theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport of the potential merits of amending legislation on Orchestra Tax Relief (a) to include voice as an eligible acoustic instrument and (b) to extend eligibility to (i) professional and (ii) amateur choirs consisting of 12 or more performers. \p James Murray: The Government supports the creative industries, including orchestras, through funding and through the tax system. Orchestra Tax Relief (OTR) provides tax relief on productions costs and provided £33 million of support in 2022-23.

To qualify for OTR, a concert must be performed by a group of at least 12 instrumentalists. The voice is not considered to be an instrument. However, orchestra concerts with a vocal element are eligible for the relief providing that the orchestra also contains at least 12 instrumentalists, not including the voice, and the instrumentalists are the primary focus. These rules help ensure OTR fulfils its objective of supporting and incentivising orchestra concerts specifically.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Carla Denyer:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 28901 on Taxation: International Cooperation, what recent discussions she has had with international counterparts on a UN framework convention on global taxation. \p James Murray: The UK is committed to strengthening international tax cooperation, and works closely with our international partners from all regions, both bilaterally and multilaterally through international organisations.

The UK believes that a UN Framework Convention has the potential to advance international tax cooperation, but it will only be successful if it seeks to build upon rather than reinvent existing initiatives, and seeks to secure the broad support and participation of members.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Luke Myer:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to allow people to (a) pay additional Class 3A voluntary National Insurance contributions to increase State Pension entitlement beyond the last six years of working lives and (b) make back-payments to 1975. \p James Murray: The rules for Class 3 voluntary National Insurance Contributions allow individuals to fill gaps in their National Insurance record for the past 6 tax years. There are no plans to change these rules.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Lee Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) calls and (b) online submissions have been made to HMRC fraud hotline in relation to (i) illegal tobacco and (ii) illegal alcohol in each of the last five years. \p James Murray: The tables below show the number of contacts received by HMRC Fraud Reporting Gateway in relation to Alcohol and Tobacco:

Alcohol:

Year

Online Submission

Telephone Submission

Total

24/25

31,728

7,857

39,585

23/24

27,443

9,045

36,488

22/23

30,688

8,184

38,872

21/22

21,107

10,674

31,781

20/21

27,296

8,152

35,448

Tobacco:

Year

Online Submission

Telephone Submission

Total

24/25

7,605

2,094

9,699

23/24

5,416

1,873

7,289

22/23

5,625

2,060

7,685

21/22

1,558

2,424

3,982

20/21

1,988

1,535

3,523
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the document entitled HM Treasury: Ministers’ Hospitality - January 2025, published on 27 February 2025, whether the she discussed the foreign influence registration scheme in relation to China with (a) the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and (b) HBSC on 11 and 12 January 2025. \p James Murray: The Chancellor did not discuss the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme with HSBC or the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade during the lunch and dinner referred to in the HM Treasury: Ministers’ Hospitality - January 2025, published on 27 February 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) gifts and (b) hospitality she has (i) accepted and (ii) reimbursed the donor for since 4 July 2024. \p James Murray: The Cabinet Office publish a monthly register of Ministers’ gifts and hospitality. These returns, including the Chancellor’s, can be found on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/register-of-ministers-gifts-and-hospitality
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the publication HM Treasury: Ministers' Hospitality February 2025, published on 25 April 2025, if she will list the Global Counsel representatives she met on 19 February 2025. \p Emma Reynolds: The Cabinet Office publish a monthly register of the hospitality that Ministers have received, which can be found on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/register-of-ministers-gifts-and-hospitality

It should be noted, however, that the Cabinet Office state in their guidance that the names of individuals should only be reported where the individuals are representing their own interests, with the exception of Senior Media Figures.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to meet commitments to contribute to the global target of $30 billion a year in international financial resources for biodiversity by 2030 under the Global Biodiversity Framework. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government is committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Global Biodiversity Framework, working to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The Government recognises the importance of the collective global target of mobilising at least $30 billion per year in international financial resources for biodiversity, part of the broader commitment to mobilise $200 billion per year from all sources of finance by 2030.

