theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to increase the availability of (a) houseboats and (b) houseboat moorings. \p Matthew Pennycook: It is for individual local authorities to assess whether any existing or new waterway should accommodate houseboats, and to grant such permissions as are necessary to change land-use or authorise access and service connections to boats.

However, the National Planning Policy Framework asks local authorities to assess the housing need of different groups in the community and reflect the need in their planning policies, and that could include the need for houseboat moorings.

Moreover, the duty under s.8 of the Housing Act 1985 for local authorities to consider the needs of people residing in their district, including those in houseboats, also requires the authority to assess the need for ‘further’ housing, which could include additional houseboats or mooring places.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether a heritage impact assessment has been conducted on proposals to move the Chinese Embassy to the former Royal Mint building. \p Matthew Pennycook: An appointed Inspector held a public inquiry which heard a range of evidence for and against the proposals in question. As this case will come before ministers in MHCLG to determine, it would not be appropriate to comment further.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to take legislative steps to ensure there is consultation with local communities before any developments are approved on grey belt land. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the right hon. Member to the answers to Question UIN 26011 on 31 January 2025; UIN 26507 on 5 February 2025; and UIN 36395 on 12 March 2025. It is for individual local authorities to plan and make decisions regarding the location and potential impacts of new development in their areas.
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Luke Myer:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to introduce (a) targets and (b) incentives to reduce the number of long-term vacant social housing properties in (i) Middlesbrough and Redcar, (ii) Cleveland and (iii) other areas with above-average vacancy rates. \p Matthew Pennycook: Units are likely to be reported as temporarily unavailable when works are being carried out as part of Private Registered Providers’ stock condition remediation and energy efficiency works.

This is set out in the Regulator of Social Housing’s “Private Registered Provider Social Housing Stock In England – Sector Characteristics and Stock Movement” report for 2023-24, available on gov.uk here.

Those reported as permanently unavailable may be scheduled for significant work, restructure, or demolition.

Variation in the number of permanently unavailable units will be driven by multiple factors such as re-development programmes and individual approaches by Private Registered Providers to asset management.

The government encourages social housing providers to develop solutions that make best use of the social housing stock and minimise void periods where possible.
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Alex Sobel:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what safeguards her Department has put in place to help protect unaccompanied children from Ukraine through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. \p Rushanara Ali: The Homes for Ukraine scheme supports eligible unaccompanied minors to safely arrive, and to live and thrive in the UK without their parent or legal guardian, supported by a sponsor that they know and trust.

Eligible Minors are protected by robust safeguarding measures. Parental or legal guardian consent is required before a sponsorship arrangement is agreed, and sponsors must pass safeguarding checks before a visa is issued. Councils must comply with safeguarding responsibilities and statutory duties. Local authorities receive an enhanced tariff for each eligible minor arrival, recognising the increased safeguarding support needed.

Detailed guidance for councils, sponsors, and parents/legal guardians must be adhered to, is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents-or-legal-guardians#eligibility-criteria

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-sponsors-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents-or-legal-guardians#sponsor-eligibility:~:text=Must%20agree%20to,to%20adult%20life
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written statement of 3 March 2025, HCWS487, on Anti-Muslim Hate/Islamophobia Definition Working Group, what interests the chair of the working group on delivering a definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia has declared; and whether he will be remunerated. \p Alex Norris: The Anti-Muslim Hate/Islamophobia Definition Working Group Chair and Members are technical experts, and have been selected for their ability to deliver against the group’s objectives. All members must follow The Seven Principles of Public Life and the Government retains the right to end the relationship if any member does not abide by the principles. All appointments are subject to assessment of any potential or actual conflicts of interest, which must be fully disclosed to the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government. Group members will not be remunerated but will be able to claim expenses for travel and/or costs incurred whilst carrying out their role. Further detail of the group’s membership and Terms of Reference will be published after the public appointment process has concluded.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 31042 on MHCLG: Trade Union Officials, whether the level of facility time provided to the trade unions in her Department has increased since 4 July 2025. \p Alex Norris: Paid facility time is captured and published in line with the Cabinet Office guidance on statutory reporting requirements Public-sector trade union facility time data - GOV.UK. Facility time for 2024 to 2025 will be published in line with this at the end of the reporting period.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support she is providing to local authorities which own buildings in need of repair due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. \p Alex Norris: The issues with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) are longstanding and well known.

