theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_214
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_214

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding has been allocated in the financial year 2025-26 to expand regional (a) neurological emergency networks and (b) tele-neurology services. \p Karin Smyth: There is no formal structure or funding for neurological emergency networks. The acute neurology guidance forming part of the NHS England integrated care system neurology toolkit provides guidance on the organisation of services to ensure patients admitted to acute medical units are able to access neurological advice where necessary. Tele-neurology is available across the country as required.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_215
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_215

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance he has issued to integrated care boards on commissioning pathways that guarantee immediate access to plasma exchange for patients with acute inflammatory neurological disorders. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England’s Specialised Neurology service specification outlines a networked model of care for neurology and stipulates that all specialised neurology centres should have access to timely plasma exchange services to patients with severe autoimmune neurological disorders. Although secondary care hospitals will not ordinarily have plasma exchange services on site, all secondary care hospitals are linked to a regional specialised neurology centre that can offer this treatment in a timely way.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_216
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_216

Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Freedom to Speak Up mechanisms within NHS Trusts are (a) effective and (b) independent; and what procedures are in place for NHS Trusts that retaliate against staff who make protected disclosures. \p Karin Smyth: The national Freedom to Speak Up policy, produced by NHS England, provides the minimum standard for local freedom to speak up policies across the National Health Service, so those who work in the NHS know how to speak up and what will happen when they do. This includes information on how to raise concerns internally, such as through the local Freedom to Speak Up Guardian network, as well to external bodies such as NHS England or the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of health and social care services in England.

The Employment Rights Act 1996, as amended, gives employees protection against unfair dismissal and all workers a right not to be subject to any detriment in employment, on the basis that the worker has made a protected disclosure. Where this right is breached, employees and workers have a right to seek a remedy through an employment tribunal.

The Government is also taking forward legislative change so that the Health and Care Professions Council can operate a barring mechanism for NHS board-level managers and their direct reports within this Parliament. This will help to ensure leaders are held professionally accountable for their work, just like their clinical colleagues.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_217
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_217

Christine Jardine:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of poverty on NHS spending. \p Karin Smyth: Integrated care boards receive funding allocations from NHS England to pay for the services they commission. Most funding is allocated as a non-ringfenced budget, informed by a calculation of what would constitute a “fair share” of funding based on a formula that takes account of population, age, need, deprivation and health inequalities considerations.

Poverty will clearly have a bearing on these factors included in the formula, and to the extent that is the case, areas with higher levels of poverty will receive higher funding per capita other things being equal.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_218
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_218

Cat Eccles:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make his policy to introduce a Long service and good conduct medal for (a) doctors and (b) nurses. \p Karin Smyth: Employers across the National Health Service are best placed to identify and reward staff for either long service or excellence in the delivery of healthcare. Most organisations have developed a wide range of schemes to celebrate long service in the NHS and these include celebratory events, commemorative badges, and monetary awards and gifts.

For NHS employees who have made an outstanding contribution, the honours system celebrates those who go above and beyond to change the world around them for the better. Nominations can be made online via the Cabinet Office website.

There is also the opportunity for members of Parliament to acknowledge the work of NHS staff in their constituency through the NHS Parliamentary Awards, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/nhs-parliamentary-awards/about/
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_219
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_219

Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with (a) NHS England and (b) ICBs to help prevent NHS Trusts from operating outside (i) best practice guidelines, (ii) Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service Codes, (iii) internal HR policies and (iv) not protecting their staff's (A) rights and (B) well-being. \p Karin Smyth: All National Health Service trusts are independent employers who are required to comply with employment legislation and any relevant Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service codes. Human resource policies and procedures are developed locally and should follow best practice guidance which may include model HR policies developed by NHS England and the national Social Partnership Forum’s Workforce Issues Group.

The handbook to the NHS Constitution for England summarises some important legal rights for all employees and includes a range of best practice pledges which, although not legally binding, represent a commitment by the NHS to provide high-quality working environments for staff.

