theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_219
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_219

Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many applicants for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support fund were unsuccessful in each year since 2015. \p Janet Daby: The table below shows the number of rejected applications for the adoption and special guardianship support fund by financial year:

Financial Year

Rejected Applications

2015/16

11

2016/17

93

2017/18

48

2018/19

24

2019/20

0

2020/21

0

2021/22

0

2022/23

0

2023/24

1

2024/25

0

The reduction in rejected applications is largely the result of improved systems, and of close working between local authorities, Regional Adoption Agencies and the department’s delivery partner to address queries and support re-work of applications. This means that, although some applications are withdrawn for a range of reasons, few are ultimately rejected.
wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_220
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_220

Michael Wheeler:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve links between grassroots sports clubs and schools, in the context of efforts to (a) improve physical education and (b) support participation in sport. \p Catherine McKinnell: The government-funded School Games Organisers (SGOs) play a vital role in ensuring all children have access to local and inclusive sport and physical activity. With over 450 SGOs nationwide, they support schools in providing physical activity both during and outside school hours, while fostering connections with clubs and community initiatives. These organisers also facilitate professional development for school staff, enhancing the quality of physical education lessons and extracurricular activities.

An ongoing review of the SGO network is currently assessing the impact and value for money of various school sport models. This review will also explore and evaluate different delivery models for a future school sport network.
wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_221
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_221

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve access to independent special schools for children with complex needs in regions where maintained provision is (a) limited and (b) oversubscribed. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department recognises the vital role that special schools play in providing high-quality education and meeting the needs of children and young people. Independent special schools play their part in this, particularly in meeting low incidence needs. However, independent special schools typically have higher costs than their maintained equivalent, and we need to ensure that placements are used appropriately. Where a local authority has commissioned a place in an independent school, the local authority is responsible for all the funding for supporting that child or young person with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The department wants more children and young people to receive the support they need to thrive in their local mainstream school, reducing the need for pupils to travel a long way to access a specialist placement. Many mainstream settings are already committed to delivering specialist provision locally, including through resourced provision and special educational needs units.

The department has now published allocations for £740 million in high needs provision capital allocations for the 2025/26 financial year to support local authorities to deliver new places in mainstream and state-maintained special schools, reducing reliance on the independent sector to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND.
wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_222
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_222

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of regional disparities in the time taken for education, health and care plan assessments; and what steps she is taking to ensure local authorities meet the statutory deadline. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department wants to ensure that, where required, education, health and care (EHC) plan assessments are progressed promptly and, if needed, plans are issued as quickly as possible so that children and young people can access the support they need.

Local authorities have a statutory responsibility to assess whether children and young people have special educational needs that require an EHC plan. Plans must be issued within twenty weeks of the needs assessment commencing so that children and young people can access the support they need.

The department knows that local authorities across different regions have seen an increase in the number of assessment requests and that more needs to be done to ensure that local areas deliver effective and timely services. This includes better communication with schools and families.

The department continues to monitor and work closely with local authorities that have issues with EHC plan timeliness. Where there are concerns about a local authority’s capacity to make the required improvements, we help them to identify the barriers and put in place an effective recovery plan. This includes, where needed, securing the support of a specialist special educational needs and disabilities adviser to help identify the barriers to EHC plan process timeliness and put in place practical plans for recovery.
wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_223
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_223

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is available to schools in Devon with class sizes over 35 pupils. \p Catherine McKinnell: In Devon, the average infant class size is 24.9 pupils and the average primary class size is 25.5 pupils. These are both less than the national average of 26.6. The average secondary class size is 22.6 pupils, which is similar to the national average of 22.4.

Legislation limits the size of an infant class to 30 pupils per schoolteacher, with limited prescribed exceptions, including for looked after children and those from multiple births. In Devon, the average infant class size is well within the statutory limit and below the national average.

There is no statutory limit on the size of classes for older children (pupils aged 8 and over), and it is up to schools to decide how to organise classes based on local needs and circumstances, ensuring they are consistent with raising attainment and helping pupils to achieve and thrive.

