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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that lessons are learned from the systemic failings at Medomsley Detention Centre to prevent similar abuse in youth detention facilities in the future. \p Jake Richards: The Prison and Probation Ombudsman’s investigation published on 12 November set out in stark detail the horrific abuse that boys and young men experienced at Medomsley Detention Centre (MDC). The PPO asked the Government to consider three issues – that the Government make an apology, that the complaints process should be reformed, and that children should be asked about their experiences of custody by a trained independent member of staff.

On 12 November, the Government published a Written Ministerial Statement and sent an open letter to victims and survivors. In both, we made a full apology for the abuse which victims and survivors endured and recognised the ineffective governance structures and failures of leadership at every level, which meant the abuse was allowed to continue for such a long time. In the Government response, we also committed to setting up a Youth Custody Safeguarding Panel to make recommendations to improve safeguarding across the youth estate today, including reviewing the ways children can make complaints and are asked about their experiences in custody. This panel has now been established and will be chaired by Isabelle Trowler (the Chief Social Worker for Children and Families), who will consider the issues raised in the PPO report and report to ministers by spring 2026.

In terms of support for victims and survivors, the Ministry of Justice put in place a settlement scheme to provide compensation. To date, this has settled over 2,700 claims, totalling over £10 million. Whilst no amount of compensation can change what has happened in the past, this scheme remains open and we have encouraged anyone who has not already, to make a claim.

There are not any plans to establish a public inquiry into MDC. The PPO report is forensic and follows criminal investigations by the Durham Constabulary – Operations Halter One and Two in the 2000s, and the comprehensive Operation Seabrook beginning in 2013. Due to the breadth and depth of these investigations, a public inquiry would be very unlikely to uncover any new information or insight. Adrian Usher, the Ombudsman, has shared this view – “It is my opinion that should a public inquiry arise following the publication of my report, I cannot see how it would produce a more comprehensive account of what happened at Medomsley, and the causes of it, than my investigation has revealed.”
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of (i) nurses (ii) doctors (iii) midwives entering the NHS were (a) non-UK citizens (b) non-UK graduates in each of the last five years. \p Karin Smyth: The Department does not hold data on the number and proportion non-United Kingdom citizens entering the National Health Service. NHS England publishes monthly Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) workforce statistics for England which includes data on the self-reported nationality of NHS staff, which may not be the same as citizenship. Not all non-UK nationals will have been recruited from abroad, as some will already be resident in the UK before they join the NHS. This information is available at the following link, within the folder “Preliminary - NHS HCHS Workforce Statistics, Turnover – CSV data files”:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statistics

The Department does not hold data on the number and proportion non-UK graduate doctors, nurses and midwives entering the NHS. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) publishes data on non-UK graduate first-time joiners to their professional register across the UK. The General Medical Council (GMC) similarly publishes data on non-UK graduates taking up, or returning to, a license to practice medicine in the UK. It is possible to apply to join the UK Registers without moving to the UK.

The most recent published NMC data is available at the following link: https://www.nmc.org.uk/about-us/reports-and-accounts/registration-statistics/

The most recent published GMC data can be found under the “Reference tables and data annex” section of the “The state of medical education and practice in the UK: workforce report 2025”, within the file titled “The register of medical practitioners”, available at the following link:

https://www.gmc-uk.org/about/what-we-do-and-why/data-and-research/the-state-of-medical-education-and-practice-in-the-uk/workforce-report
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 6 November 2025 to Question 86606, what steps he has taken to ensure that citizens of British Overseas Territories have access to NHS services whilst resident in the UK. \p Karin Smyth: National Health Service care is provided free at the point of use to people who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom. Being ordinarily resident broadly means living in the UK on a lawful and properly settled basis. People who are not considered ordinarily resident in the UK are required to pay for healthcare in England unless an exemption applies.

If citizens of British Overseas Territories are assessed as being ordinarily resident in the UK, they are able to access NHS care free at the point of use.
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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the changes to the Certificates of Sponsorship minimum salary threshold on (a) international staff in the NHS, (b) NHS staffing levels and (c) NHS waiting lists. \p Karin Smyth: On 9 April 2025, the minimum salary for Health and Care Worker Visa holders increased to £25,000 per year. This applies to new Certificates of Sponsorship assigned on or after this date. No specific assessment has been made on the impact of this change on National Health Service international staff, staffing levels, and waiting lists.