The Government continues to support developing countries on climate and nature action through the UK’s International Climate Finance. We will set out our spending plans for future years following the completion of the Spending Review and departmental resource allocation processes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Jonathan Davies:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a (a) minimum and (b) standardised level of service for banking providers at banking hubs. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government continues to work closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament and it is important that services in banking hubs meet the needs of customers.

Banking hubs already offer everyday counter services provided by Post Office staff, allowing people and businesses to withdraw and deposit cash, deposit cheques, pay bills and make balance enquiries. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out wider banking services.

The Government has been working closely with industry and significant progress has been made in enhancing baseline service standards, ensuring customers can access services without the need to bring their own devices and addressing service gaps.

Banking hubs are also currently piloting the use of printers, and some are experimenting with Saturday opening hours to better meet the demand for face-to-face banking services. The Government continues to work closely with industry to enhance service standards in banking hubs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Afzal Khan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has held recent discussions with (a) financial institutions, (b) remittance service providers and (c) other relevant stakeholders on taking steps to reform remittances. \p Emma Reynolds: The government recognises that improved cross-border payment services, including remittances, would have widespread benefits for citizens and economies worldwide. The government works with UK and international partners, including under the G20 Roadmap for Enhancing Cross-Border Payments, to seek to deliver faster, cheaper, more transparent and more inclusive cross-border payments and remittances.

Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-giftsand-overseas-travel
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Dan Aldridge:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people with diabetes are not impacted by the shortage of Ozempic. \p Karin Smyth: The Department has worked intensively with pharmaceutical industry, NHS England, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and others in the supply chain to largely resolve the supply issues with GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), including Ozempic (semaglutide). Currently all strengths and presentations of Ozempic are available. We continue to monitor the supply of GLP-1 RA’s closely to ensure these medicines remain available for patients. Any patient concerned about their condition, or access to these medications, should speak to their prescriber in the first instance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of apprenticeship starts in his Department. \p Karin Smyth: We remain committed to supporting the use of apprenticeships across all Government departments, to break down barriers to opportunity. This includes supporting the Government's commitment to 2,000 digital apprenticeships through its TechTrack scheme by 2030, to improve digital skills and drive improvements and efficiency in public services.

Additionally, a new cross-Government Level 3 apprenticeship programme in Business Administration, via the Civil Service Career Launch Apprenticeship, will see new apprentices kickstart their careers across various departments, starting from January 2026.

In addition, in the Department we are committed to increasing the number of apprenticeship starts by working closely with our professions, promoting insight sessions, and sharing testimonials from current apprentices to highlight how apprenticeships support staff development. This promotes the value of apprenticeships, and how they support personal development and capability, to encourage uptake across the Department.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the increase in National Insurance Contributions on the (a) financial viability and (b) capacity of the third sector in the health sector. \p Karin Smyth: The Government recognises the vital work carried out by voluntary organisations, including in the heath sector, and is committed to supporting small businesses and charities. That is why the Employment Allowance has been more than doubled to £10,500. As a result, over half of the businesses with National Insurance contribution (NIC) liabilities will either benefit or see no increase in their contributions. In addition, eligible businesses and charities will continue to be able to claim reliefs on employer NICs, including those for employees under 21 years old and apprentices under 25 years old. Integrated care boards have developed plans to commission services in 2025/26 from providers, both National Health Service and third sector, to best meet the needs of their local populations, in response to national planning guidance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of (a) clinical oncologists, (b) therapeutic radiographers, (c) medical physicists and (d) engineers as part of the NHS 10 year plan. \p Karin Smyth: A central part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce and those who support our workforce, and how we 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.

Getting the NHS back to working for patients means ending the workforce crisis across the health service. We intend to take a fresh look at the Long Term Workforce Plan, to ensure it fully aligns with the level of ambition and reforms required following the 10-Year Health Plan. Decisions about recruitment are matters for individual NHS trusts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Carla Lockhart:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland Ltd (Appellant) v The Scottish Ministers (Respondent) [2025] UKSC 16. \p Karin Smyth: Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by the Government. The recent Supreme Court ruling in the For Women Scotland case has provided much needed confidence and clarity for the National Health Service and adult social care providers to adapt their policies to ensure that same-sex spaces are always protected. This includes NHS England’s review of the Delivering same-sex accommodation guidance, as well as providers’ policies on same-sex spaces for staff.

