifesto commitment announced at Autumn Budget 2024, provides the Scotland Office with a specific budget to expand its international trade and business engagement and take steps across the world to secure economic growth.

In New York, Scotland Office officials and I attended a total of 16 events over three days-most of which were planned and delivered by the Scotland Office under the Brand Scotland programme and fully paid for from the Brand Scotland budget. The US is Scotland’s second largest trading partner, playing a vital role in driving our economic growth. Strengthening this relationship will boost exports in key sectors such as food and drink, renewable energy, technology, and financial services - bringing high quality jobs, and delivering long-term benefits for communities across Scotland.

In 2023, one Minister, one Special Adviser and four Officials from the Scotland Office attended New York Tartan Week. In 2024, one Minister, no Special Advisers and five Officials attended. In 2025, one Minister, two special advisers and five officials attended.

The total costs of flights and accommodation for the Scotland Office’s ministerial delegation to New York Tartan Week in 2023 was £13,803.60, in 2024 it was £5,704.54 and in 2025 it was £17,710.11.

Local subsistence costs for each individual member of each respective delegation are not included. The time it would take to retrieve this information for 2023 and 2024 exceeds the time available to answer the Honourable Member’s questions.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the abolition of NHS England on the NHS Business Services Authority. \p Karin Smyth: Following the announcement that NHS England will be abolished as an arm’s length body, a transformation programme has been launched within the Department.

It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts. Evidence from these ongoing assessments will inform our programme as appropriate.

Discussions between officials within NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), the Department, and NHS England are ongoing concerning NHSBSA’s role and services for the health and social care system in light of the abolition of NHS England.

The Government is committed to transparency and will consider how best to ensure the public and parliamentarians are informed of the outcomes.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025. \p Karin Smyth: Sickness absence data for the Civil Service, including departmental breakdowns, is published annually, and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence

The next update will be for the year ending 31 March 2025.
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Carolyn Harris:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the recommendations of the Thirty-Seventh Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2024-25 on Immigration: Skilled worker visas, HC 819 and pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 39615 on Care Workers: Migrant Workers, what steps he is taking to expedite publication of an evaluation of the effectiveness of regional partnerships to support (a) displaced and (b) exploited care workers into new employment. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government welcomes the Committee of Public Accounts’ report on skilled worker visas and will respond fully in due course.

The Department is providing up to £12.5 million this financial year to 15 regional partnerships to help support international care workers affected by sponsor non-compliance into alternative, ethical employment.

We have commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce to undertake an independent evaluation of the 2024/25 international recruitment regional fund. We currently expect the final report of this evaluation to be published by King's College London in January 2026.

Regional partnerships provide the Department with monthly and quarterly monitoring data regarding progress, including on the number of displaced workers who have secured new sponsored employment.
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Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many applications for additional pharmacies were declined following a pharmaceutical needs assessment that identified a lack of need in each of the last five years. \p Stephen Kinnock: Decisions on applications to open a new pharmacy are delegated from NHS England to National Health Service integrated care boards, and the Department does not hold data on how many applications were rejected or the reasons for these rejections. If a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) identifies a lack of need for a new pharmacy in the area, pharmacy contractors can still apply to open a pharmacy to provide benefits to the local communities that were not foreseen in the PNA.
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Steff Aquarone:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many payments under the dental recruitment incentive scheme have been allocated to North Norfolk constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: Data is not held on how many payments under the Dental Recruitment Incentive Scheme have been allocated at the constituency level. The responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of the local population is delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England.

ICBs have started to recruit posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see up dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.

Further information on the dental recruitment process can be found in guidance issued by NHS England, which is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/dental-recruitment-incentive-scheme-2024-25/
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of burnout among unpaid carers in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: Local authorities have duties to support unpaid carers and are required to deliver sustainable, high-quality care and support services. The Government’s Better Care Fund provides support to unpaid carers, including short breaks and respite services.

The Department regularly engages with local authorities, including Surrey County Council, on matters relating to unpaid carers and wider social care issues. According to data from NHS Digital, in 2023/24, Surrey County Council supported 760, or 19%, of unpaid carers through respite or other forms of carer support delivered to the cared-for person. We do not hold data to assess trends in the level of burnout among unpaid carers in the Surrey Heath constituency.

Independent research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research suggests that high intensity unpaid care is associated with an increased likelihood of poorer outcomes, including loneliness and social isolation, when compared to people who do not provide unpaid care. The severity of these outcomes differs based on factors such as age, gender, and ethnicity.