While we value our international workforce and the skills and experience they bring, we are also committed to growing homegrown talent and giving opportunities to more people across the country to join our NHS. The 10-Year Health Plan set out this Government’s intention to reduce the reliance on internationally trained healthcare professionals.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason. \p Karin Smyth: Based on our reporting data up to the end of September 2025, we are withholding this data due to the small number of employees involved which could make individuals and the cause of their absence identifiable.
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Sarah Owen:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Nursing and Midwifery Council on wait times for (a) general cases and (b) cases before the case examiner. \p Karin Smyth: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the independent regulator of nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom, and nursing associates in England. The NMC is independent of Government, directly accountable to Parliament and is responsible for operational matters concerning the discharge of its statutory duties. The United Kingdom’s model of healthcare professional regulation is founded on the principle of regulators operating independently from the Government. The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care oversees the bodies that regulate health and care professionals in the UK, which includes the NMC.

As Minister of State for Health (Secondary Care), I monitor the NMC’s performance and meets with the organisation regularly, which includes discussion on the timeliness of the NMC’s fitness to practise processes. In line with the Ministerial Code, details of all ministerial meetings, including those with the NMC, are published quarterly on the GOV.UK website, at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-overseas-travel-and-meetings
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce gynaecology waiting lists. \p Karin Smyth: Reducing waiting lists is a key part of the Government’s Health Mission, and we are committed to cutting waiting times across all specialities, including gynaecology. We have committed to return to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment, by March 2029.

We are making good progress, as waiting lists have been cut by over 230,000 since the Government came into office, which includes nearly 14,000 fewer patients waiting for gynaecology treatment over the same period.

We have also delivered 5.2 million additional appointments between July 2024 and June 2025, having exceeded our pledge of two million. However, we know there is more to do, and we have confirmed over £6 billion of additional capital investment to expand capacity across diagnostics, electives, and urgent care. This includes expanding the number of surgical hubs, which provide valuable and protected capacity across elective specialities, including gynaecology. As of November 2025, over half of the 123 operational elective surgical hubs in England provide gynaecology services.
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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support retention within the maternity and neonatal workforce. \p Karin Smyth: As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government is committed to making the National Health Service the best place to work, by supporting and retaining our hardworking and dedicated healthcare professionals.

To support this ambition, the Government plans to introduce a new set of standards for modern employment in April 2026. The new standards will reaffirm our commitment to improving retention by tackling the issues that matter to staff including promoting flexible working, improving staff health and wellbeing, and dealing with violence, racism, and sexual harassment in the NHS workplace. They will provide a framework for leaders across the NHS to build a supportive culture that embeds retention.

Targeted retention initiatives for nurses and midwives have also been undertaken by NHS England and led by the Chief Nursing Officer, including: the introduction of a nursing and midwifery retention self-assessment tool; a national preceptorship framework; mentoring schemes; and strengthened advice and support on pensions and flexible retirement options.
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Navendu Mishra:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2025 to Question 67482 on IVF: Greater Manchester, If his Department will have discussions with NHS Greater Manchester following the publication of the Standardising IVF Cycles Consultation Summary Report on implementing an increase in the number of funded cycles. \p Karin Smyth: Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards, and are based on the clinical needs of their local population. There are no current plans to discuss implementing an increase in the number of funded in-vitro fertilisation cycles with NHS Greater Manchester.
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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to address variation in access to NHS-funded IVF treatment between integrated care boards. \p Karin Smyth: The Government recognises that fertility treatment across the National Health Service in England is subject to variation in access. Work continues between the Department and NHS England to better understand NHS-funded fertility services and the effectiveness of these services. This work will take time to develop, and the Department is keen to ensure there will be stakeholder engagement during this process, beginning in the new year.

Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards (ICBs) and are based on the clinical needs of their population. We expect ICBs to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines ensuring equal access to fertility treatment across England.

NICE is currently reviewing the fertility guidelines and will consider whether its current recommendations for access to NHS-funded treatment are still appropriate. A consultation on revised guidelines was published on 10 September and closed on 21 October 2025.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made to renew the Women’s Health Strategy. \p Karin Smyth: Significant progress has been made towards delivering the ambitions in the 2022 Women’s Health Strategy, for example, improving women and girls’ awareness and access to services and driving research to benefit women’s health.

