theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to support the introduction of safe standing to professional football grounds. \p Stephanie Peacock: ‘Safe standing’ has been a licensing option for all professional football grounds currently subject to the all-seater policy since July 2022.
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Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support fan ownership in sports. \p Stephanie Peacock: Fan ownership can be a model of success for many sporting clubs and organisations, as can other models incorporating appropriate fan engagement.

The Government is committed to supporting investment into sports clubs and organisations, whether that is fan ownership, private ownership or some combination of the two.

Many fan owned clubs and organisations are operated by co-operative or community benefit societies). Charitable community benefit societies do not have to pay certain taxes as they have to meet certain requirements about how they operate as a society. These are tax measures aimed to support societies to support their local communities, including fan owned or community owned sports clubs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Natasha Irons:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of youth services on (a) preventing exclusions, (b) increasing school attendance and (c) educational attainment. \p Stephanie Peacock: This Government fully recognises the importance of youth services to live safe and healthy lives, and the positive impact youth services can have on young people, including in educational settings.

That is why we are co-producing a new National Youth Strategy. The Strategy will better coordinate youth services and policy at a local, regional and national level, moving away from siloed working - ensuring we are better coordinated and more than the sum of our parts.

We have commissioned an evidence review alongside our engagement with young people and the youth sector, to inform the development of the National Youth Strategy. An interim report will be published this Spring.

We know that youth services will help deliver the government’s missions, and the National Youth Strategy will work alongside the work on development of Young Future hubs, the Curriculum and Assessment Review and further work across government to fulfill our commitment to improve young people’s lives.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how she plans to support listed places of worship with repairs and renovation after the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme ends. \p Sir Chris Bryant: Future Government spending is a matter for the 2025 Spending Review.
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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which listed places of worship have received grants under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme in Truro and Falmouth constituency. \p Sir Chris Bryant: Reliable data from before 2022 is not available, but since August 2022, 16 listed places of worship have received awards to a total value of £126,888.95 through the grant scheme in the Truro and Falmouth constituency.

These were Truro Cathedral receiving £72,954.73; Portscatho United Church receiving £10,851.15; St John the Evangelist Church receiving £6,800.77; St Moran Church receiving £5,916.02; St Ladock Church, Ladock receiving £5,000.00; St Mawes Church receiving £4,166.00; The Parish Church of St Probus and St Grace receiving £4,492.00; St Just in Roseland Church receiving £3,739.70; Kenwyn Parish Church receiving £3,508.00; St Budock Church receiving £1,804.81; King Charles the Martyr Church receiving £1,744.10; St Symphorian Church receiving £1,847.00; St Gerrans receiving £1,656.53; All Saints Parish Church, Falmouth receiving £1,400.00; All Hallows Church Of St Kea receiving £662.03; and Penryn Methodist Church receiving £354.11.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Solicitor General, whether their Department plans to amend its policies on access to (a) toilets, (b) changing facilities and (c) other single-sex spaces in (i) Departmental buildings and (ii) other buildings within their Department’s remit following the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025. \p Lucy Rigby: The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Providers should note and follow the ruling.

It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling.

The Equality & Human Rights Commission, as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers. Ministers will consider the EHRC’s updated draft once they have submitted it following further work in light of this ruling.

The Government is considering the implications of the Court’s judgment, including what this means for Government buildings.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Preet Kaur Gill:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of Sikhs who have liver disease according to the NHS. \p Ashley Dalton: The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities publishes mortality data and National Health Service hospital admission rates related to liver disease in England, in public health profiles. There is no data available for the number of Sikhs who have liver disease specifically.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of polluted rivers on public health. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department is currently undertaking work to assess the human health impacts associated with recreational activities in inland waterways such as rivers.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to include provisions for radiotherapy cancer treatment in the upcoming National Cancer Plan. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government has announced that the National Cancer Plan (NCP) will be published this year, following publication of the 10-Year Health Plan. We are now in discussions about what form it should take, including how we will ensure that cancer patients across England have access to the latest treatments and technology.

It is a priority for the Government to improve cancer outcomes, optimise cancer treatments and technologies, and reduce waiting times. The Department is committed to supporting the National Health Service to diagnose cancer as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes for all patients across England.