The Office for National Statistics has estimated, using the 2021 Census and adjusting for age, that the proportion of residents of the Surrey Heath Borough District providing unpaid care is slightly lower than in the Southeast region or England as a whole. This is especially true for the proportion of residents providing higher levels of unpaid care.
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Mims Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) his Department and (b) ICBs have issued guidance to larger GP practices with multiple sites across several ICB areas. \p Stephen Kinnock: Integrated care boards (ICBs), as commissioners of primary medical services, are responsible for the quality, safety, and performance of services delivered by providers within their areas. Large general practitioner (GP) practices spanning multiple commissioner areas will ordinarily hold individual contracts within each commissioning area they operate in and will therefore be held to account for the quality, safety, and performance of services by the responsible commissioner in each area.

The Department does not collect information on all guidance that is issued by ICBs.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an estimate of the proportion of firearm holders with a firearms marker on their patient records. \p Stephen Kinnock: The role of general practitioners (GPs) in the firearms licensing process is set out in the Home Office’s publication Firearms licensing: statutory guidance for chief officers of police, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-guidance-for-police-on-firearms-licensing

To support their role, a digital marker, SNOMED activity coding, was fully rolled out across GP IT suppliers by May 2023, giving all GPs in England access within existing GP IT systems. GPs do not need to download a separate firearms marker software.

We have not made an estimate of the proportion of firearm holders with a firearms marker on their patient records. This is because NHS England publishes an annual SNOMED report, which includes information on the number of times a relevant firearms code was added to GP patient records within the publication period. The report is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mi-snomed-code-usage-in-primary-care/2023-24

It should be noted that a patient could have one code added to their record multiple times throughout the year, and therefore, it is not possible to infer the number of patients with a particular code from this data. We are exploring options for how this data can be analysed to support the use of the digital marker.

This significant strengthening of the medical checks process aids GPs, or any other registered medical practitioners, in completing the application form for a person’s medical suitability for a firearms licence. The digital marker also alerts a GP if there is any concerning deterioration in a person’s health presented during the five year licence period that may impact their suitability to hold a firearms licence. GPs can now more easily alert their local police force when necessary, as the decision for who can grant and renew a firearms licence remains with the local police force.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-25 conversation_9

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the percentage of GPs that have downloaded firearms marker software. \p Stephen Kinnock: The role of general practitioners (GPs) in the firearms licensing process is set out in the Home Office’s publication Firearms licensing: statutory guidance for chief officers of police, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-guidance-for-police-on-firearms-licensing

To support their role, a digital marker, SNOMED activity coding, was fully rolled out across GP IT suppliers by May 2023, giving all GPs in England access within existing GP IT systems. GPs do not need to download a separate firearms marker software.

We have not made an estimate of the proportion of firearm holders with a firearms marker on their patient records. This is because NHS England publishes an annual SNOMED report, which includes information on the number of times a relevant firearms code was added to GP patient records within the publication period. The report is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mi-snomed-code-usage-in-primary-care/2023-24

It should be noted that a patient could have one code added to their record multiple times throughout the year, and therefore, it is not possible to infer the number of patients with a particular code from this data. We are exploring options for how this data can be analysed to support the use of the digital marker.

This significant strengthening of the medical checks process aids GPs, or any other registered medical practitioners, in completing the application form for a person’s medical suitability for a firearms licence. The digital marker also alerts a GP if there is any concerning deterioration in a person’s health presented during the five year licence period that may impact their suitability to hold a firearms licence. GPs can now more easily alert their local police force when necessary, as the decision for who can grant and renew a firearms licence remains with the local police force.
wrans/answers2025-09-25 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-25 conversation_10

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the current NHS dentist vacancy rate is in Surrey; and what steps he is taking to ensure equitable dental care access in Epsom and Ewell constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: In 2024, there was a 20% vacancy rate for NHS dentists in the Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board (ICB), which includes the Epsom and Ewell constituency. We do not hold data at constituency level. More data is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/dental-workforce/

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to ICBs across England. For the Epsom and Ewell constituency, this is Surrey Heartlands ICB.

We will deliver 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments per year, and ICBs have been making extra appointments available from 1 April 2025. Surrey Heartlands ICB is expected to deliver 6,585 additional urgent dental appointments as part of the scheme.

The Government’s ambition is to deliver fundamental contract reform before the end of this Parliament.
wrans/answers2025-09-25 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-25 conversation_11

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve (a) infrastructure, (b) better understanding of complex patients and (b) staff (i) morale and (ii) experience in the 10 Year Health Plan. \p Karin Smyth: The 10-Year Health Plan detailed our ambition to deliver a National Health Service fit for the future through three big shifts: from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention.

Regarding infrastructure, the plan set out our aim to establish neighbourhood health centres in every community over the course of the next 10 years, transforming healthcare access and delivering healthcare closer to home for those that need it most. We are also increasing health capital budgets to over £14.6 billion by the end of the Spending Review period, namely 2029/30, to invest in the NHS and wider health infrastructure, a £2.3 billion real terms increase from 2023/24 to 2029/30.