Local authorities have responsibility to ensure there are sufficient school places in their area. The department provides capital funding through the Basic Need grant to support local authorities to provide additional school places where they are needed.
wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_224
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_224

Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessments she had made of the potential merits of screening for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in primary schools in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) England. \p Catherine McKinnell: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. The SEND code of practice is clear that meeting the needs of a child with special educational needs does not require a diagnostic label or test. Instead, the department expects schools to monitor the progress of pupils and put support in place where needed.

In 2024, the department brought together a group of leading neurodiversity experts to make recommendations to its Ministers on the best ways to support and meet the needs of neurodivergent children and young people in mainstream education settings. The group includes the chair of the independent ADHD Taskforce, convened by NHS England, to ensure join up and support across the health and education systems.

The Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme is a national programme, backed by £13 million of investment.

PINS deploys specialists from health and education workforces to build teacher and staff capacity to identify and better meet the needs of neurodivergent children, in mainstream primary schools. In the 2024/25 financial year, PINS has been delivered to over 1650, around 10%, of all mainstream primary schools, including 38 schools within the Somerset local authority.
wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_225
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_225

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will ensure that the Adjournment restaurant reopens in the mornings. \p Nick Smith: This service was available as a temporary measure whilst the Despatch Box coffee bar was refurbished in October 2024.

There are no plans to reopen the Adjournment restaurant in the mornings. The Commission is working to reduce the cost of the catering operation. Opening the Adjournment in the morning is unlikely to be cost effective now the extended Despatch Box is available.
wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_226
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_226

Cat Eccles:To ask the Leader of the House, when she plans to provide parliamentary time for the House to debate the Pathways to Work Green Paper. \p Lucy Powell: The House has had a number of opportunities to discuss the Pathways to Work Green Paper, including:

I am committed to providing time in the Chamber to the Backbench Business Committee and I would encourage the Hon. Member to apply for a debate through the Committee if they so wish. In addition, Members will have the opportunity to debate reform of the health and disability benefits system when measures are brought forward in due course.
wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_227
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_227

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Leader of the House, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing electronic voting for divisions in the House of Commons. \p Lucy Powell: This is a matter for the House to consider. The Hon. Member may wish to note that the Procedure Committee is currently undertaking an inquiry into electronic voting. The Government recently submitted written evidence to that inquiry (available at: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/8885/electronic-voting/publications/written-evidence/) and he may wish to respond directly to the Committee's call for evidence.
wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_228
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_228

Lincoln Jopp:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Prime Minister will fly the Middlesex flag from 10 Downing Street to celebrate Middlesex Day on 16 May 2025. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 9 May 2025, Official Report, PQ 48177
wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_229
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_229

Adam Thompson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that wrongdoing within public services is (a) identified and (b) sanctioned in the context of the infected blood inquiry. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The actions of Civil Servants and Ministers which were uncovered within the Infected Blood Inquiry’s final report are extremely concerning and do not reflect the values we expect those who serve the public to uphold. The Prime Minister has committed to legislation on a Duty of Candour being delivered by this Government. The duty will apply to public authorities and public servants and will include criminal sanctions. Whether individuals are prosecuted as a result of the Inquiry’s findings is rightly a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service and is independent of Government. Last year I wrote to the National Police Chiefs’ Council to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to make any and all relevant information around the Infected Blood Inquiry available to the prosecuting authorities where requested.
wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_230
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_230

Alex Brewer:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress he has made on reducing the time taken to provide full compensation to people affected by the infected blood scandal; and what steps he is taking to ensure compensation is provided to victims before they die. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The delivery of compensation is a matter for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA). Whilst the roll out of the scheme is an operational decision for IBCA as an independent body, I fully support their commitment to moving forward as swiftly as possible and as the Minister, I stand ready to help and assist in any way I can to speed up the payments.