As part of the 10 Year Health Plan, 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/answers2025-09-10 conversation_220
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_220

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the potential financial impact of aligning funding to the average per-patient spend of the top quarter most efficient hospitals on rural hospitals. \p Karin Smyth: The basis of the funding allocated to providers is set out in the National Payment Scheme, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/pay-syst/nhs-payment-scheme/

This includes setting out the prices paid where funding varies with activity, and these prices are the same for all providers. They are based on average costs across National Health Service providers rather than top quarter performance. We have not directly assessed the impact of changing the payment scheme to set prices based on the top quarter of the most efficient providers. However, NHS England sends packs to all NHS providers quantifying productivity and efficiency opportunities based on metrics in the Model Health System dataset. This allows individual providers, including those in rural areas, to benchmark themselves against others, and measure the financial impact of improving performance.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_221
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_221

Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the quality of (a) infrastructure and (b) property in NHS facilities on (i) patient safety and (ii) service delivery. \p Karin Smyth: The safety of NHS staff and patients is a top priority for the Government, and we recognise that delivering high quality NHS healthcare services requires safe, sustainable, and effective infrastructure and facilities. Lord Darzi’s investigation considered the impact of NHS infrastructure, estates and capital funding on the NHS, and found that capital investment has been neglected, with the hospital estate left to crumble.

Repairing and rebuilding our healthcare estate is a vital part of our ambition to create an NHS that is fit for the future through our 10-Year Health Plan. The Government’s recently published 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy set out 10-year maintenance budgets for the public estate, confirming £6 billion per year for maintenance and repair of the NHS estate up to 2034/35. Within this, the 2025 Spending Review settlement announced a total capital investment of £30 billion over five years in day-to-day maintenance and repair of the NHS estate, with over £5 billion specifically allocated to address the most critical building repairs.

In 2025/26, this includes a £750 million Estates Safety Fund which will deliver vital safety improvements, enhance patient and staff environments, and reduce disruptions to NHS clinical services.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_222
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_222

Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) ensure nursing graduates can find Band 5 roles upon graduation and (b) increase the number of roles for newly registered nurses. \p Karin Smyth: On 11 August 2025, the Government announced the Graduate Guarantee for nurses and midwives. The Guarantee will ensure there are enough positions for every newly qualified nurse in England. The package of measures will unlock thousands of jobs and will ensure thousands of new posts are easier to access by removing barriers for National Health Service trusts, creating opportunities for graduates and ensuring a seamless transition from training to employment.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_223
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_223

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many medical students started university in each of the past five years. \p Karin Smyth: The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) publish the number of United Kingdom-wide acceptances to medicine and dentistry jointly, but not to English providers for medicine alone. The latest number for UK medicine and dentistry acceptances, as of 15 days post A-Level results day, is 13,730 acceptances for 2025, which is 5% higher than the same point last year, namely 13,030 acceptances, and 15% higher than pre-pandemic, namely 11,960 acceptances in 2019.

The Office for Students publishes the number of entrants to medical degrees in England each year. Numbers for 2020 and 2021 are high because of the temporary lifting of the cap on medical school places in England during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following table shows the number of entrants to medicine courses in England, each year from 2019 to 2024:

Year

Entrants

2019

7,565

2020

8,405

2021

8,485

2022

7,625

2023

7,820

2024*

8,045

Source: The Office for Students’ Medical and Dental Students Survey, from 2019 to 2024.

Notes:
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_224
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_224

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which NHS Trusts will be involved in the Rapid National Investigation into maternity and neonatal services. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_225
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_225

Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure adequate mental health support is provided to Physician Associates following the publication of the Leng Review. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_226
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_226

Jim Dickson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the Leader of the House of Lords on when the committee stage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will take place. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_227
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_227

Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason older people under 75 are not eligible for the NHS covid-19 autumn booster in 2025. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_228
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_228

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to increase funding within the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework to help pharmacists deliver on their expanded roles under the 10-Year Health Plan. \p Stephen Kinnock: As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, community pharmacies will have a vital role in the Neighbourhood Health Service, working closely with other primary care providers at a neighbourhood level to deliver services.

We expect services, including those that make use of pharmacist prescribing qualifications, to be commissioned both nationally, where that is most cost effective, and locally, to meet specific local needs and to support local populations. Commissioning arrangements and funding streams will vary depending on the service being commissioned and arrangements for local health provision.

National commissioning of pharmacies includes vaccination and related services and the services commissioned through the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework. As is custom and practice, we will consult Community Pharmacy England on the scope of those services and the funding available.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_229
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_229

Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of how many and what proportion of people waited less than 6 weeks for their first treatment for talking therapies in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne and (b) North Tyneside in May 2025; and if he will make an estimate of how many and what proportion of first treatments were (i) a session with a therapist and (ii) guided self-help. \p Stephen Kinnock: The following table shows the number of referrals to NHS Talking Therapies with their first treatment in May 2025, and the number and percentage of referrals with first treatment within six weeks of the referral being received, for Newcastle upon Tyne and North Tyneside:

Local authority

All referrals with first treatment in May 2025

Referrals with first treatment within six weeks of referral being received

Number of referrals

Number of referrals

Percentage of total

Newcastle upon Tyne

555

515

93%

North Tyneside

320

305

95%

Source: NHS Talking Therapies dataset, NHS England.

