theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_190
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_190

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Government has made of the effect on rural and elderly populations of increasing reliance on online banking. \p Lucy Rigby: The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities, high streets and rural areas and is committed to championing sufficient access, including for older and digitally excluded customers. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and over 180 are already open.

While branch closures are commercial decisions for banks, Financial Conduct Authority guidance expects firms to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs and put in place reasonable alternatives. This seeks to ensure that branch closures are implemented in a way that treats customers fairly. Firms are not able to close cash facilities, including bank branches, until any additional cash services identified as needed in the relevant assessment are available.

Customers can access everyday banking services in a range of ways that suit their needs. This includes telephone banking, digital channels such as mobile or online banking and in person via bank branches and banking hubs. This mix of options helps ensure that people, particularly those who are less digitally engaged, can continue to manage their money confidently and securely.

The Post Office plays a key role in supporting access to banking services. Under the Banking Framework, a commercial agreement between the Post Office and 30 banking firms, personal and business customers can withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK. Decisions about what services are available at the Post Office, such as cheque deposits, are made by the banks as part of their commercial arrangements.

While there has been a decline in overall cheque volumes, they continue to be used by many individuals, charities and businesses. In addition to traditional deposit methods, cheques can also be deposited digitally via mobile apps using cheque imaging technology.

Beyond banking hubs and Post Office services, some banks provide further points of access through initiatives like pop-up services in libraries and community centres, or mobile banking vans serving remote areas. The Government supports these initiatives.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_191
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_191

Callum Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to strengthen financial sector co-operation between the UK and Gulf economies. \p Lucy Rigby: The UK has signed financial services Memoranda of Understanding with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar – priority markets for the UK sector given the scale of growth and investment opportunities.

The Chancellor recently visited Saudi Arabia to attend the Future Investment Initiative, where she promoted the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy, driving growth in the financial sector and the economy, advanced the UK’s Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the GCC, advocated for deeper UK-Saudi capital market connectivity, and unveiled a two-way investment package worth £6.4bn

In negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement, the UK aims to secure the Gulf Cooperation Council’s most advanced financial services commitments yet, supporting increased trade between our markets.

The Chancellor’s trip followed a visit from the then-Economic Secretary to the Treasury to Saudi Arabia and the UAE in February to discuss our financial service relationships.

The first UK-Qatar Financial Services Working Group, as agreed under our MoU signed last year, took place on 3 November and focused on collaboration in capital markets, sustainable finance, fintech and pensions.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_192
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_192

Callum Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to monitor delivery of the £6.4 billion of trade and investment commitments announced during her visit to the Gulf. \p Lucy Rigby: Whilst in Riyadh, the Chancellor welcomed a total package worth £6.4bn in mutual trade and investment. This included both private commercial deals and a Memorandum of Understanding between UK Export Finance (UKEF) and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. HMT will be able to monitor UKEF financial exposure in Saudi Arabia via regular reporting and UKEF’s annual accounts. Commercial agreements are a matter for the relevant companies.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_193
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_193

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much her Department has spent on social media advertising by (a) influencer and (b) organisation in each of the last five financial years. \p Dan Tomlinson: The department has spent £0 on social media advertising in the last 5 financial years.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_194
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_194

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average proportion of income paid in tax is for a full-time worker earning the national median salary. \p Dan Tomlinson: According to the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data, median gross annual earnings for full-time employees were £39,039 in April 2025. The average employee would pay the basic rate of income tax (20%) and 8% in National Insurance Contributions on all earnings above the tax-free Personal Allowance of £12,570.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_195
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_195

Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of prison officers recruited through the Unlocked Graduates programme on (a) prisoner rehabilitation outcomes and (b) reoffending rates in establishments where they have been deployed. \p Jake Richards: The Ministry of Justice's workforce planning process ensures that we use all appropriate recruitment routes to ensure that we have in place the level of Prison Officers we need to support delivery.

The information regarding retention rates is scheduled for future publication, with the release date to be confirmed.

The effect of prison officers recruited through the Unlocked Graduates programme on rehabilitation outcomes and reoffending rates is not held centrally.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_196
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_196

Richard Tice:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the annual cost of housing foreign national offenders in UK prisons. \p Jake Richards: We do not disaggregate prison running costs by nationality and the cost to hold individuals depends on the category of prison. Our unit costs for holding prisoners are published on GOV.UK alongside the Prison performance data 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK. Data on the number of Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) in custody is published in Offender management statistics quarterly: April to June 2025 - GOV.UK (prison population table 1_Q_9).