This is the law, and we expect all public service bodies to comply.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Paula Barker:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 7 May 2024 to Question 24352 on Dietetics: Prescriptions, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the findings of the report by the University of Surrey entitled Innovation in the Allied Health Professions: Evaluation of supplementary prescribing by dietitians and independent prescribing by therapeutic radiographers, published in December 2024, on the (a) safety and (b) efficacy of dietitians prescribing; and whether he plans to extend independent prescribing rights to dietitians. \p Karin Smyth: The Department remains committed to exploring the extension of medicines responsibilities for non-medical professionals. This will support the aim that patients are cared for, and treated by, the most appropriate healthcare professional to meet their needs, where it is safe and appropriate to do so. Many regulated healthcare professionals have already received extended medicines responsibilities and prescribing rights, and the Department is committed to assessing the impact that these changes have had on patient care.

Regarding the extension of prescribing rights to dietitians, there is a process in place for making changes to prescribing responsibilities to ensure proposals are safe and beneficial for patients. Officials are carefully considering proposals relating to a range of healthcare professionals, including dietitians, as part of wider work concerning non-medical prescribing. This will include consideration of literature relevant to the profession being assessed.
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Sammy Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to make Omaveloxolone available through the NHS. \p Karin Smyth: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new, licensed medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of NHS resources.

The NICE is unable to make a recommendation about the use of omaveloxolone for treating Friedreich's ataxia in people aged 16 years old and over, in the NHS. This is because the company, Biogen, withdrew its evidence submission. The NICE will review its decision if the company decides to make a new submission. Further information is available at the following link:

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ta11431

NHS England does not fund medicines where the company has not engaged with the NICE. This is to avoid a potential pathway for circumventing the NICE’s appraisal process.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve diagnosis time for young people with cancer in Lincolnshire. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department is committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so that more patients survive this horrible set of diseases, including children and young people. To achieve this, the NHS has delivered an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week as the first step to ensuring early diagnosis and faster treatment.

On 4 February 2025, the Department relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce to identify tangible ways to improve outcomes and experiences for children and young people with cancer. The taskforce is exploring opportunities for improvement across genomic testing and treatment, research and innovation, patient experience, and early detection and diagnosis.

The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on improving outcomes for cancer patients, including for children and young people with cancer, and will highlight how the Department will support the NHS to improve diagnosis rates for people in all parts of England, including Lincolnshire.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help improve support for people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in Yeovil constituency. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS England is responsible for allocating funding to integrated care boards (ICBs), including the Somerset ICB which covers the Yeovil constituency, and ICBs are in turn responsible for commissioning specialist myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), services to meet the needs of their population, subject to local prioritisation and funding.

The process of commissioning services should take into account best practice guidance such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guidance on ME/CFS diagnosis and management, published in October 2021. The NICE’s guidelines provide recommendations on the principles of care for people with severe ME/CFS, including hospital care, and adapting a multidisciplinary approach involving access to a range of health and social care professionals based on needs.

At a national level, we aim to publish the ME/CFS final delivery plan by the end of June 2025. The plan will focus on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of the people with this debilitating disease. The responses to the interim delivery plan consultation, along with continued close engagement with the Government, the National Health Service, and external stakeholders, will inform the development of the final ME/CFS delivery plan.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Tessa Munt:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which hospitals received funding for machines capable of increasing treatment with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department does not hold this information. However, a proportion of the machines will be capable of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of dementia research funding. \p Ashley Dalton: Government responsibility for delivering dementia research is shared between the Department of Health and Social Care, with research delivered via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation.

Government funders are investing in dementia research across all areas, from causes, diagnosis, and prevention, to treatment, care, and support, including for carers. Between the financial years 2019/20 and 2023/24, the Government spent £496.4 million on dementia research.