All building owners are responsible for managing building safety and performance risks of all kinds in their buildings, including RAAC, in a proportionate, risk-based, and evidence-based manner, and acting where they deem necessary. To do so, they should continue to follow guidance published by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) to identify, assess, and manage RAAC.

Local authorities are responsible for managing their own budgets and delivering on their responsibilities, including their duty as building owners.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will provide capital funding to support the regeneration of Whitchurch Civic Centre. \p Alex Norris: I understand the difficulties constituents are facing due to the closure of the building. The building is owned by Shropshire Council. The Council is responsible for managing their own budgets and delivering on their responsibilities. This includes their duty as building owners to assess their buildings and keep them safe. Councils are independent, democratic bodies who are best placed to understand what is needed to deliver local priorities and are accountable to local people.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Growth and Building Safety of 4 March 2025 on Plan for Neighbourhoods, Official Report, columns 210-212, what (a) involvement and (b) engagement the Neighbourhood boards will have with (i) Councillors, (ii) Mayors and (iii) hon. Members. \p Alex Norris: MPs whose constituencies sit within the boundary of the place must sit on the board. In Scotland and Wales the appropriate constituency MSP or MS should also sit on the board. Councils in Northern Ireland are encouraged to invite the MLAs to the board and should ensure that representation is balanced. In areas where there are 2 tiers of local authorities, there should be one councillor from each tier. In unitary authorities, there should be 2 councillors from the authority. Mayoral representatives may be invited to sit on the board.
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Gareth Snell:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with ceramics manufacturers on the viability of hydrogen as a fuel for energy intensive industries. \p Sarah Jones: Details of Ministers' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether compensation schemes are available to businesses whose operations are impacted by the construction of (a) new electricity pylons and (b) electricity related infrastructure. \p Michael Shanks: Landowners, businesses and homeowners that have electrical equipment, such as pylons or towers, sited on their land have the right to compensation for the value of their land, as well as for any losses or expenses incurred. Acquiring authorities can also put in place discretionary schemes offering additional compensation.

We have published guidance on community funds for electricity transmission infrastructure which outlines government’s recommendations on how to communities living near clean energy infrastructure can benefit.
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Mary Kelly Foy:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of data centres on regional energy usage, in the context of increases in the use of AI. \p Michael Shanks: The Government supports AI development in the UK and the economic growth it could bring. The Department is working closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in setting up the AI Energy Council that will have senior representatives from both the energy industry and the AI industry to look at where best to locate AI data centres and to ensure the growth of AI and data centres in the UK is done in a way that supports our clean power mission and longer-term decarbonisation goals. For example, looking to seize opportunities that support grid balancing, reduce network costs, and utilise excess renewable energy.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2025 to Question 35839 on Infrastructure: Land, what is the maximum permissible quantity of best and most versatile land allowed for an energy development classed as a nationally significant infrastructure project. \p Michael Shanks: National Policy Statement EN-1 and EN-3 set out the policy for the consideration of the use of best and most versatile land for energy development, but state that “applicants should, where possible, utilise previously developed land, brownfield land, contaminated land and industrial land. Where the proposed use of any agricultural land has been shown to be necessary, poorer quality land should be preferred to higher quality land (avoiding the use of “Best and Most Versatile” agricultural land where possible). The decision as to whether the amount of best and most versatile land to be used is appropriate is one for the Secretary of State in the consideration of individual planning applications."
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had recent discussions with the National Grid on the potential merits of establishing (a) financial compensation and (b) support for businesses impacted by pylon developments. \p Michael Shanks: Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
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Gareth Snell:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with (a) Ceramics UK, (b) the Secretary State for Business and Trade and (c) the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the exclusion of imported ceramics from the scope of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. \p Michael Shanks: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministerial Colleagues on a number of issues. Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Products from the ceramics sector will not be in scope of the UK CBAM upon implementation in 2027. The ceramic sector is, on average, less emissions intensive than those sectors within scope of the UK CBAM, and therefore relatively less exposed to carbon leakage risk.
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Mary Kelly Foy:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made with Ofgem of the potential merits of allocating more funding to local power grids to help ensure the reliability of levels of power supplied to rural communities. \p Michael Shanks: The Government is engaging with Ofgem to ensure that the distribution price control enable the required local infrastructure to power local communities. The current electricity distribution price control (RIIO-ED2 2023-2028) has allowed £22.2bn for upfront investment in low voltage networks, including £3.1bn for network upgrades. For the next price control ED3 (2028 to 2033), Ofgem will rely on Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) to inform distribution network investment plans and will accommodate forecasted electricity demand to ensure reliable local power grid fit for the net zero transition.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to incentivise heat pump adoption through (a) tax breaks and (b) low-interest loans. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Private finance can play a key role in helping us achieve our decarbonisation ambitions. As part of the Government’s ambitious Warm Homes Plan, officials are exploring the role of incentives and private finance to support homeowners with the upfront costs of energy efficiency improvements and low carbon heating. This includes engaging with the finance sector on the potential for low interest loans.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Great British Energy on household energy bills in Fylde. \p Michael Shanks: In an unstable world, the only way to guarantee energy security and protect billpayers is to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. That is why government has a mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.

