theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government has issued guidance to help ensure that AI solutions trained on NHS datasets align with NHS principles. \p Karin Smyth: Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions trained on National Health Service datasets must align with core NHS principles, including safety, fairness, transparency, and accountability. These principles are embedded in the NHS’s approach to digital innovation and data use.

To support this, NHS England utilises guidance developed by the NHS Transformation Directorate, which sets out expectations for the safe, lawful, and ethical use of AI in health and care settings. This includes ensuring that AI systems are explainable, that data is used responsibly, and that decisions remain under human oversight.

The guidance has been reviewed by the Health and Care Information Governance Working Group, including the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the National Data Guardian (NDG), and is publicly available on the NHS Transformation Directorate’s website:

https://transform.england.nhs.uk/information-governance/guidance/artificial-intelligence/

This framework helps ensure that AI innovations developed using NHS data are aligned with NHS values and are deployed in a way that benefits patients, supports clinicians, and maintains public trust.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that NHS podiatry services are adequately resourced in Fylde constituency. \p Karin Smyth: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning the majority of health and care services, including podiatry services, in England. ICBs arrange healthcare services to meet the needs of their local population, within available resources, and reduce inequalities in access to, and outcomes from, healthcare services.

The Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB recognises podiatry services as a vulnerable and vital service where challenges, including recruitment and retention, are reflected nationally. In response to this, it has mobilised a centralised system-wide approach looking at the range of services it provides across its integrated care system. This includes baseline review work for services, which includes the Fylde Coast services. The next steps include validating demand capacity data with provider organisations in order to support future service models that support access for our residents.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the contract for the Federated Data Platform includes specifications for (a) which data export formats will be used, (b) the codebase handover and (c) what the final audit will include at the end of the contract period between the NHS and Palantir. \p Karin Smyth: The contract for the Federated Data Platform and Associated Services (FDP-AS) includes provisions to ensure transparency, interoperability, and a smooth transition at the end of the contract period. These provisions are designed to mitigate vendor lock-in and support the National Health Service in maintaining control over its data and digital infrastructure. The FDP-AS agreement includes comprehensive audit and exit mechanisms. These provisions enable NHS England to conduct audits and reviews to support effective transition planning and ensure contractual compliance. The contract is available at the following link:

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/0f8a65b5-23a2-4294-abb1-a7fd8efb3ad0
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of mandating standardised domestic abuse training for all frontline NHS staff. \p Karin Smyth: It is the responsibility of National Health Service organisations to ensure that all staff undertake mandatory training on domestic abuse. Mandatory training at Level 1 is captured in the NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR), as part of the integrated safeguarding training module. This is monitored by the Care Quality Commission as part of their provider compliance visit. Level 2 and 3 are stand-alone modules and are not always captured in the ESR. Staff are also required to undertake further domestic abuse training where it is relevant to their role.

National mandatory safeguarding training for all NHS staff is being strengthened for launch in early 2026. This will reinforce the safeguarding responsibilities of staff and will support them in identifying and responding to victims of abuse.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Will Stone:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review NHS grading bands for phlebotomists. \p Karin Smyth: Phlebotomists are paid on the Agenda for Change pay scale which is underpinned by a job evaluation scheme. The scheme determines the appropriate pay band given the role requirements. Employers are responsible for correctly matching job roles to bands in line with the job evaluation scheme to ensure staff are paid correctly for the work they are asked to deliver.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that hospitals are able to provide (a) nutritious and (b) good-quality food for patients. \p Karin Smyth: Access to good quality, nutritious, and aesthetically pleasing hospital food can improve patient morale and contribute to their recovery.

All National Health Service trusts, including in Hazel Grove, are expected to follow the NHS National Standards for Healthcare Food and Drink. There are eight mandatory standards all trusts are required to meet. This includes having a food and drink strategy and demonstrating that they have suitable food service provision 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which is appropriate for their demographic.

