theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_211
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_211

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of not giving the COVID vaccine to NHS patients under 75 who are clinically vulnerable. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government’s policy on the groups eligible for vaccination programmes is based on the advice of the independent expert body, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

The JCVI carefully considered the latest evidence on the risk of illness and serious disease in specific groups, as well as cost-effectiveness analysis, to provide the Government with advice on the COVID-19 autumn 2025 vaccination programme. The evidence indicates that whilst the risk from COVID-19 is now much lower for most people, adults aged 75 years old and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and those who are immunosuppressed are those at highest risk of serious COVID-19 disease.

A more targeted vaccination programme, aimed at individuals with a higher risk of developing serious disease, was advised for autumn 2025.

The latest UK Health Security Agency data in the national flu and COVID-19 surveillance report supports this change in eligibility, showing that there is a strong association between age and COVID-19 hospitalisation rates. These reports can be accessed on the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/weekly-national-flu-reports#2025-to-2026-season

As part of its role, the JCVI reviews vaccination programmes as new data becomes available, and this includes if strong evidence should emerge indicating a change in the groups affected. Accordingly, the Government will consider any additional advice from the JCVI in due course.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_212
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_212

Jessica Toale:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of NHS screening programmes for the detection of gynaecological cancers linked to diethylstilbestrol exposure. \p Ashley Dalton: The NHS Cervical Screening Programme is the only gynaecological screening programme offered by the National Health Service. On its own, it cannot provide comprehensive care to women exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero. This is why the NHS Cervical Screening Programme’s guidance advises that local arrangements should be made for the follow up of individuals who have been exposed to DES and who have the stigmata of DES exposure. This is usually via annual colposcopy. The management of abnormal cytology falls outside of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_213
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_213

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to launch public awareness campaigns to promote earlier recognition of (a) liver disease and (b) liver cancer symptoms. \p Ashley Dalton: Awareness of liver disease can be raised by providing information to the public and by supporting health and care professionals to discuss liver disease with their patients. The NHS.UK website provides the public with essential information on the types of liver disease, their possible causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/liver-disease/

NHS England runs Help Us Help You campaigns in England to increase knowledge of cancer symptoms and address barriers to acting on them, to encourage people to come forward as soon as possible to see their general practitioner. The campaigns focus on a range of symptoms, as well as encouraging body awareness, to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers at an earlier point, including abdominal cancers.

NHS England and other National Health Service organisations, nationally and locally, publish information on the signs and symptoms of many different types of cancer, including liver cancer. This information can be found at sources like the NHS.UK website, which is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_214
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_214

Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help reduce travel times for cancer patients in rural areas requiring radiotherapy treatment. \p Ashley Dalton: We recognise that for those in rural communities, the particular treatment they need may not be available at their local hospital, which would mean that travel to a specialist centre or specialist centres would be required, in order to receive the best care possible. The Government aims to ensure that each radiotherapy treatment centre is accessible to the highest number of patients possible, as well as being easily reached by the staff who work there.

The National Health Service runs schemes to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital, or other NHS premises, for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests, when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional.

This includes the NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme, which provides financial assistance to patients who do not have a medical need for transport, but who require assistance with the costs of travelling to receive certain NHS services.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_215
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_215

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help improve the diagnosis rate for myeloma cancer in Devon. \p Ashley Dalton: We remain committed to diagnosing all cancer types earlier, including myeloma. To tackle late diagnoses, the National Health Service is implementing non-specific symptom (NSS) pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways. There are currently 115 NSS services operating in England, including in Devon, ensuring more patients benefit from quicker access to the right investigations.

We will support the NHS to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. The Government is investing an extra £26 billion in the NHS and is opening up community diagnostic centres (CDCs) at evening and weekends, to help diagnose cancer earlier.

We are now delivering additional checks, tests, and scans at 170 CDCs. There are three CDCs located within the NHS Devon Integrated Care Board, all of which deliver services 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_216
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_216

Darren Paffey:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of specialists able to carry out (a) ADHD and (b) autism assessments. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.

The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.

Autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments are carried out by multiple professional groups and often form only a part of their roles. NHS England has recently launched an England-wide survey of the learning disability and autism workforce, which will also capture staff undertaking ADHD assessments, and the data is expected to be reported in 2026.