Whilst no recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of dementia research funding, the NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including dementia. These applications are subject to peer reviews 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. Welcoming applications on dementia to all NIHR programmes enables maximum flexibility both in terms of the amount of research funding a particular area can be awarded, and the type of research which can be funded.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the outcome of the UK National Screening Committee Group B Streptococcus trials completed in 2024. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK National Screening Committee does not run its own trials. The committee is currently awaiting the findings of an independent trial into Group B Streptococcus, which concluded its recruitment phase in 2024. Neither the committee nor my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care have any influence over the date of publication for this independent trial.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48852 on Diabetes, whether he has had discussions with universities on how studies into the causes of (a) diabetes 2 and (b) other related health conditions are funded. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which works in partnership with universities, the National Health Service, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public. The NIHR welcomes applications for funding in all topic areas, including diabetes. Funding opportunities are openly published on the NIHR website, which is available at the following link:

https://www.nihr.ac.uk/

Universities and other stakeholders can propose research topics to the NIHR through its website, specifically at the following link:

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

Each application is peer reviewed, and awards are 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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Rosie Duffield:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of including wombs on the list of routine organ donations included for transplant by the NHS on women's health. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for organ donation across the United Kingdom.

In the UK, womb donation for transplant is not included in the standard organ donation process and is therefore not part of routine deemed consent. Donations for new types of transplants are only undertaken following a special and/or additional voluntary request to a family. It is also usually done for specific research programmes where people die in very rare circumstances and where a particular kind of donation may be possible.

The Department has worked in collaboration with National Health Service hospitals like Imperial College Healthcare Trust and Oxford University Hospitals in facilitating womb transplant research and clinical trials, however, it is not yet a standard NHS treatment and there are no current plans to include womb transplants on the organ donation register.
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Marsha De Cordova:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of medical equipment shortages on (a) hospital discharges and (b) patients in community care settings. \p Karin Smyth: At the 2024 Autumn Budget, the Government announced a £22.6 billion increase in day-to-day health spending and a £3.1 billion increase in the capital budget over the financial years 2024/2025 and 2025/2026. Departmental budgets beyond 2025/26 will be set through phase two of the Spending Review, which will conclude and be published in June 2025.

Local authorities and National Health Service procuring authorities are responsible for discussing and agreeing contracts with community equipment suppliers, which will take into account the resources available to them. Timely provision of community equipment supports people to remain as independent as possible for as long as possible, and contributes significantly to the priorities of the Department, the NHS, and local authorities in terms of hospital avoidance and discharge.
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Tulip Siddiq:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of abolishing NHS England on the NHS’s statutory duty to safeguarding. \p Karin Smyth: It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts. Evidence from these ongoing assessments will inform our programme as appropriate.

NHS England will continue to carry out its statutory duties until Parliamentary time allows for legislation to be brought forward to amend the Department’s responsibilities.

We will ensure our decisions are guided by evidence, and above all, focused on improving outcomes for people.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 44000 on NHS England, what criteria his Department is using to assess and understand the potential impact of the abolition of NHS England on healthcare delivery. \p Karin Smyth: It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, as is due process. Evidence from these ongoing assessments will inform our programme as appropriate, and will ensure our decisions focus on improving patient care.

When appropriate, we will update Parliament on progress with the plans for the organisational changes.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce assaults on (a) doctors and (b) nurses in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Karin Smyth: Everyone working in the National Health Service has a fundamental right to be safe at work. There is a zero-tolerance approach to any incidents of violence against NHS staff.

Individual employers are responsible for the health and safety of their staff, and they put in place measures, including security, training, and emotional support for staff affected by violence. To support them, NHS England is working on initiatives to prevent and reduce violence and aggression from patients, their families, and the public.

On 9 April 2025, the Government announced that the Social Partnership Forum’s recommendations on tackling and reducing violence, part of the 2023 Agenda for Change pay deal, have been accepted. These include significant commitments to tackle violence and aggression against NHS staff, including improving data and the reporting of incidences, and ensuring strengthened risk assessments, training, and support for victims.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking improve training pathways for medical professionals. \p Karin Smyth: In February this year, NHS England launched an extensive engagement and listening exercise to help shape the future of postgraduate medical training. The review will hear about best practice, listen to concerns, including issues around training pathways and the capacity, quality, and inclusivity of training, and will explore ideas and thoughts about how postgraduate medical training could evolve for the future. An engagement exercise will run through to June this year, with findings reported in the summer.