To ensure the most advanced radiotherapy treatment is available to patients, the Department recently invested £70 million in 28 new radiotherapy machines. We are committed to improving waiting times for cancer treatment across England and aim to ensure that no one is waiting longer than they should for lifesaving treatment. As a first step to achieving this, we will deliver an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week, helping to ensure earlier diagnoses and faster treatment for those who need it most, providing better outcomes for cancer patients.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to encourage (a) trainee and (b) newly qualified healthcare professionals to specialise in blood cancer. \p Ashley Dalton: We will publish a refreshed Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again.

We will ensure the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it, including for blood cancer.

NHS England is working to strengthen pathways into cancer specialties, including blood cancer, by expanding training opportunities and creating structured career routes. This includes increasing medical training posts in haematology, with an expansion of 20 posts in 2024, and enhancing the scientific workforce supply through initiatives such as the Scientist Training Programme and Higher Specialist Scientist Training.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Peter Dowd:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the National Institute for Health and Care Research on expediting the publication of its research brief to inform the UK National Screening Committee’s in-service evaluation of newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy. \p Ashley Dalton: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is aware of the plans being developed for the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s research call and the in-service evaluation. However, its roll out and timeline will not be confirmed until after the conclusion of the 2025 Spending Review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce reliance on locum consultants in blood cancer teams at district general hospitals. \p Ashley Dalton: The planning guidance states that trusts should reduce their agency spend by 30% this year, and reduce bank spend by 10%. It also sets our ambition to eliminate agency use in the coming years.

NHS England is investing in expanding specialty training posts in high-demand cancer disciplines, including haematology, and is supporting local systems to retain and develop multidisciplinary teams. This includes workforce modelling, to identify gaps, and rolling out an appropriate workforce skill mix through scientific workforce pathways.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the retention of blood cancer clinical expertise following the merger of NHS England with his Department. \p Ashley Dalton: Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new executive team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead the formation of a new joint centre. As we work to bring the two organisations together, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds.

We continue to work collaboratively across both organisations to put in place plans to ensure continuity of services and patient safety, including for retaining blood cancer clinical expertise.

We will publish a refreshed Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again.

We will ensure the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it, including for blood cancer.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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David Mundell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that antenatal screening for syphilis is (a) effective and (b) accessible to pregnant women. \p Ashley Dalton: Syphilis screening is offered to all pregnant women in early pregnancy. The proportion of women taking up the test, known as coverage, has remained high in England for a number of years. The acceptable threshold is 95%, and the achievable threshold is 99%. Coverage has been above the achievable threshold in England since the screening year from 2016 to 2017.

This shows that pregnant women are being offered screening for syphilis as part of the NHS Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy Screening (IDPS) programme, are accepting the test, and are receiving their screening result. The blood test used for the IDPS programme is generally well-accepted by pregnant women, as seen by the high coverage rates.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that people with diabetes have access to free blood glucose kits. \p Ashley Dalton: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the planning and commissioning of diabetes care. If an individual patient is eligible or deemed suitable for flash, specifically Freestyle Libre, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) or hybrid closed loop (HCL) systems, then a decision is required by the patient’s routine care provider in consultation with their patient.

NHS England can confirm over 200,000 eligible people living with diabetes benefit from real-time CGM. However, they are currently unable to differentiate real-time CGM uptake by type 1 and type 2 diabetes populations.

Following National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations on access to HCL technology last year, the NICE and NHS England agreed on a phased implementation period for HCL over five-years for people with type 1 diabetes. Therefore, people with type 1 diabetes will be transitioning from CGM to HCL during this five year period.

We are developing new reporting systems which are designed to support ICBs to monitor delivery. CGM data for diabetics is now collected as part of the National Diabetes Audit, which suggests that the number of people with type 2 diabetes using CGM is increasing. Metrics that are useful for health systems to monitor access to glucose monitoring will be published later this year.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the National Cancer Plan will include measures to ensure people diagnosed with blood cancer have access to a Clinical Nurse Specialist (a) after diagnosis and (b) during treatment. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department is committed to developing a skilled blood cancer workforce, including nurses and doctors, so that patients receive care from the right professionals, at the right time, and in the right place. A refreshed Workforce Plan will be published later this year to ensure the National Health Service has the necessary staff and expertise to deliver high-quality care, from diagnosis through to treatment.