Foreign nationals who commit crime should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced. Where appropriate, the Ministry of Justice will work with the Home Office to pursue their deportation. Between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025, over 5,000 were FNOs. This is an increase of 14% compared to the 4,532 FNO returns in the same period 12 months prior.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_197
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_197

Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were (a) committed to prison and (b) given suspended committal orders for non-payment of council tax in 2024. \p Jake Richards: In 2024, there were 0 people committed to prison, and 19 given suspended committal orders for non-payment of council tax.

Non-payment of council tax is not a criminal offence and cannot attract a custodial sentence. However, under the committal to prison process, a court order can provide for someone to be committed to prison for not paying a debt.

Committal to prison can only ever be the last resort for non-payment of council tax. Before a magistrates’ court commits someone to prison for failure to pay their council tax, it must have issued a “liability order” and the local authority must have (at least) tried and failed to take control of the debtor’s goods and sell them to recover the debt. Councils have additional powers of enforcement under a liability order, including deduction from earnings, deduction from benefit, charging orders on the property, and bankruptcy. If a council applies for committal to prison, the court must inquire into the debtor’s means, and the council must satisfy the court that there is no other effective method of collection and that failure to pay is due to wilful refusal or culpable neglect. This is to prevent persons who are genuinely unable to pay their council tax from being committed to prison. Where that is the case courts have the power to remit the debt.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_198
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_198

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department has spent on social media advertising by (a) influencer and (b) organisation in each of the last five financial years. \p Jake Richards: The Ministry of Justice uses social media influencers to help deliver its communications and operational priorities. This includes activity to support recruitment campaigns for prison officers, probation officers and magistrates, ensuring that frontline services are effectively staffed to maintain public safety and deliver swift access to justice.

Some sensitivities exist around aspects of this expenditure, as disclosure could prejudice commercial interests. All influencer activity is subject to strict Cabinet Office spending controls to ensure we balance effectiveness with value for money for the taxpayer.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_199
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_199

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the provisions in chapter 2 of part 2 of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill will (a) apply to councillors and (b) be in addition to section 28 of the Localism Act 2011. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The Code of Ethics requirement will apply to those working for public authorities, and therefore will not apply to elected officials, including councillors. Elected officials have a different relationship with institutions and are accountable to the public, not employers.

There are different arrangements for governing behaviour of elected officials. The Government recently consulted on a range of proposals to strengthen the current local government standards regime.

The response to the consultation will be published shortly.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_200

Sonia Kumar:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of mediation services on resolving disputes for residents in Dudley; and what steps he is taking to ensure equality of access to those services. \p Sarah Sackman: The Government encourages the use of dispute resolution such as mediation, to allow parties to resolve their disputes earlier and more consensually, which saves them time, money and stress, and reduces the waiting time for a judicial hearing for cases that do not settle.

Since 2024, all parties to money claims under £10,000 in the county courts in England and Wales are required to attend a free, one-hour mediation appointment with HMCTS’ Small Claims Mediation Service as an integrated step in the litigation journey. Parties can request any necessary adjustments, including translation or interpretation services, to ensure full participation in mediation appointments, and HMCTS assesses these needs individually to maintain accessibility.

The Government is also committed to supporting more families reach agreement outside of court through mediation, where it is safe and appropriate to do so. The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, introduced in April 2021, is available to families across England and Wales including those living in Dudley. The scheme offers up to £500 towards mediation costs and has already supported over 49,000 families. The Government has committed to continue funding the scheme until at least March 2026. Analysis of the first 7,200 cases completed under the scheme shows that 69% of participants reached a whole or partial agreement and did not need to go to court to resolve their issues.

In addition, civil legal aid is available, subject to a means assessment, for the mediation of family disputes (for example over contact or financial arrangements) that the mediator has assessed as suitable for mediation.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_201
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether White Irish is included in the Government’s ethnicity definition of White Other. \p Seema Malhotra: The Government Statistical Service’s Ethnicity Harmonised Standard provides best practice for data collection across government, and it recommends that White Irish is collected as a standalone category, distinct from White Other.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_202
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_202

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 51461 on the Equal Pay Regulatory and Enforcement Unit, whether the Unit will be separate to the Fair Work Agency. \p Seema Malhotra: As set out in Next Steps to Make Work Pay, the government is committed to establishing an Equal Pay Regulatory and Enforcement Unit.

In April we launched a call for evidence on how enforcement of the equal pay scheme could be improved as well as a number of other areas of equality policy. This included consideration of the establishment of the Unit and its institutional home.