To reform the National Health Service and make it fit for the future, we have launched a 10-Year Health Plan as part of the Government’s five long-term missions. Ensuring we have the right people, in the right places, with the right skills will be central to this vision. 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.
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Shivani Raja:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has make of the adequacy of the NHS Job Evaluation Scheme (a) matrices and (b) formulae used to determine Agenda for Change pay bandings; and whether he has plans to update the assessment framework. \p Karin Smyth: The Job Evaluation Scheme (JES) underpins pay for National Health Service staff under the Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions. The JES model of weighting and scoring job documentation has been legally tested and proven to be robust, therefore we have no plans to review the system at this time.

The NHS Staff Council’s Job Evaluation Group periodically reviews and updates the national role profiles that are used to support job evaluation practice to ensure their accuracy.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people in (a) Milton Keynes and (b) Buckinghamshire are eligible for free NHS prescriptions under the low-income scheme. \p Karin Smyth: The information requested is not held. Eligibility for the NHS Low Income Scheme and the amount of help an individual can get depends on their weekly income and necessary outgoings, plus any savings or investments they have at the time of application. Given this, it is not possible to know the total number of people eligible for the scheme at any given time.
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Shivani Raja:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of placing phlebotomists in band two of the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale, in the context of their clinical responsibilities; and whether he plans to review the criteria used to determine their pay banding. \p Karin Smyth: Phlebotomists are paid under the Agenda for Change pay scale, which is underpinned by the Job Evaluation Scheme (JES). The JES is a structured method of comparing job demands as set out in the job documentation, for example the job description, to determine the appropriate Agenda for Change pay band for any given role.

The model of weighting and scoring job documentation via the JES has been legally tested and proven to be robust, therefore we have no current plans to review the system.

Employers are responsible for correctly and consistently implementing the JES locally, to ensure staff are paid correctly for the work they are asked to deliver.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what Air Ambulance coverage there is in Cambridgeshire. \p Karin Smyth: In Cambridgeshire air ambulance coverage is provided by two air ambulance charities, namely East Anglian Air Ambulance and Magpas Air Ambulance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria his Department has used to determine which integrated care boards should merge. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England has asked the integrated care boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners of health and care services, and to reduce the duplication of responsibilities within their structure, with the expectation of achieving a 50% cost reduction in their running cost allowance. NHS England provided additional guidance to ICBs, National Health Service trusts, and NHS foundation trusts on 1 April 2025, where ICBs were tasked with developing plans by the end of May setting out how they will manage their resources to deliver across their priorities. This letter can be found at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/working-together-in-2025-26-to-lay-the-foundations-for-reform/

Details of how ICBs will work together to share functions and agree clustering arrangements to deliver services and meet local needs may emerge following the publication the plans.

Ministers and the Department will work with the new transformation team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to ensure ICBs continue to fulfil their future functions effectively, within the running costs cap, and unlock the benefit of working at scale to deliver better care for patients.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Alice Macdonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have accessed NHS funded IVF treatment in each year since 2021; and how many people have accessed privately funded IVF treatment in each year since 2021. \p Karin Smyth: The following table shows the number of National Health Service funded and privately funded in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients each year since 2021 for which information is published:

Year of treatment

NHS-funded IVF patients

Private funded IVF patients

2022

15,212

38,555

2021

15,543

38,706

Source: provided by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) Register.

Notes:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Saqib Bhatti:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children under the age of seven have been treated for gender dysphoria since 1 April 2024. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Saqib Bhatti:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the NHS follows guidance on the minimum age for gender dysphoria. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Shaun Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many social care staff there are by gender in each (a) region and (b) nation. \p Stephen Kinnock: The policy for health and adult social care is devolved across the United Kingdom, and the Department is responsible for adult social care in England. The following table shows the number of filled posts in adult social care, both for local authorities and the independent sector, in England, by gender and region in 2023/24:

Region

Female

Male

East Midlands

80%

20%

Eastern

79%

21%

London

77%

23%

North East

81%

19%

North West

79%

21%

South East

78%

22%

South West

79%

21%

West Midlands

82%

18%

Yorkshire and the Humber

81%

19%

Source: the data has been produced by Skills for Care using the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set.