The guidance requires that NHS organisations must show that they comply with the British Dietetic Associations’ Nutrition and Hydration Digest, which identifies actions to be taken in relation to the provision of nutritional food, and which is available at the following link:

https://www.bda.uk.com/specialist-groups-and-branches/food-services-specialist-group/nutrition-and-hydration-digest.html

Furthermore, A key part of the specific standards for retail, staff, and visitors in healthcare settings is the need to comply with the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services mandatory nutrition standards. These standards are available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/national-standards-for-healthcare-food-and-drink/
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether any NHS trusts have opted out of participating in the Federated Data Platform; and what steps NHS England is taking to monitor trust participation. \p Karin Smyth: The NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) began its national roll-out in April 2024, following a pilot phase that commenced in 2022. NHS England has invited all National Health Service trusts and integrated care boards (ICBs) to develop plans for how they will maximise the benefits of the FDP for their patients within the next two years

Uptake of the NHS FDP continues to grow. As of 31 March 2025, 108 NHS hospital trusts had signed up to the FDP, and 72 trusts are currently live and in delivery

To monitor participation and progress, NHS England publishes quarterly updates on uptake and the benefits being realised. This includes NHS trusts and ICBs that have signed up, metrics on operational improvements, such as reductions in inpatient and outpatient waitlists, and insights into product adoption and benefit realisation across use cases like elective recovery, care coordination, and crisis response. These updates are available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/digitaltechnology/nhs-federated-data-platform/impact/fdp-uptake-and-benefits/
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Dr Ben Spencer:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timetable is for agreeing the final funding arrangements for rebuilding Weybridge Health Centre. \p Karin Smyth: The business case for the rebuild of Weybridge Health Centre has recently been submitted by Surrey Heartlands ICB to NHS England for review. In parallel, the NHS Property Services Board will be asked to approve the capital funding for this project and authority to enter into the contract. Subject to these approvals the new health centre will be fully completed in 2027.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Rebecca Paul:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of running long term studies in to the impact on women's bodies of egg retrieval. \p Karin Smyth: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)’s Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee (SCAAC) recently reviewed the published evidence of health outcomes for those having fertility treatment, including egg donors. The last 10 years of evidence were reviewed and the HFEA will update relevant information on its website as needed.

The HFEA also set out strict requirements in its Licence Conditions and Code of Practice relating to the information that must be given before egg retrieval takes place in United Kingdom licensed fertility clinics, whether for the patient’s own use or to donate to others. This includes information about the potential immediate or longer-term health risks and the psychological consequences of being a donor, as well as offering counselling to everyone involved.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS trusts have received (a) financial support and (b) incentive payments to enable uptake of the Federated Data Platform. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England has procured and paid for licences to provide a Federated Data Platform instance for all trusts and integrated care boards for the full duration of the contract. This includes providing onboarding and implementation support and ongoing access to a National Centre of Excellence and user forums.
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Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which hospitals will be investigated as part of the inquiry into maternity care in England. \p Karin Smyth: The investigation will carry out rapid reviews of up to ten trusts with specific issues. The University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust will be one of those trusts, as outlined on 23 June. The other trusts will be identified in due course.
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Rebecca Paul:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the reason that over 4,100 women from the poorest backgrounds in the UK have donated their eggs since 2011. \p Karin Smyth: The Department has not undertaken an assessment, however, academic research in the United Kingdom has consistently found that donating eggs and sperm is driven by altruism.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) published data shows that egg and sperm donors in England from 2011 to 2020 lived in similar or more affluent socio-economic areas than the general population.

The following table shows the number of egg donors living in each of the multiple deprivation deciles in England at time of registration, between 2011 and 2020:

Multiple deprivation decile

Number of egg donors

1

1,117

2

1,488

3

1,542

4

1,360

5

1,310

6

1,214

7

1,114

8

1,097

9

1,050

10

860

Source: the HFEA report, Trends in egg, sperm and embryo donation 2020.

Notes:
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to improve state funded maternity care. \p Karin Smyth: While there are outstanding examples of care in NHS maternity services, we know this is not the experience that all women have, and there are significant issues that need addressing.

My Rt. Hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, recently announced an independent Investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal services to understand the systemic issues behind why so many women, babies and families experience unacceptable care. This will produce, by December 2025, one clear set of national recommendations to achieve high quality, safe care across maternity and neonatal services.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care also announced the establishment of a National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce that will use the recommendations from the Investigation to develop a national plan, with families and partners, to drive improvements across maternity and neonatal care.

We are also taking a set of immediate action to start delivering the changes needed.

These include actions to boost accountability and safety as part of the Government’s mission to build an NHS fit for the future, and actions to hold the system to account. Specific actions include embedding a system to better identify safety concerns, rolling out a programme to all trusts to tackle discrimination and racism, and new best practice standards in maternal mortality.