To ensure that people diagnosed with blood cancer have access to a Clinical Nurse Specialist, NHS England has committed to all patients, including those with blood cancer, having access to the right expertise and support, including a Clinical Nurse Specialist or other support worker. This is being delivered in line with the NHS Comprehensive Model for Personalised Care, empowering people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer and maximise the potential of digital and community-based support.

Beyond the Workforce Plan, NHS England is currently working to strengthen pathways into cancer specialties by expanding training opportunities and creating structured career routes. This includes increasing medical training posts in haematology by 20 in 2024 and enhancing the scientific workforce supply through initiatives such as the Scientist Training Programme and Higher Specialist Scientist Training.
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David Mundell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the transmission of syphilis (a) among high-risk groups and (b) in general. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published a sexually transmitted infection (STI) prioritisation framework in 2024 to inform local prioritisation decisions for the control of STIs, including syphilis. The UKHSA’s STI Prioritisation Framework is available at the following link:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sti-prioritisation-framework

The UKHSA also previously published a Syphilis Action Plan, which is focused on actions to control and prevent syphilis, which include:

The wider population of heterosexual men and women should be offered a full sexual health screen when clinically appropriate, and especially when attending sexual health services. The UKHSA’s Syphilis Action Plan in available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/syphilis-public-health-england-action-plan
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Ben Coleman:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Care Quality Commission on reducing the waiting time for the re-inspection of healthcare providers rated as requiring improvement. \p Ashley Dalton: Departmental officials meet fortnightly with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to discuss measures CQC have put in place to address among other issues, delays in the production of inspection reports and initial inspection and reinspection.

As part of this process, the CQC provides fortnightly updates to senior Departmental officials on the work it is doing to improve and ensure it has robust systems in place to support the changes it is making to deliver its assessment activity of the providers it regulates. This increased reporting to, and oversight from, the Department also allows the level of risk across the CQC’s delivery to be monitored at a senior level.

Delays to the CQC’s inspection activities are partially due to failures of its IT systems. The CQC has accepted recommendations of the independent review into the CQC’s technology which was published in March 2025 and is available at the following link:

https://www.cqc.org.uk/news/independent-review-cqc-technology-published

The CQC is currently working to review options for alternative methods of inspection report publication while work is carried out to make necessary changes to its IT systems.

The introduction of a ‘hybrid’ approach which launched on 2 December 2024 aims to streamline the existing process by discontinuing scoring at the evidence category level and instead reporting at the quality statement level. This change is intended to improve efficiency for CQC staff. In addition, efforts are underway to address the backlog of ‘stuck’ assessments within the system. As of 24 April 2025, the current number of ‘stuck’ assessments is 52, a reduction of 448.

Work continues to further lower this number and to strengthen the monitoring and management of assessment delays.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2025 to Question 45856 on Blood: Donors, how many and what proportion of the donors deferred due to the donor’s recent travel to other countries were of (a) African, (b) Caribbean, (c) mixed white and African heritage and (d) mixed white and Caribbean heritage. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS Blood and Transplant is responsible for blood donation in England. The following table shows the number and proportion of deferrals due to the donor’s recent travel to other countries for those of African, Caribbean, mixed white and African, and mixed white and Caribbean heritage, from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the most recent data available:

Ethnicity

Number of deferrals due to donor’s recent travel to other countries

Proportion of total deferrals due to donor’s recent travel to other countries

Black- African

651

10.56%

Black- Caribbean

88

1.43%

Mixed white and black African

31

0.50%

Mixed white and black Caribbean

17

0.28%
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2025 to Question 45856 on Blood: Donors, how many and what proportion of the donors deferred due to low haemoglobin levels were of (a) African, (b) Caribbean, (c) mixed white and African heritage and (d) mixed white and Caribbean heritage in the last 12 months. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS Blood and Transplant is responsible for blood donation in England. The following table shows the number and proportion of deferrals due to low haemoglobin levels by those of African, Caribbean, mixed white and African, and mixed white and Caribbean heritage, from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the latest data available:

Ethnicity

Number of deferrals due to low haemoglobin levels

Proportion of total deferrals due to low haemoglobin levels

Black- African

4023

2.37%

Black- Caribbean

2426

1.43%

Mixed white and black African

492

0.29%

Mixed white and black Caribbean

1314

0.78%
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of allowing Chinese researchers access to medical records held by UK Biobank on national security. \p Ashley Dalton: The public’s data must be used lawfully, with respect, held securely and with the right safeguards, encompassing legislative requirements, security standards and toolkits and advice from independent advisory bodies.