To better our understanding of patients with complex health needs, we will set a new standard that, by 2027, 95% of people with complex needs will have an agreed care plan. As outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will expect all care plans to be co-created with patients and cover their holistic needs, not just their treatment. They will align with national standards for high quality care but, within that, give patients significant choice and freedom.

As set out in the plan, the Government is committed to making the NHS the best place to work, by supporting and retaining our hardworking and dedicated healthcare professionals. We will roll out staff treatment hubs that will ensure staff have access to high quality support for occupational health, including support for mental health and back conditions. We will also work with the Social Partnership Forum to introduce a new set of staff standards for modern employment, covering issues such as access to healthy meals, support to work healthily and flexibly, and tackling violence, racism and sexual harassment in the workplace.
wrans/answers2025-09-25 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-25 conversation_12

Sir Mark Hendrick:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 60418 on medical testing, how much of the £600 million capital spending this year on diagnostics including funding all pathology networks will be allocated to (a) Lancashire Teaching Hospitals and (b) Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board. \p Karin Smyth: As part of the £1.65 billion for investment to improve National Health Service performance against constitutional standards in 2025/26, £600 million was allocated to diagnostics. Final allocation of this funding will be agreed via national panels upon receipt and review of business cases.

To date, the Department has approved £2,267,000 capital to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from this overall allocation.
wrans/answers2025-09-25 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-25 conversation_13

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered introducing a ring-fenced national funding stream to support the expansion of GP surgeries in (a) high-growth and (b) underserved areas. \p Stephen Kinnock: It is the responsibility of the integrated care boards (ICBs) to ensure that the National Health Service estate is fit for purpose, in order to meet the needs of the local population.

General practices (GPs) are independent contractors, which, alongside ICBs, are responsible for ensuring their premises are up to standard. Most practice premises are privately owned or leased.

The Department and NHS England requested that ICBs develop estates infrastructure strategies. These have been developed to create a long-term plan for future estate requirements and investment for each local area and its needs. These strategies must take existing and future GP and primary care estate into account when considering how best to deliver local services. To support them in doing this, we provide an annual capital allocation, operational capital, which ICBs are free to use as they see fit, working with healthcare providers in their area including GPs, to deliver their estates and infrastructure priorities.

At a national level, we continue to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the National Planning Policy Framework to ensure all new and existing developments have an adequate level of healthcare infrastructure for the community.

In Autumn 2024, the Government announced the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund, a nationally controlled fund which will deliver upgrades this financial year to GP surgeries across England. These schemes will create additional clinical space within existing building footprints to enable practices to see more patients, boost productivity, and improve patient care. ICBs were invited to submit funding proposals that align with local integrated care system infrastructure strategies and the Primary Care Network Estates Toolkit, prioritising high-quality, fit-for-purpose estates over poorly maintained assets.
wrans/answers2025-09-25 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-25 conversation_14

Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to incorporate research on (a) masking and (b) internalised behaviours into (i) autism diagnostic pathways and (ii) training for healthcare professionals. \p Stephen Kinnock: Integrated care boards (ICBs) and health professionals should have due regard to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines when commissioning and providing health care services, including autism assessment services. NICE guidelines are developed by experts based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and through extensive engagement with stakeholders. In June 2024, NICE’s prioritisation board decided to prioritise updating the current NICE guidelines on autism assessment and diagnosis, namely Autism spectrum disorder in adults: diagnosis and management, and Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: recognition, referral and diagnosis. Both guidelines are available, respectively, at the following two links:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg142

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg128

Although NICE has committed to updating these guidelines, this work has not yet been scheduled into NICE’s work programme.

Under the Health and Care Act 2022, providers registered with the Care Quality Commission are required to ensure their staff receive specific training on learning disability and autism, appropriate to their role. To support this, we have been rolling out the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism to the health and adult social care workforce. The first part of this training has now been completed by over three million people. Staff with responsibility for providing care, support, or healthcare, including social care and other professionals with a high degree of autonomy, are expected to complete Tier 2 of Oliver’s Training, which includes content on avoiding diagnostic overshadowing. Oliver's Training has been developed with reference to the Core Capabilities Frameworks on Learning Disability and Autism, co-produced alongside people with a learning disability and autistic people, and based on learning from the independently evaluated trials of the training in 2021. A long-term evaluation is now underway.

In addition, 5,000 trainers have been trained as part of the National Autism Trainer Programme, which covers autism presentation in women and girls. These trainers will cascade their training to teams across mental health services. NHS England has also published guidance on meeting the needs of autistic adults in mental health services, which makes specific references to the possible role of masking.