In addition to this, NHS England provides autism training for psychiatrists to develop enhanced skills and confidence in diagnosis. It is also piloting a neurodevelopment credential for doctors to develop specialist neurodevelopmental skills.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_217
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_217

Paul Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on the roll out of HPV vaccination through community pharmacies for people who missed out at school. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government is committed to improving vaccine uptake and access across all immunisation programmes by exploring new and innovative delivery models, including expanding routes such as community pharmacies, as set out in the NHS Vaccination Strategy and the 10-Year Health Plan for England.

The Department is working with the UK Health Security Agency and NHS England to develop options for delivering human papilloma virus catch-up vaccination through community pharmacies from 2026, with the ambition to increase uptake among younger adults who have left school, supporting our aim to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_218
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_218

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) improve medical supply chains and (b) ensure that patients are able to obtain medications prescribed to them; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a framework requiring follow-ups with patients issued prescriptions to confirm they have successfully accessed medication. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: In early August, the Department published the policy paper Managing a robust and resilience supply of medicines, which provides greater transparency of the supply chains we rely on, the actions we take to protect patients from medicine shortages when they occur, and the steps we are taking to enhance resilience in our supply chains. The publication outlines a number of actions which are underway, including:

Although the Department has made no specific assessment of the potential merits of a framework requiring follow-ups with patients issued prescriptions, it is worth noting that prescribers are expected to provide information to their patients regarding their medicines and ensure that suitable arrangements are in place for the monitoring, follow-up, and review of medication.

Pharmacists also play a key role in enabling patients to access medicines. For example, the New Medicine Service is an advanced service offered by community pharmacies, providing patients with advice to address any possible side effects, issues, or questions that patients who are prescribed a new medicine may have.

The service focuses on treatments for long-term conditions including asthma and hypertension. Early interventions of this type can improve medication adherence, patient outcomes, and can reduce pressure on the wider National Health Service.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_219
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_219

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure access to affordable medicines on the NHS. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: We recognise that the pharmaceutical sector, and the innovative medicines it produces, is critical to our National Health Service, our economy, and the Plan for Change. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will continue to support the adoption of new medicines in a way that provides the most health benefit for society and which represents value to the taxpayer through the development of authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the NHS on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS.

The voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access, and growth continues to help improve access to cutting-edge treatments for NHS patients while keeping the medicines bill sustainable for taxpayers. Meanwhile, through our Life Sciences Sector Plan, we have committed to the United Kingdom becoming one of the top three fastest places in Europe for patient access to medicines by 2030. To support this, we will work with industry to accelerate growth in spending on innovative medicines compared to the previous decade.

We have also committed to becoming a leader in the uptake of off-patent medicines, with an opportunity to save £1 billion over five years by driving early and widespread uptake of new biosimilar drugs.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_220
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_220

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps is he taking to reduce the level of medicine access inequalities in England; and what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations on this matter. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that develops authoritative, evidence-based guidance on whether new medicines should be routinely funded by the National Health Service in England based on an evaluation of clinical and cost effectiveness. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance, which supports consistent access for NHS patients wherever in England they live.

Fit for the future: 10 Year Health Plan for England, published on 3 July 2025, describes the creation of a single national formulary (SNF) for medicines to supersede the current process by which each local area decides which medicines, in addition to those recommended by NICE, are available to its patients. A SNF is expected to supersede these local processes with a formulary oversight board responsible for sequencing products included in the SNF based on clinical and cost effectiveness, supported by NICE. The intention is to drive rapid and equitable adoption of the most clinically and cost-effective medicines.

Work will now begin on design and delivery planning, and we will work collaboratively with key stakeholders including NICE and industry on the plans.

The devolved administrations are responsible for the arrangements that they put in place to make decisions on access to medicines for NHS patients, however, this Department’s officials engage and meet with them regularly in a spirit of collaboration and mutual learning. At the political level, health ministers from the four nations also meet quarterly.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_221
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_221

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 72364 on Electronic Patient Records, what steps his Department is taking to help support the North-West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust to procure a modern enterprise-wide electronic patient record system. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 October 2025 to Question 81534 and on 22 October 2025 to Question 82444.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_222
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_222

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 72364 on Electronic Patient Records, what Electronic Patient Records systems are approved for procurement by NHS trusts. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: National Health Service trusts procure suppliers from the Clinical Digital Health Solutions Framework, details of which are available at the following link:

https://www.commercialsolutions-sec.nhs.uk/frameworks/clinical-digital-health-solutions-cdhs#nav-suppliers
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_223
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_223

Danny Beales:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the NICE guidance on abiraterone produced in 2021 was based on abiraterone's cost in generic form. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) published guidance on abiraterone for treating newly diagnosed high-risk hormone-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer, which has the reference code TA721, was developed before the patent for abiraterone expired and was therefore based on the cost of the branded medicine.