IBCA has paid over £96 million in compensation. In April, IBCA wrote to all those who are living with infection and registered with a support scheme and asked those who have less than 12 months to live to come forward. IBCA is now prioritising claims for those who are living with infection and registered with a support scheme and nearing the end of their lives. Going forward, IBCA has outlined that it is aiming to contact an average of 100 people to begin their claim every week. At that rate, they expect to have brought in to claim all those who are infected and registered with a support scheme this calendar year. The Government expects IBCA to begin payments to people who are affected by the end of this year.
wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_231
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_231

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the two unused Ministerial residences in Admiralty House are now paying the empty homes council tax premium to Westminster City Council in 2025-26. \p Georgia Gould: The residential accommodation within Admiralty House does not attract Westminster Council’s Empty Property Premium. The property, including the residential flats, are managed and maintained by the Government Property Agency (GPA). The GPA ensures that all rates due (business and domestic) in relation to the property are paid.
wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_232
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-16 conversation_232

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what official internal communications (a) his Department, (b) the Civil Service's diversity networks, (c) the Civil Service People Group and (d) the Office for Equality and Opportunity have sent civil servants in the Cabinet Office in relation to the Supreme Court ruling of [2025] UKSC 16, 16 April 2025 since that judgement was published. \p Georgia Gould: The Cabinet Office issued an intranet update on 30 April 2025 confirming a review of relevant policies, guidance and workplace facilities to ensure legal compliance.

No communications have been issued by the Government People Group. Any messaging issued by volunteer diversity networks to their members are not official Civil Service communications
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_1

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it is his Department's policy that babies in the third trimester that have been removed from their mother after her death should not be (a) recognised and (b) recorded as stillborn. \p Karin Smyth: The definition of a stillborn child in England and Wales is contained in the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 section 41, and was amended by the Stillbirth (Definition) Act 1992 section 1(1). This act defines a stillbirth as ‘a child which has issued forth from its mother after the 24th week of pregnancy and which did not at any time breathe or show any other signs of life’.

It is expected that babies are recognised and recorded as stillborn in accordance with this definition.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_2

Peter Prinsley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will hold discussions with NHS England on the potential merits of making 70 extra higher anaesthetic training places available every year. \p Karin Smyth: We are committed to training the staff we need, including anaesthetists and all other medical specialities, to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. We have launched the 10-Year Health Plan which will set out a bold agenda to reform and repair the National Health Service. Ensuring we have the right people, in the right places, with the right skills will be central to this vision. NHS England has invested in 70 additional training posts in anaesthesia in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Further expansion will be determined by the upcoming Spending Review and the planned refresh of the Long Term Workforce Plan.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_3

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2025 to Question 23857 on NHS Business Services Authority: Workplace Pensions, what steps he is taking to (a) rectify the issue and (b) provide support to impacted individuals. \p Karin Smyth: The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) is proactively rectifying the 2023/24 pension savings calculation errors by providing regular updates and support to impacted members. They will be issuing an up to date 2023/24 pension saving statement to all members who need one, and they are working on this as a matter of urgency. The NHS Pension Service is also reviewing and updating quality assurance processes with the involvement of key stakeholders.

The NHSBSA is sharing guidance from HM Revenue and Customs with members to support the completion of Self-Assessment Tax Returns, to the relevant deadlines, and to show how to rectify returns and avoid penalties.

The NHSBSA has confirmed that they are able to reimburse impacted individuals for the additional costs they may incur as a result of the calculation error. They are also developing a process to allow affected scheme members to fast track a request for reimbursement, provided they keep evidence of charges.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_4

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2025 to Question 23855 on General Practitioners: Hospitals, if he will publish data on the variation in the use of Advice and Guidance. \p Karin Smyth: Data on the variation in Advice and Guidance by integrated care board (ICB) and provider is published monthly by NHS England and is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/outpatient-transformation/specialist-advice/

Data by ICB and provider is available for the total number of requests made by general practitioners, by the number of requests that have been responded to in secondary care, known as processed requests, and by the number of processed requests that have been returned to the sender with advice for management in general practice, known as diverted requests.

The proposals in the Elective Reform Plan to significantly increase Advice and Guidance were in recognition of the significant variation that exists in use, and the benefit we know it can have on patients to receive more timely care in the right place. We will be closely monitoring progress throughout 2025/26.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_5

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many times he has met with the leadership of the NHS Business Service Authority since 4 July 2024. \p Karin Smyth: The Minister of State for Health met with the leadership of the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) on 9 December 2024, and regular meetings are now being scheduled.