Renewing the strategy will ensure that we continue this momentum and that it is fully aligned with the 10-Year Health Plan. We will identify and remove enduring barriers to high-quality care, such as decreasing wait times for diagnosis, and ensuring that professionals listen to women and respond to their needs.

We are currently engaging with external partners to inform the renewal of the strategy, bringing together voices from across the Government, NHS England, public health, mental health, women’s health advocacy, and employment policy alongside women with lived experience of women’s health conditions. We are also drawing on the evidence provided by almost 100,000 people in response to the original call for evidence for the 2022 strategy.
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Mr Clive Betts:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the support available to ambulance staff who attend traumatic callouts. \p Karin Smyth: The mental health of all National Health Service staff is a high priority, including ambulance staff as responders to emergency incidents.

Significant work is underway to strengthen the quality and consistency of suicide training across the health system. NHS England published Staying Safe from Suicide: Best Practice Guidance for Safety Assessment, Formulation and Management to support the Government’s work to reduce suicide and improve mental health services.  This guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/staying-safe-from-suicide/

At a national level ambulance staff have access to the SHOUT helpline for crisis support alongside the Practitioner Health service for more complex mental health wellbeing support, including trauma and addiction. Additionally, ambulance trusts and the Association of Ambulance Trust Chief Executives have worked closely with NHS England to develop an ambulance sector specific suicide prevention pathway to provide immediate support 24/7 for staff experiencing suicidal ideation.
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Dr Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to ensure the provision of a) surgical hubs and b) community diagnostics centres are aligned with areas with the highest levels of health deprivation. \p Karin Smyth: We are committed to ensuring that the provision of elective surgical hubs and community diagnostic centres (CDCs) is aligned with areas of greatest deprivation and population health need. As a core requirement of the capital business case approval process within NHS England, all proposals have been and continue to be reviewed and assured against the following core principles:

This approach ensures equitable access to services, supports the reduction of health inequalities, and promotes improved outcomes for patients across all regions.

NHS England is also working with local National Health Service systems to identify the most appropriate locations for additional investment, including new CDCs. New CDCs should be positioned in a location which addresses local need and health inequalities. Details of future sites will be set out in due course.
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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has assessed the factors contributing to variation in intervention rates between NHS trusts. \p Karin Smyth: The Department has made no specific assessment. Local National Health Service commissioners are responsible for planning healthcare services that meet the needs of their respective populations. NHS trust interventions will vary across services and in response to a range of local factors.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how long-term health system cost efficiency is evaluated when decisions are made to decommission locally delivered health programmes in Surrey. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England has published guidance for National Health Service commissioners on planning service changes, including the decommissioning of services. This includes guidance on clinical evidence and costs.

The guidance also incorporates the Government’s four tests: that service change should have support from commissioners; be based on clinical evidence; demonstrate public and patient engagement; and consider patient choice. This guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/planning-assuring-delivering-service-change-v6-1.pd
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Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he will put in place (a) employment protections and (b) transition arrangements for long-serving NHS clinical staff being moved into civil service contracts as part of the NHS England restructure. \p Karin Smyth: The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations, or equivalent mechanisms such as the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice, are designed to safeguard employees’ rights during transfers between employers. Employment protections and transition arrangements for NHS England employees will be put in place based on these schemes.

The Department and NHS England are working closely together to identify differences in employment terms and conditions. Where changes are likely to affect staff transferring into the Department, these will be included in formal measures for consultation. This will be communicated once we are in a position to do so.
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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to improve the recording of miscarriage in NHS services. \p Karin Smyth: The risk of miscarriage is estimated at 15%, and there are approximately 100,000 to 150,000 miscarriages per year in the United Kingdom. However, due to lack of data on the earliest losses, the true figure could be higher at approximately 250,000 a year.

An update to digital record standards on maternity in March 2025 means that the National Health Service is now able to record the pregnancy outcome for any woman, including miscarriage, where they have been in contact with NHS maternity services.

NHS England is in the early stages of a new project to review the Maternity Services Dataset, and we will carefully consider miscarriage information as part of this work.
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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of information on birth care choices for expectant parents. \p Karin Smyth: An assessment of the adequacy of the availability of information on birth care choices for expectant parents has not been made at a national level.