We have a sustainable, long-term plan to protect all UK billpayers, including the people of Fylde, from volatile international gas markets. Backed by £8.3 billion, Great British Energy is part of this plan, driving the deployment of the clean, homegrown energy we need to boost our energy independence. As a publicly-owned company, Great British Energy will ensure UK taxpayers, billpayers, and communities reap the benefits of this.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has considered alternative energy transmission methods. \p Michael Shanks: The National Energy System Operator considers a range of different technologies when conducting strategic network planning to make the most optimal recommendations for electricity transmission infrastructure.

It is the responsibility of the developers of electricity network projects to propose the detailed route design, including technology choice, and obtain planning permission. The Government sets the rules for a robust and independent planning process that communities can participate in.
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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the total acreage of land is in the UK that is currently covered by solar farms; and what the acreage is for which planning permission for solar farms has been granted. \p Michael Shanks: According to a report on energy trends published by DESNZ, as of September 2024 ground-mount solar PV panels covered an estimated 21,200 hectares (52,000 acres), which is only around 0.1 per cent of the total land area of the UK. While such information is not currently available for projects that have been granted planning permission, we are working on expanding the coverage of the data to all projects in the pipeline.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6762f035e6ff7c8a1fde9b48/Land_utilised_by_solar_PV__September_2024.pdf
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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has set a financial target for the reduction of energy bills by 2030. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government is determined to cut bills as far and as fast as we can.

In October 2023, independent experts modelled the effect of a clean power system on electricity bills. Based on the latest renewable generation costs available at the time, they found electricity bills could be up to £300 cheaper by 2030 when compared with the cost of electricity in July-September 2023, which was higher than today’s levels.

The independent NESO set out pathways to a clean power system in 2030, and confirmed it was deliverable, more secure, and could see a lower cost of electricity, and lower bills.
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David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of steps taken by the (a) Scottish Government, (b) Northern Ireland Executive and (c) Irish Government to commit to using renewable liquid fuels as part of their decarbonisation strategies. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: I refer my hon Friend to the answer I gave on 6 March 2025 to my hon Friend the Member for Truro and Falmouth to Question UIN 35113.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many households use the radio teleswitch service for their energy meter connections in Poole constituency. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Department does not hold constituency level data on remaining RTS meters, but we are regularly engaging with energy suppliers, Ofgem and the industry body Energy UK to review local plans for the switch-off.

Energy suppliers have contacted all premises with RTS meters and Ofgem is encouraging customers to book an appointment to ensure they are provided with a replacement meter ahead of the switch-off.
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Mary Kelly Foy:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential across the Durham Coalfield for producing sustainable geothermal energy from disused mines. \p Kerry McCarthy: To achieve net zero at lowest cost, we must look at how to accelerate all low carbon technologies including geothermal. The mine water from coal mines shows good potential as a renewable source for heat networks. The government is therefore supporting mine water schemes at Gateshead and Seaham Garden Village through the Heat Network Investment Project and the Green Heat Network Fund. Whilst no specific assessment has been made of the Durham Coalfield potential the Northeast Local Enterprise Partnership published a report in 2021, assessing options to increase deployment and the Mining Remediation Authority has released opportunity maps.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed increase in the certificate of sponsorship fee on recruitment in the social care sector. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2025, laid on 21 January 2025, sets out increases to the fee maxima that applies to the Certificate of Sponsorship from £300 to £525. These changes were agreed via collective agreement. If fees increase as set out in the Explanatory Memorandum to this Order, an Impact Assessment will be produced by the Home Office.