As a Special Health Authority and Arm’s-Length Body of the Department, there are quarterly accountability reviews between NHSBSA leadership and Department officials. Department officials also attend the NHSBSA’s Audit and Risk Committee and Board meetings, and there is less formal engagement in the form of regular one-to-ones with senior managers.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_6

Chris Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress has been made by the (a) Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and (b) the Commission on Human Medicines to (i) understand the (A) current and (B) historic risks of sodium valproate when taken during pregnancy, and (ii) in communicating these risks to (1) healthcare professionals and (2) patients. \p Karin Smyth: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), taking advice from the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM), has worked to raise awareness among healthcare professionals and patients of the risks of valproate when taken during pregnancy through several updates to the valproate Summary of Product Characteristics, for healthcare professionals, and the Patient Information Leaflets, as well as updates to associated educational materials as required.

The magnitude and type of risks associated with valproate use in pregnancy have been communicated in articles in the MHRA bulletin, Drug Safety Update, and via letters cascaded out through the NHS Central Alerting System. These communications have been supported by messages from the relevant professional bodies and regulatory requirements reinforced through changes to clinical guidelines and improved alerts on general practitioner prescribing systems.

The valproate Pregnancy Prevention Programme, implemented in 2018, is supported by educational materials for healthcare professionals and patients which describe the neurodevelopmental disorders and major congenital malformations associated with the use of valproate in pregnancy, and are available electronically and sent in hard copy format to healthcare professionals.

In January 2024, the MHRA communicated, in an article in a Drug Safety Update, the latest advice from the CHM, that valproate must not be started in new patients, male or female, younger than 55 years old unless two specialists independently consider and document that there is no other effective or tolerated treatment, or if there are compelling reasons that the reproductive risks do not apply. It was advised that women and girls of childbearing potential who are already receiving valproate should have their treatment reviewed by two specialists at their next annual review. The requirement for two specialists to review these patients is a one off, and subsequent annual reviews required under the Pregnancy Prevention Programme are undertaken by a single specialist.

Updated educational materials were made available to healthcare professionals and patients electronically, and sent to healthcare professionals in hard copy format, that could be provided to patients and which could support the discussions between healthcare professionals and patients.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_7

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the proportion of UK medical graduates in NHS speciality training places. \p Karin Smyth: Working with NHS England we continue to keep the selection process for all applicants to medical speciality training under review.

We are committed to ensuring that the number of medical specialty training places meets the demands of the National Health Service in the future. NHS England will work with stakeholders to ensure that any growth is sustainable and focused in the service areas where the need is greatest.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_8

Fabian Hamilton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to engage with UNISON to resolve disputes on the NHS pay structure. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to resetting relationships with the National Health Service workforce and its trade unions, and health ministers have met UNISON officials to discuss their concerns. The Government has been clear that it remains committed to providing a funded mandate to the NHS Staff Council to negotiate changes to the Agenda for Change pay structure.

The Department intends to deliver this mandate in 2025/26, and we have asked the NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB) to provide a view on the level of funding that should be provided. Once we receive the NHSPRB’s report and the funding has been confirmed, the Department will work closely with the NHS Staff Council, including UNISON, to agree the changes to the pay structure.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_9

Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to reduce waiting times at women's health hubs. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to encouraging integrated care boards (ICBs) to further expand the coverage of women’s health hubs and to support ICBs to use the learning from the women’s health hub pilots to improve local delivery of services to women.

Women’s health hubs have a key role in shifting care out of hospitals and reducing gynaecology waiting lists. As of December 2024, 39 out of 42 ICBs reported that they had a women’s health hub. Reporting from ICBs to NHS England shows that the pilot funding has been used to open or expand a total of 88 hubs. ICBs are responsible for commissioning services that meet the health care needs of their local population, including women's health hubs.

Data on waiting times for women’s health hubs is not collected centrally.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_10

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to ensure that NHS trusts have access to similar AI technologies by having approved models in line with the provision of medical equipment. \p Karin Smyth: The Department is working to accelerate the safe, ethical, and effective use of artificial intelligence (AI) across the whole healthcare system. The Department has already provided £113 million, through the NHS AI Health and Care Awards, to 86 AI technologies, which have been used in 40% of National Health Service acute trusts in England, and hundreds of Primary Care Networks across the United Kingdom. This funding has helped to generate the evidence needed to deploy effective AI tools across the NHS.