NICE is now re-evaluating abiraterone, both the originator and the generics, for the treatment of newly diagnosed high-risk hormone-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer and currently expects to publish the final guidance on 19 November 2025. The progress of this guidance can be followed at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ta11730
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_224
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_224

Jessica Toale:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to fund epidemiological research into the potential impact of diethylstilbestrol exposure on third generation people. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

While no research has been commissioned into the health outcomes of people exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero via the NIHR since 2000, the NIHR would welcome high quality funding applications in this area. Further information on the scope of our research funding calls is available on the NIHR website.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_225
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_225

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure equitable access to participation in mental health clinical trials across different (a) regions and (b) demographic groups in (i) general and (ii) Lancashire. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department is committed to ensuring that all patients have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments, including mental health clinical trials.

The Department funds research and research infrastructure across England through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which supports patients and the public to participate in high-quality research, including on mental health.

NIHR research infrastructure has national coverage across all National Health Service trusts in England, through 12 regions, to build research capacity and capability across all geographies and settings.

The NIHR provides an online service called 'Be Part of Research' which promotes participation in health and social care research, by allowing users to search for relevant studies and register their interest. This makes it easier for people to find and take part in health and care research that is relevant to them, including mental health clinical trials.

Through the NIHR’s Research Delivery Network (RDN), the NIHR funds the delivery of research in the North West, including for mental health trusts, and supports recruitment and screening for all eligible participants across Lancashire.

From 2026/27, the RDN will adopt a new national funding model for NHS support costs and research delivery. This will be a consistent, nationally agreed funding distribution model across all regions of England and will reduce regional variation in health research delivery investment. This aims to reduce inequity in research delivery across all therapy and geography areas, including in underserved areas and settings.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_226
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_226

Darren Paffey:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January to Question 22115 on Prescriptions: Fees and Charges, how many people with a maternity exemption certificate that received a penalty charge notice in 2024 were (a) eligible for an exemption certificate but did not hold an exemption at the time they were issued with a penalty charge notice and (b) awarded an exemption certificate after receiving a penalty charge notice. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: In 2024, the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) issued 48,063 penalty charge notices (PCNs) to people that claimed a maternity exemption on their prescription form, but where no exemption was found/matched as part of the NHS BSA process. Of the 48,063 PCNs, 23,710 were eased. An easement is applied when someone has a condition/circumstance that would allow for free prescriptions but does not have an exemption in place. The process allows for the person to subsequently arrange their exemption, and for the penalty charges to be eased.

The NHS BSA is unable to identify the number of people who were eligible for the maternity exemption (matex) but who had not applied for it when claiming the exemption. It is not possible to state that all 23,710 PCNs were eased due a matex certificate being awarded, as easements could also be for exceptional circumstances, or for other exemptions being applicable.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_227
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_227

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with (a) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, (b) NHS England, (c) the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, (d) the National Institute for Health and Care Research and (e) the Medical Research Council on (i) expediting and (ii) improving access to (A) novel treatments, (B) therapeutics and (C) technologies for brain cancer patients. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department recognises that there are currently limited treatment options available for people who have been diagnosed with brain tumours, and the significant impact that rarer forms of cancer can have on patients, carers, and their families. That is why the Department is committed to working closely with partners and patient groups to shape the long-term vision for cancer.

The Department has regular discussions with system partners on a number of topics, including access to novel treatments, therapeutics, and technologies for brain cancer patients. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence evaluates the clinical and cost effectiveness of all new licensed medicines, including for the treatment of brain cancer, and aims to issue guidance on whether they should be routinely funded by the National Health Service in England as close as possible to licensing.

The Department has engaged widely with stakeholders as part of the development of the National Cancer Plan, which will include further details on how the Government will improve outcomes for cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology.

Furthermore, a new national Brain Tumour Research Consortium was established in December 2024, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, to bring together researchers from a range of different disciplines and institutions with the aim of driving scientific advancements in how to prevent, detect, manage, and treat cancers in adults and children. The work being undertaken by the consortium aims to ensure that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology and to clinical trials.