We will consider the responses to the call for evidence, which closed at the end of June, and confirm next steps in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_203

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to extend the number of public bodies subject to the socio-economic duty under section 2 of the Equality Act 2010. \p Seema Malhotra: The Government is committed to commencing the socio-economic duty in the Equality Act 2010. The duty will require specified public bodies, when making strategic decisions, to consider actively how their decisions might help to reduce the inequalities associated with socio-economic disadvantage.

We will consider whether the list of public authorities to which the duty will apply requires updating as part of our research programme and evidence gathering.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_1

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many positions were funded using the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme per year since 2019; and in what roles. \p Stephen Kinnock: The following table shows the number of full-time equivalent direct patient care staff positions that have been recruited as of each December over the last four years, within general practice and primary care networks, (PCNs) and breaks this down by the role they were recruited to:

Role

December 2021

December 2022

December 2023

December 2024

Total for all Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme eligible roles

15,369

24,499

35,808

37,539

Advanced Dietician Practitioners

-

11

10

10

Advanced Occupational Therapist Practitioners

-

20

19

22

Advanced Paramedic Practitioners

-

434

594

669

Advanced Pharmacist Practitioners

-

679

831

916

Advanced Physiotherapist Practitioners

-

113

197

219

Advanced Podiatrist Practitioners

-

4

6

5

Apprentice Physician Associates

-

-

20

13

Care Coordinators

2,082

4,143

6,822

7,062

Dieticians

67

127

176

168

General Practice Assistants

-

-

2,148

2,670

First Contact Physiotherapists

1,063

1,620

2,046

2,156

Health and Wellbeing Coaches

516

1,031

1,341

1,294

Mental Health Practitioners

-

-

1,050

1,238

Nursing Associates

334

630

985

1,242

Paramedics

1,288

1,705

2,212

2,227

Pharmacists

5,156

6,534

7,935

8,153

Pharmacy Technicians

1,140

1,891

2,598

2,806

Physician Associates

1,041

1,541

2,009

2,068

Podiatrists

30

57

60

60

Social Prescribing Link Workers

2,229

3,125

3,664

3,543

Therapists - Occupational Therapists

111

187

224

218

Trainee Nursing Associates

310

647

859

781

Source: the data is only available from September 2021, and is published quarterly by NHS England at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/primary-care-workforce-quarterly-update

This data does not distinguish between staff recruited through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme or through other routes. The most recent complete year for which data is available on underspend for the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme is 2023/24. The maximum value of PCN level entitlements available under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme in 2023/24 was £1,412 million. Total expenditure by PCNs in 2023/24 was £88 million, below the maximum entitlements.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_2

Andrew Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of waiving fees charged by GP surgeries for (a) medical evidence letters, (b) certificates and (c) reports that are required by HM Passport Office to show that a patient has a disability that prevents them from attending a passport interview. \p Stephen Kinnock: There are some medical evidence letters, certificates, or reports that general practices (GPs) may charge for, and others that they must not charge patients for. The legislation that sets this out is the General Medical Services and Personal Medical Services Regulations, which form the basis of the GP Contract with the National Health Service. There is no statutory limit to the level of such fees, as this is outside of core NHS work.

The Professional Fees Committee of the British Medical Association suggests guideline fees for such services, to help doctors set their own professional fees.

We are continuing to work across Government to cut red tape and improve ways of working, including work to improve the patient experience, such as removing the need to request unnecessary medical evidence where possible.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_3

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the efficiency of the (a) storage, (b) procurement and (c) emergency dispensing of antiviral medications for high-risk patients. \p Karin Smyth: Medicines, including antivirals, are stored in accordance with Good Distribution Practice, which is regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. These will typically be held by medicine wholesalers who sell them on to community pharmacies and hospital pharmacies. Individual pharmacies will have their own procurement strategies. They should plan and manage stocks in line with demand, in order to ensure medicines are available to patients when needed.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_4

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 43999 on NHS England, if he will publish the evidence from the ongoing assessments. \p Karin Smyth: It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, as is due process. Evidence from these ongoing assessments will inform our programme as appropriate.

The Government is committed to transparency and will consider how best to ensure that the public and parliamentarians are informed of the outcomes.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_5

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 44003 on NHS England, what his planned timetable is to determine the (a) leadership, (b) structure and (c) requirements for abolishing NHS England. \p Karin Smyth: Work has already begun on bringing teams in NHS England and the Department even closer together, to share knowledge and allow for joint planning, whilst we progress the design of the new centre, so clarity can be given to staff as soon as possible. This is in line with the one-team culture we have been building over the past eight months.