The NHS operates within a comprehensive regulatory framework for AI, underpinned by rigorous standards established by bodies including the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the Health Research Authority, and the Care Quality Commission. These agencies ensure that any AI technologies that are made available to the NHS are safe, effective, and ethical to use.

Additionally, the NICE, sponsored by the Department, conducts Early Value Assessments (EVA) which evaluate new health technologies for NHS use, considering clinical effectiveness and value for money. EVAs aim to give the NHS recommendations and highlight the accessibility of AI technologies, including which innovations work, offer good value for money, and meet system need.

For trusts procuring technology there is a standardised procurement route available through specialised procurement frameworks. These frameworks offer NHS trusts access to a list of suppliers who have met a set of standards to be invited to join the framework.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_11

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to allocate funding for (a) secure data environments for data validation and (b) other infrastructure required for AI implementation in the NHS. \p Karin Smyth: Secure access to data to accelerate research and development is an important lever in delivering the Government’s health and growth missions. Access to National Health Service data across England has been supported by investments in digital infrastructure between 2022 and 2025 by the Data for Research and Development programme’s implementation of Secure Data Environment (SDEs) at a national and regional level. The programme’s investment into SDEs supports the full spectrum of data-driven research, including artificial intelligence (AI) development. The budget for the programme for 2025/6 is currently being finalised alongside other priority NHS transformation programmes. Funding plans beyond 2026 will be agreed as part of the Spending Review.

Improved digital and data infrastructure, such as Electronic Patient Records, are essential foundations for digital transformation, such as AI. The NHS has one of the largest and most comprehensive longitudinal patient datasets in the world, making it an attractive location for the development and testing of AI. The centralisation of the healthcare system streamlines data accessibility, integration, and standardisation, all of which benefit the development and deployment of AI. Part of our work will be to create the right environment for the United Kingdom to safely deploy AI at scale, and to attract AI researchers and companies that both develop for, and sell to, UK health and care.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_12

Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to tackle health inequalities affecting women. \p Karin Smyth: We have committed to develop a 10-year plan to deliver a National Health Service fit for the future. We will carefully be considering policies, including those that impact women’s health, as we develop the plan.

We want to ensure that the 10-Year Health Plan reflects the diversity of the people who use the NHS every day, and it is important that everyone can have their say as we develop it. The Department has held ministerial roundtables on women’s health as well as maternity and neonatal care, attended by service users, senior clinicians, and a range of charity partners.

We are committed to the Women’s Health Strategy and are continuing work to deliver it. For example, the strategy had an ambition to improve workplace support for menopause, and through the Employment Rights Bill we are making this a reality, by requiring large employers to publish gender equality action plans, including how they are supporting employees through the menopause. Women’s health hubs provide integrated women’s health services in the community, and have a key role tackling health inequalities faced by women. As of December 2024, 39 out of 42 integrated care boards (ICBs) reported to NHS England that they had at least one operational women’s health hub. We continue to engage with and encourage ICBs to use the learning from the women’s health hubs pilots to improve local delivery of services to women.

We are also working with NHS England on how to take forward the Women’s Health Strategy, by aligning it to the Government’s Missions and 10-Year Health Plan.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_13

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will conduct a review into the performance of the NHS Business Services Authority. \p Karin Smyth: The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) underwent an independent review in 2023 as part of the Cabinet Office led Public Body Review programme, and was assessed as ‘a high performing Arm’s-Length Body’. The review is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-business-services-authority-review-report/independent-review-of-the-nhs-business-services-authority-final-report-and-recommendations

As a Special Health Authority and Arm’s-Length Body of the Department, performance is reviewed regularly by Departmental policy teams who sponsor individual services, and a quarterly accountability meeting is held to assess the NHSBSA’s performance across all its services.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_14

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much was spent on (a) translation and (b) interpretation by (i) NHS Trusts, (ii) James Paget University Hospitals Trust and (iii) the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust in 2024. \p Karin Smyth: The information requested on spend on translation and interpretation services by National Health Service trusts is not held centrally, as data is held at integrated care board level.