In addition, the following table shows a breakdown of these referrals by the specific therapy provided, in total and as a percentage of total referrals:

All referrals with first treatment in May 2025

Referrals with first treatment with therapist

Referrals with first treatment of guided self help

Local authority

Number of referrals

Number of referrals

Percentage of total

Number of referrals

Percentage of total

Newcastle upon Tyne

555

545

98%

10

2%

North Tyneside

320

130

40%

190

60%

Source: NHS Talking Therapies dataset, NHS England

Notes:
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_230
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_230

Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to sustain the independent contractor status of GP partnerships through the 10 Year Health Plan. \p Stephen Kinnock: GP partnerships are independent businesses, contracting with the NHS to deliver primary care services. We recognise that the GP partnership model has many strengths, including efficiency, innovation and continuity of care, and GP partnerships deliver high-quality care to patients all over the country. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, where the GP partnership model is working well, it should continue.

The 10-Year Health Plan also introduces two new contracts enabling GPs to work over larger geographies, with the aim of supporting the neighbourhood health model, providing resilience and allowing economies of scale, in order to secure the sustainability of general practice into the future.

The first will create ‘single neighbourhood providers’ that deliver enhanced services for groups with similar needs over a single neighbourhood (c.50,000 people). The second will create ‘multi-neighbourhood providers’, which will deliver care that requires working across several different neighbourhoods (250,000+ people).

Multi-neighbourhood providers will also be responsible for unlocking the benefits of at scale working, including offering improvement support to practices, easing administrative burdens through shared back-office functions and overseeing digital transformation and estate strategy.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_231
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_231

Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential need to improve screening for hypermobility in neurodivergent individuals. \p Stephen Kinnock: It is the responsibility of the integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including support for neurodivergent people. We expect ICBs to have due regard to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines when commissioning services, and for healthcare professionals to take these guidelines into account for the care and treatment of patients. NICE guidelines are developed by experts based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and through extensive engagement with stakeholders. The NICE guidelines on autism and those on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder highlight that, as part of the diagnostic process, clinicians should include an assessment of the person’s needs, co-existing conditions, and physical health, including fine and gross motor skills.

In April 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance for autism assessment services, which can be found at the following link:

www.england.nhs.uk/publication/autism-diagnosis-and-operational-guidance

This guidance intends to help the NHS improve autism assessment services and the experience for those referred to an autism assessment service. The guidance highlights that physical health, and needs and difficulties, should feature as themes for discussion during the assessment process.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_232
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_232

Jess Asato:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of issuing statutory guidance to NHS commissioning bodies to ensure that they commission counselling and psychotherapy professionals to provide specialist support for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence from accredited registers. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department is working with the Home Office and other partners across the Government on a new strategy to tackle violence against women and girls. There are no current plans to issue any such guidance to National Health Service commissioners.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_233
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_233

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help support Integrated Care Boards to improve patient access in areas with high levels of deprivation. \p Stephen Kinnock: Ensuring that funding for core services, provided via integrated care boards, are fairly allocated across practices nationwide is crucial and we recognise the importance of prioritising areas with high levels of deprivation. This is why we have committed to reviewing the general practice (GP) funding formula, so that resources are directed where they are needed most to improve patient access.

Through our 10-Year Health Plan, it will be easier and faster to see a GP. We will end the 8:00am scramble for appointments, train more doctors, and will guarantee consultations within 24 hours for those who need one. In October 2024, we invested £82 million into the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme to support the recruitment of 2,000 individual GPs into primary care networks across England, helping to increase appointment availability and improve care for thousands of patients. The new £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund will create additional clinical space within over 1,000 practices across England. This investment will deliver more appointments and improve patient care.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_234
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_234

Chris Bloore:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people with a diagnosis of dementia have needed to sell their home to pay for care costs in each of the last five years. \p Stephen Kinnock: The information requested is not held by the Department.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_235
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_235

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether access to dementia specialist nurses will be available through his Department's planned Neighbourhood Health Services. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Neighbourhood Health Service will bring together teams of professionals closer to people’s homes to work together to provide comprehensive care in the community. We expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations, and so they could include dementia specialist nurses. While we will be clear on the outcomes we expect, we will give significant licence to tailor the approach to local need. While the focus on personalised, coordinated care will be consistent, that will mean services will look different in rural communities, coastal towns, and/or deprived inner cities.