The Government also supports the Rare Cancers Private Members Bill. The bill will make it easier for clinical trials on brain cancer to take place in England, by ensuring the patient population can be more easily contacted by researchers.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is engaging with industry and patient stakeholder groups to see how the agency can encourage research and product licencing in this area. It remains focused on enabling safe access to innovative treatment as rapidly as possible.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_228
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_228

Jessica Toale:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the (a) UK Health Security Agency and (b) National Institute for Health and Care Research on studies into diethylstilbestrol-related health risks. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Diethylstilbestrol is a synthetic non-steroidal estrogen medication, which does not fall within the UK Health Security Agency’s remit.

Decisions on topics for new or updated guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) are considered through an established NICE prioritisation process with decisions overseen by a prioritisation board, chaired by NICE’s Chief Medical Officer.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_229
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_229

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of sensory rooms in hospitals on treatment experience of children with cancer. \p Karin Smyth: The Department is committed to improving outcomes and patient experience for children and young people with cancer. NHS England is taking steps to improve the experience of children in hospital and their families, including young cancer patients. To improve standards for the provision of play in hospitals, the Taskforce on Children’s Play in Healthcare has developed national guidance on play provision for commissioners and new national play standards for service providers.

NHS England has published service specifications that set out the service standards required of all providers of children and young people’s cancer services. The requirements include ensuring that every patient has access to specialist care and reducing physical, emotional, and psychological morbidity arising from treatment for childhood cancer. The specifications are available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/spec-services/npc-crg/group-b/b05/

The Department has not made a formal assessment of the potential impact of sensory rooms in hospitals on the treatment experience of children with cancer.

On 4 February 2025, the Department relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce to identify tangible ways to improve outcomes and experiences for young cancer patients. The taskforce will explore opportunities for improvement, including detection and diagnosis, genomic testing and treatment, research and innovation, and patient experience. The taskforce will also ensure that the unique needs of children and young people with cancer are carefully considered as part of the National Cancer Plan for England, which will include further details on how we will improve play provision for children and young people with cancer.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_230
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_230

Josh Fenton-Glynn:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions his Department has had with the (a) General Medical Council and (b) Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service on the implementation of the new Guidance for MPTS Tribunals, published in October 2025. \p Karin Smyth: Discussions have taken place between the Department and both the General Medical Council and the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service to understand how the updated guidance will influence tribunal decision making and whether the new sanction bandings in the guidance, which set out recommended sanction levels based on the type and severity of the case, will lead to more consistent outcomes.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_231
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_231

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to include the mutual recognition of mandatory training qualifications between NHS Trusts in the forthcoming NHS Workforce Strategy. \p Karin Smyth: As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are committed to reforming mandatory training by April 2026, to ease the burden on frontline staff and to allow a more flexible approach to workforce development.

NHS England is already leading work to optimise, rationalise, and redesign statutory and mandatory training. This includes reducing the duplication of training when staff move organisation or rotate through their training programme. The mutual recognition agreement has already been signed by 262 National Health Service organisations across England and went live on 1 May 2025, so it is in place and is expected to continue to reduce the unnecessary burden on staff.

The next stage of the reform work will see a new competency framework published that will fundamentally reform current training, further reducing the burden of unnecessary training, and focus on building the competence to improve the quality of services and safety across the NHS workforce.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_232
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_232

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on how many occasions (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department have met with abortion providers since July 2024. \p Karin Smyth: Ministers and special advisers have held no meetings with abortion providers since July 2024.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_233
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_233

Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on (a) which NHS trusts provide staff with statutory paternity leave and pay, (b) which NHS trusts provide staff with enhanced paternity leave and pay and (c) levels of take up of those across trusts. \p Karin Smyth: The Department does not hold data on the uptake of these arrangements by National Health Service trusts in England.

Employing organisations are legally bound to provide two weeks of statutory paternity leave and pay where individuals meet the required eligibility criteria.

The national terms and conditions for staff on Agenda for Change, resident doctor, specialty and specialist doctor, and consultant contracts provide an enhanced paternity pay offer which uprates statutory pay to full pay where the additional eligibility criteria, as set out in the respective national contracts, is met.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_234
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_234

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce group B strep infections in newborn babies. \p Karin Smyth: The United Kingdom uses the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ risk-based approach whereby those women identified as being at increased risk of having a baby affected by Group B streptococcus (GBS) are managed according to agreed clinical guidelines on the prevention of early on-set neonatal GBS infection.

To improve understanding, prevention, and treatment of GBS infection, the Department is supporting a trial, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research. It aims to determine whether routine testing for GBS for all women, either in late pregnancy or on admission for labour with point of care testing, reduces early-onset neonatal sepsis compared to the current approach of risk-based screening.