International recruitment has played a valuable role in helping to grow the adult social care workforce. The Government recognises the scale of reforms needed to make the adult social care sector attractive, to support sustainable workforce growth and improve the retention of the domestic workforce. The Government is making available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in 2025/26, which includes an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant.
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Luke Myer:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of community pharmacy closures on patient access to NHS services in deprived areas. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government recognises that pharmacies are an integral part of the fabric of our communities, as an easily accessible front door to the National Health Service, staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals.

We are aware of the reduction in the number of pharmacies in recent years and recognise that pharmacy closures can impact on local communities. Despite closures in recent years, access to pharmacies continues to be better in the most deprived areas when compared with the least deprived. Local authorities are required to undertake a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served and must keep these assessments under review. Integrated care boards give regard to the PNAs when reviewing applications from the new contractors. Contractors can also apply to open a new pharmacy to offer benefits to patients that were not foreseen by the PNA.

The Pharmacy Access Scheme provides additional funding to further support pharmacies where another pharmacy is more than 0.8 miles in the most deprived areas and more than one mile in other areas. Additionally, in rural areas where there is no pharmacy, general practitioners are permitted to dispense medicines. Patients can also choose to access medicines and pharmacy services through any of the nearly 400 NHS online pharmacies that are contractually required to deliver prescription medicines free of charge to patients.
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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when negotiations on the 2024-5 and 2025-6 community pharmacy contractual framework will be agreed. \p Stephen Kinnock: We are working at pace with Community Pharmacy England to ensure that the funding we have available is used to support community pharmacy in the best way possible to support them in dispensing medicines to patients and to offer a range of clinical services including Pharmacy First.

We will announce the outcome of the consultation in the usual manner, by letter to contractors, when the consultation has concluded.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed increase in the certificate of sponsorship fee on the adult social care sector; and if he will hold discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on making more funding available to support the adult social care sector. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2025, laid on 21 January 2025, sets out increases to the fee maxima that applies to the Certificate of Sponsorship from £300 to £525. These changes were agreed via collective agreement. If fees increase as set out in the Explanatory Memorandum to this Order, an Impact Assessment will be produced by the Home Office.

International recruitment has played a valuable role in helping grow the adult social care workforce. The Government recognises the scale of reforms needed to make the adult social care sector attractive, to support sustainable workforce growth and improve the retention of the domestic workforce. The Government is making available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in 2025/26, which includes an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant.

Adult social care is a central part of local government’s responsibilities. Decisions about the funding of all local government priorities will be taken in the round at the Spending Review.
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Jim Dickson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) volunteer and (b) paid peer support worker positions were created in the NHS England (i) liaison and diversion and (ii) RECONNECT service since peer support was first included in the liaison and diversion national service specification. \p Stephen Kinnock: The information requested is not collected centrally by NHS England. The national service specifications set an expectation that the workforce composition will include volunteer and paid peer-support roles within each liaison and diversion and RECONNECT service. However, the service specification does not stipulate the number or ratio of volunteer or peer support roles per service. It is a matter for the provider to satisfy the regional commissioner that the overall workforce plan is appropriate to meet the needs of the patient population.
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Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to review autism assessment questionnaire to be inclusive of female autism. \p Stephen Kinnock: Autistic characteristics in women and girls may differ from those of other autistic people. Integrated care boards and health professionals should have due regard to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines when commissioning and providing health care services, including autism assessment services. NICE guidelines and quality standards set out evidence for good practice in autism assessments. This includes the recommended autism assessment tools and processes employed.

In 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance for autism assessment services which identifies the stages and processes of undertaking an autism assessment and places an emphasis on gathering sufficient information and evidence to reach a robust clinical opinion.

Clinicians may use questionnaires to support identification, screening, and triage, as well as structured or semi-structed interview tools and/or schedules to support assessments. NHS England has commissioned Autistica to review tools used for screening and triage in the autism assessment pathway, and to produce a set of criteria that services can use when deciding which tools are appropriate for use in their service.