The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). We would expect ICBs to commission services, which may include dementia specialist nurses/admiral nurses, based on local population needs, taking account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guidelines. NICE recommends providing people living with dementia with a single named health or social care professional who is responsible for coordinating their care.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_236
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_236

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a levy on international student fees on the higher education pipeline for NHS workforce training. \p Karin Smyth: The Government’s ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration System’ white paper sets out a series of measures that will achieve a reduction in net migration, while maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting our skills base.

This includes the commitment to explore the introduction of a levy on higher education provider income from international students, with proceeds to be reinvested in the domestic higher education and skills system.

More detail around the levy will be set out in the Autumn budget, and we will work with the Department of Education to consider the impact on the higher education pipeline for NHS workforce training.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_237
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_237

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Oral Statement of 1 September on Ukraine, Official Report columns 93-94, whether urgent operational requirements are being considered as part of his review into armed forces readiness levels. \p Al Carns: We are committed to ensuring our Armed Forces are appropriately equipped to respond to all challenges. As part of this commitment, urgent operational requirements are considered in our assessments and reviews.

As a matter of longstanding policy we do not publicly comment on the readiness levels of His Majesty’s Armed Forces. This is to safeguard operational security, and that of our Serving people.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_238
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_238

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Commonwealth service-leavers have paid for visa applications for dependents since 5 July 2024. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: All applications are submitted to the Home Office. The Ministry of Defence does not hold information about the number of applications submitted by Service personnel on discharge, or by their family members.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_239
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_239

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, 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 Louise Sandher-Jones: Between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, a total of 360,823 working days were lost to sickness absence across the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) civilian workforce, an average of 6.65 days per employee.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA)’s data is collected separately. For the RFA in this period, a total of 18,338.5 24-hour days were lost to sickness absence, an average of 11 days per employee.

MOD civil servant sickness absence statistics are published by the Cabinet Office on an annual basis at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_240
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_240

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of using Mount Pleasant Airfield as a forward mounting base for increased activity in Antarctica. \p Al Carns: The Ministry of Defence undertakes regular assessments of its future requirements for its basing in the South Atlantic. The Department is supporting the FCDO to publish a UK Antarctic strategy by the end of this year, which will set the Government’s aims and ambitions for Antarctica for the next five years.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_241
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_241

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his interview with the BBC on 15 August 2025 regarding a potential post-ceasefire UK military presence in Ukraine, which UK forces would be deployed to the region; and which are ready to act from day one. \p Al Carns: As a matter of longstanding policy we do not publicly comment on the readiness levels of His Majesty's Armed Forces. This is to safeguard operational security, and that of our Service people.

Planning continues to progress at pace through the UK-French led Coalition of the Willing, including at the Defence Minister and Leader-level meetings last week.

The UK will continue stepping up to support Ukraine and work with our allies to secure a just and lasting peace.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_242
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_242

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many cyber attacks there have been on the UK in the last 12 months. \p Al Carns: As the hon. Member's question asks about cyber attacks across the UK the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is the appropriate authority with the remit for Cyber defence of the wider nation, and a response best coordinated through the Cabinet Office. The NCSC public sites expand on their mission: What we do at the NCSC - NCSC.GOV.UK

The Ministry of Defence cannot offer a view outside of our purview, and we will only report cyber events involving our systems, the details around that will be treated with varying levels of sensitivity to protect our overall security posture.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_243
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_243

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Oral Statement of 1 September on Ukraine, Official Report columns 93-94, when he expects to publish his review into armed forces readiness levels. \p Al Carns: As a matter of longstanding policy we do not publicly comment on the readiness levels of His Majesty's Armed Forces. This is to safeguard operational security, and that of our Service people.

Planning continues at pace within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing, including at the Defence Minister and Leader-level meetings last week, to ensure the UK and Ukraine's partners are ready to deploy quickly post cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_244
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_244

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Oral Statement of 1 September on Ukraine, Official Report, columns 93-94, what his timeline is for the review into armed forces readiness levels. \p Al Carns: As a matter of longstanding policy we do not publicly comment on the readiness levels of His Majesty's Armed Forces. This is to safeguard operational security, and that of our Service people.