The UK National Screening Committee (NSC) will review its recommendation considering the evidence from the trial, after the report is presented.

The UK NSC previously reviewed the evidence to screen for GBS at 35 to 37 weeks of pregnancy in 2017 and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the benefits of screening would outweigh the harms. This was because the test currently available cannot accurately distinguish between those mothers whose babies are at risk and those who are not. This means that many women would unnecessarily be offered antibiotics during labour, with the balance of harms and benefits from this approach being unknown.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_235
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_235

James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to help (a) increase capacity and (b) tackle inequalities in accessing a respiratory diagnosis. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to increasing the capacity of respiratory services and is improving access to these services through new community diagnostic centres (CDCs).

All standard and large CDCs are required to offer diagnostic respiratory tests such as spirometry and full lung function tests as part of their core testing offer.

The 2025/26 capital guidance confirmed that £1.65 billion of capital funding is being allocated to support National Health Service performance across secondary and emergency care across 2025/26 more broadly. This includes funding to enable the completion of 2024/25 CDC schemes, as well as to expand existing and build new CDCs.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_236
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_236

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) patient and (b) staff safety within NHS services in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Karin Smyth: Everyone working or being treated in the National Health Service has a fundamental right to be safe.

The Government is focusing on enhancing patient safety and fostering a learning culture within the NHS. Key reforms under the 10-Year Health Plan and Dr Penny Dash’s report on the patient safety landscape aim to clarify accountability across the system.

Additionally, as set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will introduce a new set of staff standards for modern employment for NHS staff which will cover issues relating to staff safety including tackling violence, racism, and sexual harassment in the workplace.

The Care Quality Commission is the regulator responsible for ensuring that service providers meet standards for patient and staff safety. It will do this, in future, by operating two broad models of inspections, namely rapid response inspections where serious concerns are identified and routine planned inspections.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_237
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_237

Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the portfolio of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women's Health and Mental Health includes (a) the mental health of (i) children and (ii) young people and (b) early intervention services. \p Karin Smyth: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women's Health and Mental Health (Baroness Merron) has Ministerial responsibility for children and young people’s mental health and early intervention services.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_238
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_238

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the impact of chronic respiratory conditions on the NHS in winter 2025-26. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England, working with the Department, the UK Health Security Agency, and other partners, is taking action to reduce the impact of respiratory conditions on the National Health Service this winter. This includes robust, consistent infection prevention and control measures, and a campaign to encourage eligible people to get their winter vaccinations. Further information on the actions being taken to reduce the demand on acute services during winter is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/urgent-and-emergency-care-plan-2025-26/
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_239
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_239

Clive Lewis:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of mandatory digital ID on minority groups. \p Ian Murray: The Government has announced plans for a new digital ID to be available to UK citizens and legal residents aged 16 and over. Employers will be required to conduct digital right to work checks using the new digital ID by the end of this parliament, but it will not be mandatory for other purposes.

The Government will deliver a comprehensive inclusion programme to help ensure everyone eligible is able to access the new digital ID, including minority groups. We expect that groups that currently struggle to prove their identity, whether it’s due to the cost of passports or other reasons, will benefit from the opportunity to access free digital ID.

The Government will launch a public consultation on the new digital ID by the end of the year, setting out the proposed approach in more detail and seeking views on this. This will include the proposed approach to inclusion.

The Government will work closely with expert stakeholders from a range of organisations to make the programme as effective and inclusive as possible.

Following the Machinery of Government changes of 23/10/2025 policy responsibility now sits with the Cabinet Office.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_240
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_240

John McDonnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the criteria relating to (a) environmental sustainability, (b) energy delivery and (c) local economic benefit for assessing proposals to host AI Growth Zones have been formally agreed; and if he will publish these criteria to ensure transparency in the selection process. \p Kanishka Narayan: The AI Opportunities Action Plan set out how the UK can lay the foundations for AI growth, including the creation of AI Growth Zones.