Across 2024, the Telephone Appointments Line team used third party translation services for 425 calls, or 0.04% of all answered calls. We are unable to provide a specific cost for this as it is delivered as part of the overall service specification for the provider. 101,431 letters, or 9.03% of all letters, were sent in a language other than English. There was no net cost for this as the translation had been paid for in previous years and the patients would have been sent a letter in English in the absence of a translated letter. The following table shows the total number of calls in a language other than English, what that language was, and the percentage it represents of all calls:

Total

Percentage of total calls using language support in specified language

Albanian

3

0.71%

Amharic

1

0.24%

Arabic

69

16.24%

Bengali

34

8.00%

Bulgarian

9

2.12%

Cantonese

5

1.18%

Czech

2

0.47%

Dari

3

0.71%

Farsi

20

4.71%

French

3

0.71%

Gujarati

2

0.47%

Greek

2

0.47%

Hungarian

6

1.41%

Hindi

8

1.88%

Italian

4

0.94%

Kurmanji

1

0.24%

Lithuanian

2

0.47%

Mandarin

5

1.18%

Pashto

10

2.35%

Polish

20

4.71%

Portuguese

15

3.53%

Punjabi

21

4.94%

Portuguese Br.

1

0.24%

Romanian

60

14.12%

Russian

5

1.18%

Somali

5

1.18%

Sorani

26

6.12%

Slovak

5

1.18%

Spanish

11

2.59%

Sylheti

9

2.12%

Tigrigna

2

0.47%

Turkish

21

4.94%

Ukrainian

7

1.65%

Urdu

28

6.59%

Total

425

Total calls

105,4942

0.04% of total calls used language support

In addition, the following table shows the total number of letters in a language other than English, what that language was, and the percentage it represents of all letters:

Total

Percentage of total letters sent in specified language

Albanian

1,700

1.68%

Arabian

7,189

7.09%

Bengali

9,069

8.94%

Chinese

652

0.64%

French

1,917

1.89%

Greek

935

0.92%

Gujarati

3,207

3.16%

Hindi

1,943

1.92%

Hungarian

979

0.97%

Italian

1,961

1.93%

Kurdish

2,218

2.19%

Lithuanian

1,347

1.33%

Persian

2,380

2.35%

Polish

8,413

8.29%

Portuguese

3,538

3.49%

Punjabi

5,760

5.68%

Romanian

5,427

5.35%

Russian

1,779

1.75%

Slovak

1,680

1.66%

Somali

2,787

2.75%

Spanish

3,481

3.43%

Tamil

2,543

2.51%

Turkish

3,944

3.89%

Urdu

14,876

14.67%

Wolof

26

0.03%

Other languages

11,680

11.52%

Total translated

101,431

Total letters

1,123,829

9.03% of total letters sent were translated

Source: NHS England
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_15

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether public health monies under section 7A of the National Health Service Act 2006 will be ringfenced in 2025. \p Karin Smyth: Currently, there is no ring-fence funding for public health functions delegated by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to NHS England, known as section 7A services. Funding for section 7A services is allocated as part of NHS England’s Mandate funding total.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_16

Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will review the medicines and treatment appraisal system to assess its readiness for evaluating cell and gene-based blood cancer treatments. \p Karin Smyth: The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing authoritative, evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of resources.

The NICE has evaluated and been able to recommend a number of CAR-T therapies, a type of cell therapy for the treatment of blood cancers, that are now available to NHS patients.

The NICE is responsible for the methods and processes it uses to develop its recommendations and concluded a comprehensive review of the methods and processes it uses for health technology evaluation in January 2022. The NICE carried out the review through extensive engagement with stakeholders, including Department officials. The NICE introduced a number of changes that make its methods fairer, faster, and more consistent, and appropriate to the evaluation of emerging new technologies, such as cell and gene therapies.

The NICE is monitoring the impact of the changes following the methods review and has committed to considering modular updates to its methods and processes in the future.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_17

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many posts there are in the NHS Muslim Network; what the job titles are of those posts; and what their cost to the public purse was in the last financial year. \p Karin Smyth: The NHS Muslim Network is a voluntary staff network, so there are no paid roles. National Health Service staff networks can be an important mechanism of staff support, and help to shape organisational culture within the NHS, to create a fair and inclusive work environment.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_18

Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the NICE process on the wider societal cost of dementia when appraising new dementia treatments. \p Karin Smyth: The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) develops its guidance independently and based on an assessment of the available evidence. In developing its recommendations, NICE considers all health-related costs and benefits for patients and caregivers, in line with its established methods and processes. NICE does not consider wider societal costs and benefits.