This information is managed by local trusts and must reflect the facilities that are available locally. Information on birth care choices must also be accompanied by personalised advice from a midwife or obstetrician.

It is expected that care is provided in line with national guidelines, such as guidance issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NICE’s guideline on intrapartum care sets out the standard of intrapartum care, ensuring women and pregnant people receive safe, evidence-based information and support during labour and birth. It emphasises the role of healthcare professionals in supporting informed choice by providing clear information on the full range of birth settings and care options, enabling women to make decisions that reflect their preferences and needs.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase awareness of endometriosis amongst medical professionals. \p Karin Smyth: In November 2024 the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence updated their guideline on endometriosis to make firmer recommendations for healthcare professionals on referral and investigations for women with a suspected diagnosis. This will help women receive a diagnosis and effective treatment faster. This guideline is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG73)www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG73

Additionally, the General Medical Council has introduced the Medical Licensing Assessment to encourage a better understanding of common women’s health problems among all doctors as they start their careers in the United Kingdom. The content for this assessment includes several topics relating to women’s health, including endometriosis. This will encourage a better understanding of common women’s health problems among all doctors as they start their careers in the UK.

Endometriosis is also included in the core curriculum for trainee general practitioners, and for obstetricians and gynaecologists.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) maternity and (b) neonatal care in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Karin Smyth: The Frimley Integrated Care System (ICS), which covers the Surrey Heath constituency, has implemented several measures to improve maternity and neonatal care. These include the full implementation of the Saving Babies’ Lives care bundle, including an in-house stop smoking service, and the PREM7+ care bundle to improve care for preterm babies.

The Frimley ICS has also launched a new antenatal education offer, is implementing the Maternity Incentive Scheme, a financial incentive that encourages trusts towards actions that improve maternity safety, and is working with the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership to provide birth boxes to improve women’s experience.

At a national level, Baroness Amos is leading a rapid, national, independent investigation into National Health Service maternity and neonatal services to help us to understand the systemic issues behind why so many women, babies, and families experience unacceptable care. The Government is also setting up a National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The taskforce will take forward the recommendations of the investigation to develop a new national action plan to drive improvements across maternity and neonatal care.
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Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Boost to mental health services from thousands of extra staff, published on 27 June 2025, how the recruitment of 6,700 mental health staff in the most recent year compares with the number recruited in each of the previous five years. \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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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer to Question 85849 on Mechanical Thrombectomy: Health Services, how many and what proportion of stroke units are in trusts which offer mechanical thrombectomy. \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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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer to Question 85849 on Mechanical Thrombectomy: Health Services, what estimate he has made of the time taken for a patient to be transferred from the referring centre to a hospital offering thrombectomy services after the decision to accept the patient for care. \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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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will set a target date for the implementation of a nationwide prostate cancer screening programme for men with a BRCA variant. \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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Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the (a) adequacy of support services for families of patients detained or likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act, and (b) benefits of developing a single point of contact service to remove the occasions where multiple calls to numerous agencies are required to secure the required support. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: 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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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer to Question 85849 on Mechanical Thrombectomy: Health Services, when he expects people to be able to access thrombectomy services within four hours when needed. \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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Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of advocacy voice and weight given to representations made by family members of patients over 18 years old who are detained or likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: 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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Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of current inpatient capacity and waiting times for secure mental health placements for individuals detained under the Mental Health Act in (a) England (b) Greater Manchester (c) Oldham. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: 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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Rebecca Paul:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of issuing penalty charge notices as a deterrent against improper claims of free NHS prescriptions. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: From November 2024 to October 2025, the NHS Business Service Authority issued 47,058 penalty charge notices (PCNs) to people who claimed a medical exemption but were found to have no exemption in place when checked. Of these, 21,328 were eased, for various reasons including the patient subsequently applying for an exemption successfully. The number of easements in this category cannot be confirmed. Of the 47,058 PCNs issued 3,583 people received multiple PCNs.