According to Skills for Care data for local authorities and the independent sector, at a national level, 79% of the adult social care workforce were female and 21% of the workforce were male in 2023/24.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Jonathan Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions his Department has had with businesses on investment in technology in Northern Ireland. \p Fleur Anderson: I am a passionate advocate for Northern Irish tech companies and for investment by international tech companies in Northern Ireland.

I recently attended the Big Data New York Conference – a spin off of Big Data Belfast – to highlight the international investment opportunities in Northern Ireland's well established and fast growing Cyber and Digital sectors.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Alex Easton:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on reports of businesses in Northern Ireland processing card transactions in euros, in the context of currency conversion charges for customers. \p Hilary Benn: The decision on which currencies to accept for payment, including whether to process card transactions in euros or any other international currency, is a matter for individual businesses across the UK, including in Northern Ireland.

Businesses are responsible for ensuring transparency in any associated currency conversion charges applied to customers. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates the conduct of financial services firms in the UK and sets out rules to ensure customers are treated fairly, including in relation to payment services and foreign exchange disclosures.

The Government continues to monitor developments and maintain dialogue with relevant regulators and stakeholders where appropriate.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to help improve public services in Northern Ireland. \p Fleur Anderson: Alongside providing funding for transformative projects through the Public Services Transformation Board, we have strengthened the exchange of best practice to tackle shared challenges together, paving the way for better public service outcomes.

The Executive will need to make difficult decisions, and this Government is committed to partnering on our shared goal of improving public services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the leadership of the Alliance Party on the (a) adequacy and (b) effectiveness of the work of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. \p Hilary Benn: As part of its commitment to repeal and replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023, the Government has committed to introducing primary legislation when parliamentary time allows, including to fundamentally reform and strengthen the independent Commission established by the Act to ensure it is fully human rights compliant and can command public confidence.

As part of this process, the Government continues to engage with all interested parties in a spirit of openness regarding an appropriate way forward, including the Northern Ireland parties. I regularly meet the leader of the Alliance Party to discuss a range of issues, including legacy, and will continue to do so.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the leadership of the Social and Democratic Labour Party on the (a) adequacy and (b) effectiveness of the work of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. \p Hilary Benn: As part of its commitment to repeal and replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023, the Government has committed to introducing primary legislation when parliamentary time allows, including to fundamentally reform and strengthen the independent Commission established by the Act to ensure it is fully human rights compliant and can command public confidence.

As part of this process, the Government continues to engage with all interested parties in a spirit of openness regarding an appropriate way forward, including the Northern Ireland parties. I regularly meet the leader of the SDLP to discuss a range of issues, including legacy, and will continue to do so.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the leadership of Sinn Fein on the (a) adequacy and (b) effectiveness of the work of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. \p Hilary Benn: As part of its commitment to repeal and replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023, the Government has committed to introducing primary legislation when parliamentary time allows, including to fundamentally reform and strengthen the independent Commission established by the Act to ensure it is fully human rights compliant and can command public confidence.

As part of this process, the Government continues to engage with all interested parties in a spirit of openness regarding an appropriate way forward, including the Northern Ireland parties. I have recently met the leadership of Sinn Fein to discuss a range of issues, including legacy, and will continue to do sox.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party on the (a) adequacy and (b) effectiveness of the work of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. \p Hilary Benn: As part of its commitment to repeal and replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023, the Government has committed to introducing primary legislation when parliamentary time allows, including to fundamentally reform and strengthen the independent Commission established by the Act to ensure it is fully human rights compliant and can command public confidence.

As part of this process, the Government continues to engage with all interested parties in a spirit of openness regarding an appropriate way forward, including the Northern Ireland parties. I regularly meet the leader of the UUP to discuss a range of issues, including legacy, and will continue to do so.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the leadership of the Democratic Unionist Party on the (a) adequacy and (b) effectiveness of the work of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. \p Hilary Benn: As part of its commitment to repeal and replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023, the Government has committed to introducing primary legislation when parliamentary time allows, including to fundamentally reform and strengthen the independent Commission established by the Act to ensure it is fully human rights compliant and can command public confidence.

As part of this process, the Government continues to engage with all interested parties in a spirit of openness regarding an appropriate way forward, including the Northern Ireland parties. I regularly meet the leader of the DUP to discuss a range of issues, including legacy, and will continue to do so.