To be considered, sites must be capable of delivering at least 500 MW of power for AI workloads by 2030, offer a minimum of 100 acres of land for development by 2028, and set out credible plans covering planning, delivery, and local economic benefits. These criteria were published on the government website as part of the AIGZ process earlier this year, which can be found here: AI Growth Zones: open for applications - GOV.UK
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_241
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_241

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many officials were investigated under their Department's disciplinary processes in each of the last five years. \p Ian Murray: DSIT was formed following machinery of government changes in 2023 which saw staff join the department from BEIS, DCMS and Cabinet Office. Consequently, data is only available from 2024 onwards. HR Casework data indicates the following number of disciplinary investigations in 2024 and 2025 respectively:

2024 – 4

2025 – 9

The data provided only relates to occasions where HR Casework Services (HRCW) were engaged for support. Investigations conducted where the investigations manager did not require support from HRCW will not be reflected in this data, and there is no central repository of these investigations. This data reflects core DSIT employees and not those employed by partner organisations including UKSA or BDUK.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_242
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_242

Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether digital ID cards will have centralised logging and verification; and whether public bodies will have access to metadata logs. \p Ian Murray: The Government has announced plans for a new digital ID to be available to UK citizens and legal residents aged 16 and over. It will be designed with privacy at its core and will follow existing industry standards for security. This includes established standards for cyber security, counter-fraud and data storage.

The new service will follow UK GDPR and privacy principles to only collect and store the minimum data required. The Government will start a public consultation on the new digital ID by the end of the year to further inform our approach.

Following the Machinery of Government changes of 23/10/2025 policy responsibility now sits with the Cabinet Office.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_243
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_243

Lizzi Collinge:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to improve 4G and 5G mobile connectivity on major motorway routes in areas where there are known signal black spots. \p Kanishka Narayan: According to Ofcom’s Connected Nations Spring update, published on 8 May 2025, 4G in-vehicle coverage on UK major roads is 96% from at least one mobile network operator (MNO) and 81% from all four MNOs.

The Shared Rural Network has improved 4G mobile coverage along 16,000km of roads. The 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy (June 2025) committed to work with Ofcom and other regulators to assess the telecommunications needs of the transport sector, including the future requirements of roads, by December 2026. My officials are undertaking this assessment alongside the Department for Transport and the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_244
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_244

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has (a) made contingency plans and (b) undertaken cross-government exercises to respond to potential (i) significant deterioration in and (ii) complete loss of (A) satellite capability and (B) the operational use of space. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Department for Science Innovation and Technology recently launched its Crisis Response Team to enable transition of responsibilities from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero following the Machinery of Government change that led to the formation of these Departments. The Department and the UK Space Agency has established an Emergency Response Framework (ERF) that sets out cross-Government responsibilities in the event of the whole range of potential catastrophic incidents that could be encountered in space. This Framework connects to the Departmental Crisis Response capability through an escalation process, dependent on the scale, depth and duration of an event. The ERF has been exercised and updated regularly, following several real-time incidents experienced this year including Space Weather events. The plans and processes will continue to be tested and reviewed in response to evolving threats and hazards in the sector.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_245
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_245

Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to convene a roundtable with animal protection groups prior to the publication of the alternative methods to animal testing strategy. \p Kanishka Narayan: The government has engaged with animal welfare organisations in developing a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, which will be published by the end of the year. The Government hosted a roundtable on 14 May with representatives from animal welfare organisations to discuss the strategy, have met several individually and offered some the opportunity to read the draft strategy and submit comments.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_246
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_246

Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her planned strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of non-animal methods will contain a timeline to phase out animal experimentation. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Government is committed to reducing the use of animals in scientific research and is developing a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods.

At present, the strategy does not include a fixed timeline for the complete phase-out of animal experimentation but it does commit to timelines for some. It is not yet possible to replace all animal research due to the complexity of biological systems and regulatory requirements. Any work to phase out animal testing must be science-led, in lock step with partners, so we will not be setting arbitrary timelines for reducing their use.
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_247
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_247

Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of taking legislative steps to (a) set a goal for phasing out animal experiments in medical research over the next decade and (b) work closely with the scientific community to support it with that transition. \p Kanishka Narayan: The legal framework in the UK already requires that animals are only ever used in science where there are no validated alternatives available. The government currently has no plans to legislate further on this matter.

The Government is working in close partnership with scientists, industry, and civil society to support the transition to alternative methods. This includes convening roundtables and supporting the development and of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).
wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_248
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-24 conversation_248

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent steps her Department has taken to help support businesses to (a) identify and (b) rectify cybersecurity issues. \p Kanishka Narayan: The government has written to Chairs and CEOs of the largest UK companies and asked them to better identify and protect themselves from cyber threats by making cyber a board-level priority by using the Cyber Governance Code, signing up to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Early Warning service, and requiring Cyber Essentials in supply chains. These actions are relevant to all businesses, who can also help protect themselves by using the wide range of free advice, training and tools available on the NCSC website, including the check your cyber security tool and the Cyber Action Toolkit for small businesses.