Although significantly more action is required, there has been some good progress made in a range of areas. They include:
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Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timeline is for publishing a Government response to the Hughes Report, published on 7 February 2024. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is carefully considering the work by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her Report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government Departments. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s Report.
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Rebecca Paul:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of £985 per cycle payments to egg donors on the level of incentive to women from the poorest backgrounds to donate eggs because of financial need. \p Karin Smyth: The compensation rate for egg donation is set by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), as provided for in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. The HFEA has advised that the donor compensation levels originally set in 2011 followed a thorough ethical review, which identified a set of principles that ensured altruism remained at the heart of donation and that there were not any unjustifiable barriers to donation. The HFEA has advised that the increase in donor compensation from 1 October 2024 to £985 per cycle reflects the rise in inflation since the compensation rates were first introduced in 2011.

Academic research in the United Kingdom has consistently found that donating eggs and sperm is driven by altruism, and HFEA published data shows that egg and sperm donors in England from 2011 to 2020 lived in similar or more affluent socio-economic areas than the general population.
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Rebecca Paul:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of allowing young women to be solicited for egg donations by for-profit fertility clinics utilising adverts which do not list known health risks on their safety. \p Karin Smyth: No such assessment has been made. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the United Kingdom’s fertility sector regulator, sets out strict requirements in its Licence Conditions and Code of Practice in relation to the recruitment of donors and the information that must be given to egg donors in advance of donating at United Kingdom licensed fertility clinics, which includes information about the potential immediate or longer-term health risks and the psychological consequences of being a donor, as well as offering counselling to everyone involved.

The HFEA’s Code of Practice states that advertising should be designed with regard to the sensitive issues involved in recruiting donors and should follow the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) codes. This includes that advertising or publicity aimed at recruiting gamete or embryo donors, or encouraging donation, should not refer to the possibility of financial gain or similar advantage, although it may refer to compensation permitted under relevant HFEA Directions.

The ASA and HFEA issued a joint enforcement notice in 2021 to ensure fertility clinics and others were aware of the advertising rules, which remains in place.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will consider making resident doctors subject to legislation preventing strike action. \p Karin Smyth: The Department has no plans to pursue legislative measures to prevent strike action by any National Health Service workforce group.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of working with commercial suppliers whose senior leadership have expressed overt political affiliations on the reputation of NHS England. \p Karin Smyth: Commercial contracts awarded by the Department, NHS England, or other National Health Service bodies are held with a company rather than individuals.

NHS bodies set their own policies on how to award contracts, but they must do so in line with the law, specifically the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and now the Procurement Act 2023 which came into force in February 2025, and central policy. The Government uses a standard selection questionnaire that requires suppliers to confirm they meet certain standards. Suppliers can be excluded for a variety of reasons, including where they are guilty of grave professional misconduct or where they have shown significant or persistent deficiencies in the performance under a prior public contract. Full guidance on the Procurement Specific Questionnaire, which replaces the standard selection questionnaire under the Public Contract Regulations, can be found on the Government Commercial Function’s Procurement Pathways website.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Preet Kaur Gill:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing specific (a) Sikh and (b) Jewish options for a person’s ethnic group in data collection conducted by his Department. \p Karin Smyth: The merits of including Jewish or Sikh as an option when recording ethnicity in National Health Service data, and other issues relating to how the NHS records information on protected characteristics, are being considered by the Unified Information Standard for Protected Characteristics (UISPC) programme. The UISPC programme is a wide-ranging NHS England and Department led review of equality monitoring that examines workforce, employment, and patient datasets and national surveys. It explores how best to update equality monitoring arrangements by reference to the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of children living in temporary accommodation who presented to A&E with an injury or illness in the 2024-25 financial year. \p Karin Smyth: The information requested is not collected centrally.
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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many medical school places he expects there to be in each year up to 2031. \p Karin Smyth: The total maximum fundable limit for medical school places in England set by the Office for Students is 8,230 places for the 2025/26 academic year. The limit is confirmed on an annual basis.

We will publish a new 10 Year Workforce Plan later this year to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Tom Gordon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to bring forward (a) regulations and (b) a licensing regime for practitioners of cosmetic surgery. \p Karin Smyth: All doctors performing cosmetic surgery in the United Kingdom are required to be registered and licensed to practise by the General Medical Council. The Care Quality Commission regulates cosmetic treatments carried out by healthcare professionals in England that involve surgical procedures.

The Government is committed to taking action to address longstanding concerns about the safety of the cosmetics sector and is exploring options for further regulation in this area. We will set out the details of our approach in our response to the consultation on the licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England, which we will publish at the earliest opportunity.
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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of prescriptions for sodium valproate given to women between the ages of 18 and 52 in 2024. \p Karin Smyth: The number of prescription items prescribed in England to women between the ages of 18 to 52 years old for sodium valproate in the calendar year 2024 was 201,834.
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Michael Wheeler:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the planned changes to funding for Level 7 apprenticeships for Specialist Community Public Health Nurses after January 2026; and what steps his Department is taking to support skills development within the NHS workforce. \p Karin Smyth: While the Department for Education has announced that the funding arrangements for Level 7 apprenticeships are changing, we are working closely with partners to ensure that health and social care has access to the skilled workforce patients need, including specialist community public health nurses.