Participants who consent to share their data with UK Biobank are informed that information and samples from UK Biobank participants will be available only to researchers who have relevant scientific and ethics approval for their planned research. This could include researchers who are working in other countries.

The National Health Service provides data to Biobank in line with patients’ direct wishes and to support this lifesaving and life changing research. UK Biobank has contractual agreements with NHS England that UK Biobank can only use the data provided by NHS England in line with the consent patients have provided and in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation. NHS England carries out audits and other assurance reviews of organisations it has contracts with, including of international data access processes and compliance with legislation.

Beyond this, through the delivery of the UK Biological Security Strategy, the Government is committed to ensuring the United Kingdom is resilient to a spectrum of biological threats and a world leader in innovation by 2030. As part of the strategy, the Government is undertaking a programme of work to mitigate the potential risks associated with biological data, to protect our burgeoning bioeconomy and build domestic confidence in sharing personal data to improve health outcomes.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 44517 on Domestic Waste: Birmingham, when he expects the risk assessment on the potential public health impacts of uncollected waste in Birmingham to be published. \p Ashley Dalton: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton on 25 April 2025 to Question 45661.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to include people impacted by low-grade brain tumours which follow the cancer pathways, care and treatment, but are not technically cancer in the National Cancer Plan. \p Ashley Dalton: The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for all cancer patients, including those with brain tumours.

Although low-grade brain tumours are generally non-cancerous, they can have similar, serious symptoms and require surgery or radiotherapy to treat. The Government has invested in new lifesaving and life-improving research, supporting those diagnosed and living with brain tumours.

The plan will include further details on how we will speed up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately bringing this country’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.
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Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will conduct an audit of health infrastructure classified as critically important to national interests to identify whether they contain Chinese-made components. \p Ashley Dalton: The United Kingdom will not compromise on economic security and will continue to prioritise national security and resilience. We will continue to cooperate with China on trade and investment, recognising that there will also be areas where we need to challenge non-market policies and protect sensitive sectors of the economy. We will continue to support UK business to engage with the second largest economy in the world, while being clear-eyed to any risks, and ensuring security and resilience. The national technical authorities, namely the National Protective Security Authority and the National Cyber Security Centre, provide advice to critical national infrastructure, including in the health sector, on best practice for security and resilience. The Department does not comment on specific policy matters related to its critical national infrastructure.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with (a) NHS England and (b) the National Institute for Health and Care Research on the role of women's hubs in supporting the (i) diagnosis, (ii) care and (iii) treatment of endometriosis. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care for gynaecological conditions including endometriosis.

Women’s health hubs bring together healthcare professionals and existing services to provide integrated women’s health services in the community, centred on meeting women’s needs across the life course. Women’s health hubs have a key role in shifting care out of hospitals and reducing gynaecology waiting lists. The assessment and treatment of menstrual problems is a core service for women’s health hubs. This includes care for heavy, painful or irregular menstrual bleeding, and for conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. 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 existing women’s health hubs to improve local delivery of services to women.

The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). There are two active research projects which are exploring the role of women’s health hubs in England. The first project is led by the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Reproductive Health and focuses on identifying the mechanisms for commissioning women’s health services in England, how approaches vary and what works, including women’s health hubs commissioning. The second project is led by the NIHR Policy Innovation and Evaluation Policy Research Unit and is an examination of women’s experience and access to health services for reproductive health care.
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Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason graduates of UK medical schools are being given placeholder positions with four to eight weeks’ notice to move to new roles. \p Karin Smyth: Some United Kingdom foundation programme applicants, including some final year UK medical students, have been assigned a placeholder in their allocated foundation school while their foundation posts can be confirmed. The process of confirming posts can take some time, as it is necessary to ensure that all placements are of adequate educational quality and meet the curriculum requirements for foundation training. All eligible applicants who are allocated to a foundation school are guaranteed a place on the programme.