Planning continues at pace within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing, including at the Defence Minister and Leader-level meetings last week, to ensure the UK and Ukraine's partners are ready to deploy quickly post cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_245
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_245

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 62175, when his Department plans to hold the next Ajax-specific event at Bovington to which journalists will be invited. \p Luke Pollard: There are currently no Ajax specific events due to be held at Bovington to which journalists will be invited.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_246
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_246

Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the withdrawal of government funding for Global Citizenship Education in England on the provision of Global Citizenship Education programmes. \p Georgia Gould: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The Scottish Government is responsible for schools and teaching in Scotland, including any decisions about Global Citizenship Education programmes.

In England the national curriculum for citizenship education covers democracy, justice and human rights; media and financial literacy; and how citizens can influence decisions.

The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, which seeks to deliver a rich, broad, inclusive and innovative curriculum that equips young people with the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to thrive in life and work. The Review will publish its final report in autumn 2025.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_247
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_247

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure schools have sufficient funding to retain experienced teachers alongside recruiting new staff. \p Georgia Gould: This government recognises the importance of retaining experienced teachers. We have demonstrated our commitment to supporting schools by increasing school funding by £3.7 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, meaning the core school budget will total £65.3 billion compared to £61.6 billion in 2024/25.

In the 2025 spending review, the department has announced that funding for schools will further increase by £4.2 billion per year by 2028/29, compared to 2025/26. This additional funding will provide an above real terms per pupil increase in the core schools budget.

The increase for 2025/26 includes additional funding to support schools with overall costs, including the costs of the 4% schools teacher pay award and the local government services pay award in respect of support staff in 2025/26.

​This follows government agreeing a 5.5% pay award for academic year 2024/25. Taken together, this means teachers and leaders will see an increase in their pay of almost 10% over two years.

For 2024/25 and 2025/26, the department is also offering retention payments worth up to £6,000 after tax for mathematics, physics, chemistry and computing teachers in the first five years of their careers who choose to work in disadvantaged schools.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_248
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_248

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of revising how the high needs national funding formula is calculated. \p Georgia Gould: The department’s aim is to establish a fair education funding system that directs resources to where they are most needed and enable improved support and outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The department is therefore considering the funding required for future years and how it is to be allocated, following the conclusion of the recent spending review. Our objective is that future funding for SEND supports our plans for reforming the SEND system to boost children’s outcomes, which will be set out in further detail in a White Paper this autumn.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_249
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_249

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to introduce targeted retention incentives for experienced teachers in addition to those offered to early-career teachers. \p Georgia Gould: Supporting our expert teachers is critical to the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and boost the life chances for every child, as the within-school factor that makes the biggest difference to a young person’s educational outcomes is high-quality teaching. Combined with the previous year’s 5.5% award, this year’s above-inflation pay award will mean schoolteachers have seen an increase in their pay of almost 10% over two years.

The financial incentives the department offers are targeted where there is most need to recruit and retain teachers. School workforce data shows that teachers are most likely to leave within the first five years of their career. Targeted Retention Incentives are currently offered to mathematics, physics, chemistry and computing teachers in the first five years of their careers who choose to work in disadvantaged schools as it is vital that we retain new teachers in these priority subjects and in the schools that need them most.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_250
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_250

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential (a) merits of virtual teachers in allowing pupils to (i) rewatch and (ii) relisten to lessons and (b) impact of those teachers on pupils with lower achievement rates. \p Georgia Gould: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

Oak National Academy, an arm’s length body of the department, aims to support teachers to improve curriculum delivery, reduce workload and support improved pupil outcomes. Oak works with teachers across the country, giving them and their pupils access to high-quality digital curriculum resources across key stages 1 to 4. These digital curriculum resources, including recorded lessons, are free, adaptable and can be accessed at any time.

We do not prescribe the number of teaching hours for each subject, or the format of lessons. This, and the use of recorded lessons online, is left to the discretion of schools on what works best for their pupils.

The department continues to invest in building the evidence base and providing strategic guidance to support safe and effective adoption of digital tools, while respecting school autonomy with regard to its implementation.

The national curriculum provides a broad framework, giving schools and teachers the flexibility to organise the content and delivery of the curriculum to meet the needs of their pupils and local contexts, which may include recording additional lessons.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_251
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_251

Tom Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Best Start Family Hubs on child safeguarding. \p Josh MacAlister: ​​Ensuring every child has the best start in life, the chance to achieve and to thrive, are the foundation stones of the government’s Opportunity Mission.