The NICE guidelines on autism diagnosis for people under 19 years old also set out considerations for clinicians, which includes recognition that they should pay attention to the potential under-diagnosis of girls when assessing for suspected autism.
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Sarah Edwards:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of prisoners are diagnosed with mental health conditions by region. \p Stephen Kinnock: The following table shows the mental health population by region and as a percentage of the prison population:

Regions

Percentage

East Midlands

8%

East of England

8%

London

7%

North East and Yorkshire

7%

North West

8%

South East

8%

South West

7%

West Midlands

8%

Grand Total

8%

Source: NHS England.

These figures are for severe and enduring mental health conditions such as bipolar and schizophrenia, and do not include conditions such as anxiety and depression.
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Luke Myer:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to engage with independent pharmacy owners to (a) address financial pressures and (b) prevent pharmacy closures. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government recognises that pharmacies are an integral part of the fabric of our communities, as an easily accessible ‘front door’ to the National Health Service, staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals.

The Government is committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and to better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists. To support these private contractors, NHS England is providing fully funded national training opportunities to help them deliver quality NHS services.

The Department and NHS England are working at pace with Community Pharmacy England to ensure that the funding we have available is used to support community pharmacy in the best way possible. Community Pharmacy England is recognised by the Government as the body that we consult on the community pharmacy contract and is formulated to represent the views of all pharmacy contractors including independent pharmacies.
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_152

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29991 on Independent Commission into Adult Social Care, what his planned timetable is for responding to the 2028 Phase 2 report; and whether he plans that social care reforms will be (a) legislated for and (b) delivered in this Parliament. \p Stephen Kinnock: Chaired by Baroness Casey, the Independent Commission on adult social care will be undertaken in two phases. Phase one, reporting in 2026, will identify the biggest challenges in adult social care and recommend practical changes to improve people’s lives over the next decade. Phase two, reporting by 2028, will make longer-term recommendations for the transformation of adult social care, addressing demographic change, how services should be organised to deliver this, and how to best create a fair and affordable adult social care system.

The Government will consider and respond to the commission’s recommendations, including any legislative implications, when it reports. The Government recognises the pivotal role adult social care plays in nurturing local communities and helping people live as independent and fulfilling lives as possible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_153

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 34376 on NHS: Finance, how the Carr-Hill formula applies to over-subscribed GP surgeries. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Carr-Hill formula is designed to ensure that practices are reimbursed for their expected workload, that is, practices are paid more if their registered patients are expected to use services more based on past usage patterns of patients with similar characteristics. It considers a range of factors, including patient list turnover, to account for the fact that patients in their first year of registration in a practice tend to have more consultations than other patients.

Other factors considered by Carr-Hill include: the sex and age of patients; the additional needs of patients relating to morbidity and mortality and the Standardised Mortality Ratio for those aged under 65 years old; and unavoidable costs based on geographical area, specifically the additional costs of delivering services in a rural area, and in areas where staff costs are higher.

When general practice surgeries become over-subscribed, they may apply to their integrated care board to not accept temporarily any new patient registrations for specific reasons, including for example practices’ staffing or recruitment issues.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_154

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the opportunities available to improve diagnosis times for autism spectrum disorder. \p Stephen Kinnock: It is the responsibility of the integrated care board (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including autism assessments and diagnosis, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

On 5 April 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance to help ICBs and the National Health Service to deliver improved outcomes for children, young people, and adults referred to an autism assessment service. Since publication, NHS England has been supporting systems and services to identify where there are challenges for implementation, and how they might overcome these.

In 2024/25, £4.3 million is available nationally to improve services for autistic children and young people, including autism assessment services. NHS England is also working with research organisations to explore evidence-based models that support improved outcomes for those people waiting for an autism assessment.

As part of the Government’s five long-term missions, we have launched a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the NHS and make it fit for the future. Department officials recently convened a roundtable with autistic people and people with a learning disability to listen to their views on the future of the NHS as part of 10-Year Health Plan.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_155

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the annual average integrated care board spend on memory assessment services has been for each year between 2014 and 2024. \p Stephen Kinnock: It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to work with the third sector in their geographical area to offer services that meet the needs of their population. NHS England would expect ICBs to take account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines when commissioning services for their local population.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_156

Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that cancer screening programmes recommended by the National Screening Committee are (a) funded and (b) available to patients as quickly as possible. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) Secretariat works closely with NHS England. This means NHS England is aware of conditions that the committee is considering for a screening programme. The costs and workforce requirements of potential screening programmes are considered when setting budgets so that when a positive recommendation is made by the UK NSC and accepted by Ministers, the National Health Service can begin work on implementing the screening programme.