NHS England has committed to communicating with the applicants in placeholders, and foundation schools have also been in regular contact with them. Each foundation school has provided specific communications relating to their processes, and have hosted a series of webinars or, where possible, spoken to each of the applicants individually. National webinars for affected applicants are also taking place in April and May.
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Gareth Snell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of health misinformation due to levels of media literacy on public health decision-making. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department has not made a specific assessment of the impact of health misinformation on public health decision making, but recognises the importance of accurate health information being available to the public and of preventing misinformation.

The Department regularly rebuts factual inaccuracies when they appear in traditional media and undertakes extensive planning, engagement, and strategic work to ensure accurate public health information is available on social media channels to mitigate misinformation. In addition, the Department strives to ensure that all of the information it publishes is accurate, clear, and accessible to a variety of audiences, including using easy read versions.
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Rachel Gilmour:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase levels of funding for research into essential tremors. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR is supporting research that involves essential tremors and has awarded £2,814,334 for related studies in the last five years. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of health and care, including essential tremors, and research topic proposals can be made to the NIHR via the following link:

https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topic

Funding applications to the NIHR are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of health misinformation on public health decision making. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department has not made a specific assessment of the impact of health misinformation on public health decision making, but recognises the importance of accurate health information being available to the public and of preventing misinformation.

The Department regularly rebuts factual inaccuracies when they appear in traditional media and undertakes extensive planning, engagement, and strategic work to ensure accurate public health information is available on social media channels to mitigate misinformation. In addition, the Department strives to ensure that all of the information it publishes is accurate, clear, and accessible to a variety of audiences, including using easy read versions.
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Chris Coghlan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) establishing an NHS information campaign to raise awareness of prostate cancer referral routes for GPs and (b) issuing specific guidance to GPs on informing patients about the (i) NICE and (ii) PCRMP referral routes. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government takes the management of the risk of prostate cancer seriously. Too many men are waiting too long for diagnosis and treatment, and this must change. We have asked the UK National Screening Committee to look at the evidence for screening for prostate cancer and we will await their findings before making an evidence-based decision.

A public awareness campaign at this stage would not be appropriate. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidance relates to symptomatic patients, while the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme is guidance for general practitioners (GPs) on how to counsel non-symptomatic men about the risks associated with using the current best test for prostate cancer, because of its lack of accuracy. Before we direct asymptomatic individuals to GPs, we need a better test, and that is why the Government has invested £16 million into the TRANSFORM trial, which is looking for more effective ways of accurately detecting prostate cancer.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of implementing a rolling replacement programme for out-of-date radiotherapy machines. \p Ashley Dalton: There are currently no plans to have a rolling replacement programme for out-of-date radiotherapy machines. Responsibility for funding replacement machines lies with local systems.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to funding announced in the Autumn Budget 2024, how many hospital trusts were given funding for (a) new radiotherapy machines and (b) replacing out-of-date radiotherapy machines. \p Ashley Dalton: 28 trusts submitted applications for funding, and each trust has been awarded funding to replace one machine. For further information, I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Wells and Mendip Hills on 7 April 2025 to Question 41043.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Kirith Entwistle:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support Greater Manchester ICB to increase the speed of access to diagnostic tests for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. \p Ashley Dalton: Data on the number of people waiting to receive a spirometry test for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board (ICB) is not held centrally.

The Government is committed to putting patients first, including in Greater Manchester. This means making sure that patients, including those waiting to receive a spirometry test or other diagnostic tests for COPD, are seen on time, and ensuring that people have the best possible experience during their care.

The Government is supporting the Greater Manchester ICB to increase the speed of diagnostic tests for COPD, for instance through community diagnostic centres (CDCs). There are seven CDCs across the Greater Manchester ICB, of which four are either a standard or large model CDC. All standard and large CDCs are required to offer respiratory tests such as spirometry, and full lung function tests.

The Greater Manchester ICB is also exploring and testing innovative case finding tools for patients with COPD and asthma as part of a Greater Manchester toolkit for respiratory care, including developing remote spirometry as a proof of concept. The Greater Manchester ICB has also trained approximately 300 staff to provide quality assured spirometry to patients, and is currently working towards getting staff accredited to Association for Respiratory Technology and Physiology standards.