Any changes to NICE methods to broaden its cost-benefit analysis and incorporate wider societal costs would be both methodologically and ethically challenging. Such changes could have unintended consequences, potentially leading to fewer treatments being recommended for populations that are older, economically inactive, or have greater care needs.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_19

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will have discussions with (a) NHS England and (b) integrated care boards on the adequacy of NICE guidelines on the management of cerebral palsy in people under 25 years old with no cognitive impairment. \p Karin Smyth: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guidelines are developed by experts based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and through extensive public and stakeholder engagement. They represent best practice and should be taken fully into account by healthcare professionals in the care and treatment of their patients.

NICE is responsible for making decisions on updates to its guidelines and keeps its guidelines under surveillance to ensure that they reflect developments in the evidence base. NICE is not due to update its guideline on the assessment and management of cerebral palsy in people under 25 years old at the current time. If relevant new evidence emerges, NICE will follow its processes and consider whether any update is needed to the current guideline.

To support those people under 25 years old who are diagnosed with cerebral palsy, NHS England has worked with key stakeholder organisations, including children and young people, and their families and carers, to develop a framework targeted to integrated care systems to be used a supportive tool to aid the commissioning of high-quality services for children and young people with cerebral palsy, including those in the transition period to adult services.

NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme aims to improve care for people with neurological conditions in England, including those with cerebral palsy, by reducing variation and delivering care more equitably across the country.  The GIRFT National Speciality Report provided the opportunity to share successful initiatives between trusts to improve patient services nationally.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_20

Peter Prinsley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the number of people waiting for medical training between foundation level and speciality training. \p Karin Smyth: We continue to work with NHS England to keep the selection process for all applicants to medical speciality training under review.

We are committed to ensuring that the number of medical specialty training places meets the demands of the National Health Service in the future. NHS England will work with stakeholders to ensure that any growth is sustainable and focused in the service areas where need is greatest.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_21

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of levels of workforce requirements needed for AI adoption and innovation in (a) radiology and (b) clinical oncology. \p Karin Smyth: As part of the 10-Year Health Plan, we are reviewing how the National Health Service should focus its resources to ensure it maximises the impact of data and technology. This includes how we can make life easier and more productive for those who work in the NHS, and how we can use data more effectively to plan, manage, and deliver services. Artificial intelligence (AI) will play an important role in achieving this long-term ambition by building and delivering AI capabilities which will allow clinicians to focus more on direct patient care, and will allow staff to spend more time on high value, high impact tasks.

The Government recognises that a cancer-specific approach is needed to meet the challenges in cancer care, and to improve outcomes for people living with cancer. Following publication of the 10-Year Health Plan, we will publish a new National Cancer Plan, which will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients.

The Department, with NHS England, has convened an expert group to identify advanced technology that can be used most effectively in the NHS, building on the findings of the Topol Review. Alongside this work, the Department and NHS England will continue to work with professions to embrace technological innovations, such as AI.
wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_22

Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to ensure that the NHS has the (a) ability and (b) resource to roll out (i) CAR-T therapies and (ii) other Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products for blood cancer. \p Karin Smyth: The National Health Service in England is required to fund medicines and treatments recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a clinically and cost-effective use of NHS resources. NHS England has undertaken considerable activity to support NICE-recommended CAR-T therapies which are currently commissioned and those that may be available in the future.

There are 3 CAR-T products currently available for four types of blood cancer which have treated over 1,500 people to date: these products were made available via the Cancer Drugs Fund which provides early access to promising new cancer medicines. Two additional CAR-T products are currently being evaluated by NICE.

NHS England uses horizon scanning to see what is coming and has a dedicated team to support the adoption of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) that are recommended by NICE into the NHS. The team works with a variety of internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely patient access to ATMPs that are on the NICE technology appraisal and highly specialised technology workplan. NHS England regularly engages with clinicians who provide CAR-T therapy in order to ensure that there is sufficient capacity within the service to deliver this.