The roll out of a screening programme needs to be done systematically and at a pace that the NHS’s capacity can cope with to ensure safety for those members of the public who accept the screening offer.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_157

Brian Mathew:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department will allow UK oncologists to test for genetic weaknesses by carrying out Whole Genomic Sequencing. \p Ashley Dalton: Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service and delivered by a national genomic testing network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs). The NHS GLHs deliver testing as directed by the National Genomic Test Directory, which includes tests for over 7,000 rare diseases and over 200 clinical indications of cancer. Testing can be delivered using a range of technologies, including whole genome sequencing (WGS) or Next Generation Sequencing technology, large cancer gene panels, to ensure that a patient receives the most appropriate genomic testing depending on their individual circumstances.

The National Genomic Test Directory sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing as well as the genomic targets to be tested and the method that should be used. For most cancers, the National Genomic Test Directory outlines that large gene panels inclusive of targets for treatments should be offered as the first line option. WGS can then be offered to any cancer patient that requires it to determine their next stage of treatment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_158

Tony Vaughan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that disability related expenditure assessments are being undertaken by local authorities. \p Stephen Kinnock: Where local authorities decide to charge for the provision of care and support, they must follow the Care and Support Statutory Guidance, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-statutory-guidance/care-and-support-statutory-guidance#Chapter8

This guidance sets out that, where disability-related benefits are taken into account during a financial assessment, the local authority should make an assessment and allow the person to keep enough of their benefit payments to pay for necessary disability-related expenditure, to meet any needs which are not being met by the local authority.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_159

Dr Rupa Huq:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with manufacturers of Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy medication on supply shortages. \p Karin Smyth: The Department is in regular discussion with all suppliers of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) on latest stock availability and the actions that are being taken mitigate the supply issue that is affecting the whole of the United Kingdom. Through these discussions we have managed to secure additional volumes of PERT for 2025 for the UK. We are continuing to work with all suppliers to understand what more can be done to add further resilience to the market. The Department has also reached out to specialist importers who have sourced unlicensed stock to assist in covering the remaining gap in the market.

In the longer term, the Department has had interest from non-UK suppliers wishing to bring their products to the UK and, along with colleagues in the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, we are working with these potential suppliers; if authorised these products could further diversify and strengthen the market.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_160

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of developing a National Brain Tumour Strategy. \p Ashley Dalton: My Rt. Hon friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has announced that a National Cancer Plan for England will be published this year. The National Cancer Plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to improve the experience and outcomes for people with cancer, including brain tumour patients. Research is also a key focus of the plan, and we will work closely with partners including the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) on this.

We realise that there are currently limited treatment options available for people who have been diagnosed with brain tumours, and we recognise the significant impact this rare cancer can have on patients, carers and their families. The government is invested in driving new lifesaving and life-improving research, supporting those diagnosed and living with brain tumours.

Furthermore, the Department, NHS England and NIHR are taking several steps to help improve outcomes for brain tumour patients to ensure the most promising research opportunities are made available to adult and child patients.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_161

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of hours pharmacies were open in (a) 2015 and (b) 2024. \p Stephen Kinnock: 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 (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_162

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what percentage of haemopoietic stem cell transplant performed by the NHS were from UK registered donors between 1 October 2024 to 31 December 24 or the last three months for which data is available. \p Ashley Dalton: For the third quarter of 2024/25, registered donors in the United Kingdom provided by the Aligned Registry accounted for 23% (n=73) of the total unrelated, allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplants (n=311) for UK patients.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_163

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will overrule changes to sentencing guidance which will place greater emphasis on pre-sentence reports. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The Sentencing Council has issued new guidance which the last Government was consulted on between November 2023 and February 2024, and then publicly welcomed.

The Lord Chancellor has been clear that these guidelines do not represent this government’s views, and she asked the Council to reconsider them.

The Lord Chancellor and the Chairman of the Sentencing Council have since had a constructive discussion. It was agreed that the Lord Chancellor will set out her position more fully in writing, which the Sentencing Council will then consider before the guideline is due to come into effect