In January 2025, we published the Elective Reform Plan. The plan sets out the productivity and reform efforts needed to return to the 18-week constitutional standard by the end of this Parliament. The Elective Reform Plan commits to transform and expand diagnostic services and speed up waiting times for tests, a crucial part of reducing overall waiting times and returning to the Referral to Treatment 18-week standard.

This includes expanding existing CDCs, as well as building up to five new ones in 2025/26, to support the NHS to return to meeting the elective waiting time constitutional standard. The plan also commits to CDCs opening 12 hours per day, seven days a week, delivering more same-day tests and consultations, and to an expanded range of tests.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Mrs Sharon Hodgson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made on the number of patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer at an advanced stage. \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.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Mrs Sharon Hodgson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the removal of the target to increase the percentage of cancers diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 from the NHS Priorities and Operational Planning Guidance on women with ovarian cancer. \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.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Mrs Sharon Hodgson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of misdiagnosis of women’s health symptoms on levels of diagnosis of ovarian cancer in (a) all women and (b) women under the age of 50. \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.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with relevant stakeholders to discuss the potential risks to public health posed by uncollected rubbish in Birmingham. \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.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether their Department plans to amend its policies on access to (a) toilets, (b) changing facilities and (c) other single-sex spaces in (i) Departmental buildings and (ii) other buildings within their Department’s remit following the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025. \p Justin Madders: The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Providers should note and follow the ruling.

It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling.

The Equality & Human Rights Commission, as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers. Ministers will consider the EHRC’s updated draft once they have submitted it following further work in light of this ruling.

The Government is considering the implications of the Court’s judgment, including what this means for Government buildings.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what criteria his Department is using to identify the most critical (a) subsectors and (b) technologies within the eight priority sectors outlined in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy. \p Sarah Jones: There is no single 'best' way to identify the most critical subsectors and technologies, so the Government has used a range of quantitative and qualitative evidence and judgement. We have considered metrics which relate to the Industrial Strategy's objectives of delivering sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth and boosting business investment, such as wages, productivity, and the UK's international position to identify our current and emerging strengths. We have combined this with engagement with experts and stakeholders, including the Industrial Strategy Green Paper consultation, and multiple data sources. Further detail will be provided in the upcoming White Paper.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans his Department has to incentivise employer investment in workforce training and upskilling as part of the Invest 2035 strategy. \p Sarah Jones: The Industrial Strategy Green Paper is clear that the people that create and work in businesses will be central to the success of the growth-driving sectors and clusters. The government is developing proposals to ensure that the current and future skills system supports employers to invest in and develop a skilled workforce, and has already taken steps to support this, including establishing Skills England and reforming the existing apprenticeship offer into a Growth and Skills levy-funded offer which will provide greater flexibility for both employers and learners. We will set out further detail in the forthcoming Industrial Strategy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to align the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy with economic strategies developed by devolved Administrations. \p Sarah Jones: The Industrial Strategy will unleash the full potential of our cities and regions by attracting investment and creating the best environment for businesses in them to thrive  My officials are working with the devolved governments on how we can drive growth across the UK within the context of our Industrial Strategy. This includes regular ministerial engagement through the Interministerial Group for Business & Industry. This partnership will help make the Industrial Strategy a UK-wide effort and support the sectoral strengths and growth-driving clusters in all four nations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the budget will be of the Fair Work Agency; and what the budget is of the (a) Gangmaster and Labour Abuse Authority, (b) Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate and (c) Director of Labour Market Enforcement. \p Justin Madders: Establishing the Fair Work Agency will create a strong, recognisable single brand so individuals know where to go for help and lead to a more effective use of resources.

We are working closely with partners to ensure that the Fair Work Agency will support employers, workers, and unions to get Britain moving forward.

We are committed to ensuring that the Fair Work Agency is established on a sound finacial footing and operates effectively in fulfilling its mandate. Detailed annual budgets for the proposed Fair Work Agency are currently under development and will be communicated in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-01)

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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he had discussions with Cabinet colleagues prior to the decision not to contest a compensation payment to the band Kneecap following their exclusion from the Music Export Growth Scheme. \p Gareth Thomas: There were no discussions with Cabinet colleagues prior to the decision by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade not to contest the claim brought by Kneecap for review of the decision not to award them a grant under the Music Export Growth Scheme.