Although the Department has made no formal assessment of the effectiveness of issuing PCNs as a deterrent against improper claims, the fact that the vast majority who receive one PCN do not go on to receive another would, in my opinion, suggest a potential deterrent effect.
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Bob Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he expects to complete his review of stakeholder feedback submitted in April 2025 on the Part IX re-categorisation process for Waves 1 to 4, and when updates will be shared with the Drug Tariff Committee and Forum members. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The final draft, version 1.2, of the Part IX Drug Tariff (Med Tech in the community) wave one categorisation was developed in collaboration with an Expert Reference Group and updated in line with stakeholder feedback over four iterations. The final version was published in October 2025, and can be found on the NHS Business Services Authority Website at the following link:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/manufacturers-and-suppliers/drug-tariff-part-ix-information

The Department is currently recruiting Independent Assessment Panels (IAPs) for wave one and has agreed to ask them to review late feedback received from a company on the eye drops category. This is due to take place in February 2026.

This will not require further input from industry as it has already been circulated for comment by them. The Department has offered to review Drug Tariff Committee feedback regarding the categorisation of medical devices that fall into waves two to four.

The categorisation for waves two and three is currently being reviewed, and the Department expects to share the updated versions in early 2026, well in advance of the projected launch of waves two and three in 2027 and 2028 respectively. There are no confirmed plans for reviewing wave four at this time. The earliest launch would be in January 2029. All dates are subject to the outcome of the review of wave one.

The Department recognises that the categorisation is not stagnant and may need further amendments as medical devices continue to evolve. Companies can suggest further amendments when they apply to Part IX of the Drug Tariff or through the Drug Tariff Committee.
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Simon Hoare:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the official closing date under section 14 of the Inquiries Act 2005 was for the public inquiry entitled Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Inquiry. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust was set up on 9 June 2010 when Sir Robert Francis was appointed as Chair of the Inquiry. On the same date, this was announced to Parliament by the then Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley.

Sir Francis submitted his final report to then Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, on 5 February 2013, which officially closed the public inquiry. The report was published on 6 February 2013.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-05 conversation_240

Mr Clive Betts:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of collecting data on the number of attempted suicides attended by ambulance staff. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Brigg and Immingham on 1 December 2025, to Question 84585.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-05 conversation_241

Sarah Pochin:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will commit to publishing the results of the Tavistock clinical trial into puberty blockers for children. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: There have been at least two studies relating to puberty-suppressing hormones and the Tavistock clinic. The Early pubertal suppression in a carefully selected group of adolescents with gender identity disorders study, sponsored by University College London, published its findings in 2021. The Outcomes and Predictors of Outcome for Children and Young People Referred to UK Gender Identity Development Services: A longitudinal Investigation study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, was due to end in July 2025. We would expect the study findings to be published in a peer reviewed academic journal within 12 months of the completion of the study.

In addition, NHS England, in conjunction with the National Institute for Health and Care Research, is commissioning a data linkage study, which will provide different and separately valuable evidence to both understand the experience and outcomes of former patients of the Gender Identity Development Service and inform future National Health Service gender care. We would similarly expect the study findings to be published.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-05 conversation_242

Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the Faroese Minister for Fisheries on cetacean hunts. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 14 October 2024 in response to Question 7965.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-05 conversation_243

Ms Marie Rimmer:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps she has taken with her international counterparts to ensure the protection of Rohingya women and girls in Myanmar. \p Seema Malhotra: As penholder on Myanmar at the UN Security Council, we convened six Council meetings in 2024, including the first open meeting in five years focused on the Rohingya, and we have convened three Council meetings so far in 2025. We also co-sponsored a UN Human Rights Council resolution in April this year, and a UN Third Committee Resolution in November, on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, condemning ongoing violations particularly against ethnic minorities, including Rohingya. We continue to call for the protection of civilians and humanitarian access to Rakhine State, most recently at the UN Third Committee on 19 November.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-05 conversation_244

John Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she had discussions with the Scottish Government prior to the meeting between the First Minister of Scotland and the Leader of Sinn Fein on 26 November 2025 in Dublin. \p Stephen Doughty: Under the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, the Devolved Governments are entitled to have discussions with Ireland on matters within devolved competence. These meetings are not routinely attended by UK Government officials but the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is made aware of them in advance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_1

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to fly the Cross of St George from 10 Downing Street on Saint Crispin’s Day in 2025. \p Georgia Gould: I refer the Rt hon. Member to the answer of 18 December 2024, Official Report, PQ 21060. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-12-18/21060
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_2