We will publish our 10 Year Workforce Plan by the end of this year. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the best care for patients, when they need it.
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Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with NICE on the recommended frequency of infant head measurements. \p Karin Smyth: Department officials have spoken to colleagues at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) about its guidance on infant measurements following a meeting between my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and Harry’s Hydrocephalus Awareness Trust in 2024. NICE is responsible for deciding whether its clinical guidelines should be updated in light of new evidence.
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Mike Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells on coroners holding inquests into stillbirths, dated 6 June 2025. \p Karin Smyth: The Department has received the Hon. Member’s correspondence of 6 June and will reply as soon as possible.
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Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the quality of information provided on (a) choice over pregnancy, (b) menopause care and (c) the availability of free contraceptive pills at pharmacies. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Noah Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has provided to (a) local healthcare trusts and (b) ICBs on the specification for Neighbourhood Health Centres. \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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Mrs Sharon Hodgson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2025 to Question 63541 on Autism: Foetal Valproate Spectrum Disorder, if she will take steps to collate this information centrally. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of partner GPs in each of the next 10 years. \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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Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of the £10 billion NHS technology investment will be spent on software licensing. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Alison Bennett:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing primary legislation to give those in care settings the right for (a) their loved ones and (b) others to visit. \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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Natalie Fleet:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many registered care homes received a Care Quality Commission assessment as (a) requires improvement and (b) inadequate, in each of the last five years in Bolsover constituency. \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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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to reopen the New to Partnership Payment Scheme to support healthcare professionals to become GP partners. \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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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 61313 on NHS: Fees and Charges, if he will publish the revenue raised by NHS penalty charges in each year since 2020, broken down by age group. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Tessa Munt:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question 63305 on Sodium Valproate and Surgical Mesh Implants, on what dates they held the meetings with the Patient Safety Commissioner to discuss the recommendations of the Hughes report. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support NHS Trusts with (a) additional pharmacist staff salaries, (b) the cost of additional monitoring blood tests and (c) additional service delivery costs when new drug treatments are funded for NHS patients. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_64

Alison Bennett:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his response to the hon. Member for Mid Sussex of 10 July 2025 during his Oral Statement on Resident Doctors: Industrial Action, Official Report, column 1152, when he plans to begin publishing data on corridor care. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_65
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_65

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to respite care for unpaid carers in North Shropshire constituency. \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.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_66
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_66

Jonathan Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the planned timescale is for the abolition of Healthwatch England. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_67
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_67

Steve Barclay:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on what annual percentage increases in healthcare demand is the 10 Year Heath Plan based. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_68
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_68

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Government’s immigration policies on trends in the level of recruitment of internationally educated nurses into (a) the NHS and (b) social care roles; and whether he has prepared contingency plans for a reduction in the level of recruitment. \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.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_69
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_69

John Glen:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to make a decision on the future of (a) UKHSA Porton Down and (b) the single science hub at Harrow. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_70
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_70

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has (a) received reports of technical problems with and (b) investigated the functionality of the online evidence submissions form for the Islamophobia/Anti-Muslim Hatred Definition Working Group. \p Alex Norris: The Working Group launched a Call for Evidence to build on the extensive consultation they’ve already undertaken. The Call for Evidence closed on Sunday 20 July. It was open to the public and any individual or organisation was welcome to submit evidence. There are no known technical issues with the functionality of the Call for Evidence submission form and an email inbox was available for individuals and organisations to report any technical issues.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_71
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_71

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will hold discussions with London boroughs on abolishing council directly elected mayors. \p Jim McMahon: The government is proposing to accept the continuation of directly elected council mayors where they are currently in place, while introducing new measures to ensure a more consistent approach to local authority governance arrangements in England. The government remains open to discussion with any council currently operating a directly elected local mayoral model, where they wish to adopt the leader and cabinet model. Any such change would be undertaken using pre-existing routes. Further detail on the government’s approach to simplifying local leadership structures can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 24 June 2025 (HCWS736).
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_72
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_72

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to require local referenda for local government reorganisation proposals in Lincolnshire. \p Jim McMahon: Local government reorganisation will deliver better outcomes for residents and save significant money which can be reinvested in public services. Simpler structures with fewer politicians can improve democratic accountability as residents know who to look to and it is clearer who is responsible for what