​Best Start Family Hubs will provide support for families that need it. They will improve the join up of vital services in an area and making it easier for children and families to access a range of help at the right time, irrespective of their needs. This includes the roll out of Family Help, which is showing positive early impact. We will continue to monitor outcomes for children through our published children in need statistics.

​The Families First for Children Pathfinder has also tested radical reforms in local areas, across family help, child protection, family networks and safeguarding partners.

​The pathfinder draws on evidence and existing good practice, including from the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme and the ten participating areas are reporting positive early impacts.

​The department commissioned Ecorys and consortium to carry out process, impact and value-for-money evaluation of the Family Hubs transformation, home learning environment and parenting support programme elements of the Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme which is ongoing. Findings should be available in early 2026.

​Monitoring and evaluation will be a crucial component of the new Best Start Family Hubs. Planning is ongoing but we expect to include continue robust monitoring and evaluation, particularly looking at impact including on the impact on children from different backgrounds.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_252
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_252

Tom Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what role local authorities will have in the (a) delivery and (b) day-to-day operation of Best Start Family Hubs. \p Josh MacAlister: ​​Ensuring every child has the best start in life, the chance to achieve and to thrive, are the foundation stones of the government’s Opportunity Mission.

​The government is investing over £500 million to create a network of up to 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs across every local authority in England by 2028. Best Start Family Hubs builds on previous investment into Family Hubs and Start for Life services between 2022 and 2026 for 88 local authorities.

​Local authorities will deliver joined up and enhanced services through family hubs so that all parents and carers can access the support they need, when they need it. Local authorities will receive a programme guide with minimum delivery expectations and will be expected to develop clear plans to establish and enhance family hubs in their area. Their role will include identifying family hub sites, commissioning services within family hubs and the recruitment of staff to deliver services. Services will vary depending on local needs, though examples are: 'stay and play' sessions for child and families, parenting advice and courses, support for children‘s language and emotional development, health services, and support for parents in creating a positive home learning environment.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_253
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_253

Tom Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that new Best Start Family Hubs embed a strong local parental voice in their governance. \p Josh MacAlister: ​Ensuring every child has the best start in life, the chance to achieve and to thrive, are the foundation stones of the government’s Opportunity Mission.

Best Start Family Hubs will involve parents in hub design and delivery, working with parents through panels. We are investing in targeted community outreach activities, including accessing existing networks via the voluntary and community sector and local data to reach underserved groups, including fathers, minority ethnic communities, and young parents.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_254
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_254

Tom Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that new Best Start Family Hubs can access high quality data collected by the NHS. \p Josh MacAlister: Ensuring every child has the best start in life and the chance to achieve and to thrive are the foundation stones of the government’s Opportunity Mission.

Local authorities have their own data sharing agreement with the NHS. These are crucial for enabling population health management and integrated care services to better inform and co-ordinate care for babies, children and families.

We encourage Best Start Family Hubs to harness the power of networks to drive progress on joining up professionals, services and providers though co-location, integration, partnerships, data sharing, shared outcomes and governance.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_255
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_255

Tom Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Best Start Family Hubs on levels of father’s parenting skills. \p Josh MacAlister: ​​Ensuring every child has the best start in life, the chance to achieve and to thrive, are the foundation stones of the government’s Opportunity Mission.

Best Start Family Hubs are backed by £500 million government investment and we have committed to rolling out hubs in all local authorities by 2028. They are expected to actively engage and support fathers through inclusive parenting support, peer networks and outreach. They must ensure services are accessible to dads, and others who are less likely to engage. Programme guidance sets specific expectations around the inclusion of dads in parenting and home learning environment programmes, infant feeding and perinatal mental health activities. Local authorities are encouraged to provide tailored groups for fathers and co-parents, both in person and virtually, to strengthen their involvement in early parenting and child development.

​Many local authorities have established a strong offer for dads as part of their Family Hub models. We intend to maintain this focus on dads, and other seldom heard groups, in the new Best Start Family Hub programme.
wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_256
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-10 conversation_256

Tom Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of awareness of the Sure Start brand on take up of services by Sure Start Children's Centres. \p Josh MacAlister: The Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents 2024, published in July 2025, includes the latest data on the awareness and take up of family hubs and children’s centres. The data is available under section 5: Home Learning environment, family hubs and children’s centres (tables 6.13 to 6.16), which is accessible at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/childcare-and-early-years-survey-of-parents/2024.