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2024, to Question 21064, on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, if he will publish his Department's Commercial Transport Contract. \p Georgia Gould: The Cabinet Office has a Contract in place with Corporate Travel Management (North) Limited (CTM). CTM provides a travel booking service for Cabinet Office staff when travel is permitted for business reasons. Information on this Contract can be found at the following Contracts Finder link:

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/da014209-47d7-4805-8097-e191d7d1077f?origin=SearchResults&p=1
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_3

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2024 to Question 6100 on Civil Servants: Recruitment, if he will publish the (a) Department, (b) grade and (c) job title of each of the jobs advertised through Civil Service Jobs which were accessible only to civil servants since 5 July 2024. \p Georgia Gould: As per our response to PQ6100 we are not able to provide this level of detail without individuals being identifiable.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_4

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Cabinet Office board operating framework was last updated; and if he will place a copy in the Library of the House. \p Georgia Gould: The Board Operating Framework was last updated in December 2023. As was the case under the previous administration, it is not standard practice for this to be published as this is an internal document.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_5

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of the London properties managed by the Government Property Agency have shared-space gender-neutral toilets. \p Georgia Gould: This information is not held centrally.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_6

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether there is a data sharing agreement between his Department and HM Revenue and Customs on the work of (a) the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, (b) the Propriety and Ethics Team, (c) the Honours unit, and (d) the Public Appointments unit. \p Georgia Gould: The Memorandum of Understanding between HMRC and the Cabinet Office for the purpose of accessing HMRC information to assist honours committees in making ​recommendations​​​​​ about awarding honours to individuals can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sharing-hmrc-information-to-assist-honours-committees-recommendations/memorandum-of-understanding-accessing-hmrc-information-to-assist-honours-committees-in-making-recommendations-about-awarding-honours-to-individ

There is also a data sharing agreement in place between the Cabinet Office and HMRC as a departmental user of the Apply for a Public Appointment Service.

As was the case under the previous administration, there is no specific data sharing agreement between HMRC and the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards or the Propriety and Ethics team. Data sharing between departments is considered on a case-by-case basis, in line with UK GDPR.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_7

Mark Pritchard:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will have discussions with his European Union counterpart on the potential merits of establishing a six months visa waiver scheme for citizens visiting EU Member States in the Schengen area to replace the 90 day rule. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: Both the UK and the EU allow for visa-free short-term travel in line with their respective arrangements for third country nationals. The UK allows EU citizens short-term visa-free travel for up to six months. Meanwhile, the Schengen Borders Code allows for certain third country nationals to travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; this is standard for third countries travelling to the EU. The UK Government will continue to listen to and advocate for UK nationals.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_8

Brian Mathew:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to negotiate a six-month visa waiver scheme with the EU. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: Both the UK and the EU allow for visa-free short-term travel in line with their respective arrangements for third country nationals. The UK allows EU citizens short-term, visa-free travel for up to six months. Meanwhile, the Schengen Borders Code allows for certain third country nationals to travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; this is standard for third-country nationals travelling to the EU.  The UK Government will continue to listen to and advocate for UK nationals.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_9

Melanie Ward:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress his Department has made on strengthening national resilience. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: As my Rt. Hon friend, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, set out in his statement to the House last week, we continue to make improvements to strengthen our national resilience.

In April the UK Resilience Academy will be launched and will train over 4000 people a year and;

Later this year we will undertake a full national pandemic response exercise.

The review of national resilience also continues. I will be inviting Members from across this House to attend drop-in sessions to discuss the review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_10

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22191 on Public Bodies: Reviews, which reviews (a) are in progress and (b) have been paused; and what the status is of reviews in the 2024-25 financial year. \p Georgia Gould: Of the reviews planned for 2024/25, four are completed. Nine remain in progress and ten are paused.

The government has also announced the first zero-based review of government spending in 17 years, with departments expected to go line-by-line to find savings and efficiencies, including in bodies and agencies that they sponsor. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury has also announced regular, thematic reviews of areas of spending to ensure value for money.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_11

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of consultations conducted by the Government since July 2024. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Cabinet Office does not centrally collect data nor monitor consultations across Government. The Cabinet Office provides high level advice on the Consultation Principles to help departments consider how they should manage their consultations. Each department is legally responsible for how they run their consultations.