We do not have any plans to require local referenda as part of the local government reorganisation process. Under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, Parliament set out the statutory process for establishing unitary councils in two-tier areas. As set out in the invitation letter, areas must demonstrate how the local community has been engaged in developing proposals.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_73
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_73

Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will initiate an external assurance review following Norfolk County Council's application for Exceptional Financial Support. \p Jim McMahon: Any support agreed through the Exceptional Financial Support framework is usually agreed in-principle and may be subject to conditions, including ensuring there is appropriate assurance around the circumstances of the request. My department is continuing to engage with Norfolk County Council on their request for support.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_74
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_74

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Local Government Outcomes Framework published on 3 July 2025, what metrics will be used to measure (a) flood protection, (b) anti-social behaviour, (c) biodiversity and (d) social housing demand. \p Jim McMahon: MHCLG’s call for feedback for the Local Government Outcomes Framework sets out our approach to developing the placeholder metrics in question gov.uk Local Government Outcomes Framework: Call for feedback.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_75
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_75

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the average increase in (a) town and (b) parish precepts in council areas that have undergone unitary restructuring. \p Jim McMahon: The Department does not hold information specifically on the average increase in town and parish precepts in council areas that have undergone unitary restructuring. However, data on town and parish precept levels are published each year and can be accessed gov.uk here.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_76
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_76

Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support is available to local authorities to improve community (a) libraries, (b) banking hubs and (c) other digital access points for residents lacking reliable home internet access. \p Jim McMahon: The final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government, which is a 6.8% cash terms increase on 2024-25. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.

This government is also taking direct steps to support libraries, banks and digital inclusion.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport announced in February 2025 a further £5.5 million of the Libraries Improvement Fund for 2025-26

The Government is also working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. Over 230 hubs have been announced so far, and over 170 are already open.

Finally, the Government published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan: First Steps in February 2025, which outlines the first five actions we are taking over the next year on digital inclusion.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_77
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_77

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has published on the maximum of deputy mayors that may be appointed by the (a) Greater London Authority and (b) combined authority mayors; and whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to amend these limits. \p Jim McMahon: The maximum number of deputy mayors for the Greater London Authority (GLA), combined authorities, or combined county authorities is set out in relevant legislation – that being the Greater London Authority Act 1999, the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, and the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.

There are several positions that may be referred to as ‘deputy mayor’. In the GLA, this includes the statutory deputy mayor, the mayor’s appointees under section 67(1)(b) of the 1999 Act, and the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime. In combined authorities and combined county authorities, there is the statutory deputy mayor and, where applicable, the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will, if passed, introduce the position of ‘commissioner’, whom the Mayor can appoint to help deliver on one or more areas of competence.

The Mayor of London may appoint up to 11 ‘deputy mayors’ under section 67(1)(b) of the 1999 Act. In combined and combined county authorities, mayors can appoint one statutory deputy mayor and one Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime. As currently drafted, they will be able to appoint up to seven commissioners. There are no plans to amend these limits.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_78
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_78

Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the number of local authorities receiving Exceptional Financial Support in the 2025-26 financial year. \p Jim McMahon: The Government recognises the significant pressures that councils are facing. The Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. The £3.4 billion, when taken together with a 3% core council tax referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept, results in an average overall real terms increase in local authority core spending power of 2.6% per year over the next multi-year settlement (2026-27 to 2028-29).

The government is committed to fixing the foundations of local government through ambitious reform. To support local authorities as we do so, we are inviting views through the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation on a package of transitional arrangements available over the multi-year Spending Review period.

Any council that has concerns about its ability to set or maintain a balanced budget should approach the department in the first instance. Details of any councils where additional support has been agreed will be published to GOV.UK in the usual manner.
wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_79
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_79

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2025 to Question 60934 on Council Tax: Tax Yields, what the monetary amount of the estimated receipts from council tax in England only is in each year of the Spending Review period that provides the base for the core spending power budget line in the Spending Review 2025. \p Jim McMahon: This Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of grant funding that will be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settlement within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29.

There will be an average overall real terms increase in local authority core spending power (which includes council tax, locally retained business rates and government grant) of 2.6% per year over the next multi-year settlement (2026-27 to 2028-29). This is set out in Table B.2 of the 2025 Spending Review.

The assumed referendum principles of a 3% core principle and a 2% adult social care precept are in line with the previous government’s policy and OBR forecast. The Department will publish updated estimates as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) 2026-27, in the usual way, including the specific core spending power figures for each local authority. It is for individual councils to set their own level of council tax.