Since the announcement, the Department has set up a joint board, assessed resources and responsibilities across existing organisations, developed proposals on the role, functions, and structure of the new centre, and started detailed operational and legislative planning.

NHS England will continue to carry out its statutory duties until parliamentary time allows for legislation to be brought forward. We are aiming for the work to be completed within two years.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_6

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2025 to Question 45881 on NHS England: Redundancy Pay, if he will publish the modelling data on the offsetting of the redundancy package costs. \p Karin Smyth: It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts and costs, as is due process. Evidence from these ongoing assessments will inform our programme as appropriate.

The Government is committed to transparency and will consider how best to ensure that the public and parliamentarians are informed of the outcomes.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_7

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance he has issued to integrated care boards on reasonable running costs per had of population. \p Karin Smyth: As part of the necessary changes to support the National Health Service to recover, NHS England has indicated that integrated care boards (ICBs) should reduce their running cost allowance by 50%. The Government is supportive of NHS England’s decision and the necessary choices that are needed to get the NHS back on its feet. We expect ICBs to continue to deliver their responsibilities, including the planning and delivery of health and care services in community diagnostic centres.

ICBs are asked to develop plans by the end of May setting out how they will manage their resources to deliver across their priorities. NHS England will be working closely with the ICBs to support the development of these plans, ensuring that their implementation reduces duplication whilst supporting patient care. Further information is available in the letter at the following link:

NHS England » Working together in 2025/26 to lay the foundations for reform
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_8

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed abolition of NHS England on healthcare suppliers; and whether he plans to publish guidance on changes to (a) procurement systems, (b) leadership structures and (c) the NHS supply chain to support business (i) planning and (ii) continuity. \p Karin Smyth: Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new executive team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead the formation of a new joint centre. As we work to bring the two organisations together, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds, which includes working with healthcare suppliers and the future organisation and leadership of procurement systems and National Health Service supply chains.

The abolition of NHS England will strip out the unnecessary bureaucracy and cut the duplication that comes from having two organisations doing the same job, and we will empower staff to focus on delivering better care for patients, driving productivity up, and getting waiting times down.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_9

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to reduce the number of integrated care boards in England. \p Karin Smyth: As part of the necessary changes to support the National Health Service to recover, NHS England has indicated that integrated care boards (ICBs) should reduce their running cost allowance by 50%. The Government is supportive of NHS England’s decision and will work with NHS England to make the necessary choices that are needed to get the NHS back on its feet. We expect ICBs to continue delivering their responsibilities, including the planning and delivery of health and care services.

ICBs are asked to develop plans by the end of May setting out how they will manage their resources to deliver across their priorities. NHS England will be working closely with the ICBs to support the development of these plans, ensuring that the implementation of these reduces duplication whilst supporting patient care. Further information is available at the following link:

NHS England » Working together in 2025/26 to lay the foundations for reform
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_10

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he expects the functional output of the Model ICB work to be published. \p Karin Smyth: Integrated care boards (ICBs) have a critical role to play as strategic commissioners, improving population health, reducing inequalities, and ensuring access to high quality care. NHS England has circulated a draft of The Model ICB - blueprint document to all ICBs, to assist them in shaping their future plans, including which functions they should focus on, as indicated in Sir James Mackey’s letter to National Health Service trusts, foundation trusts, and ICBs, which is available at the following link:

NHS England » Working together in 2025/26 to lay the foundations for reform
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_11

Paul Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the geographical spread of cancer clinical trial sites to enable equitable access for teenagers and young adults. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department is committed to maximising the United Kingdom’s potential to lead the world in clinical research, with the aim of ensuring that all patients, including teenagers and young adults with cancer, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), funded by the Department, funds research and research infrastructure, which supports patients and the public to participate in high-quality research, including clinical research for teenagers and young adults with cancer.

This research infrastructure includes a network of Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, co-funded by the NIHR, Cancer Research UK, and the Little Princess Trust, which work across the whole of the UK, bringing together world-leading laboratory and clinical researchers to test new treatments for adults and children with cancer.

The NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) supports patients, the public, and health and care organisations across England to participate in high-quality research. The RDN consists of 12 regional RDNs, which support sites across England to deliver clinical research, including clinical research for teenagers and young adults with cancer.

The newly designated Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs) will build further capacity in delivering commercial clinical research. There are 21 CRDCs spread across the UK, and one of the CRDCs, based at the Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, is dedicated to the delivery of commercial clinical trials for treating children and young people.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_12

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications of abolishing NHS England on the delivery of public health programmes described in the NHS Public Health Functions Agreements. \p Ashley Dalton: Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new executive team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead the formation of a new joint centre. As we work to bring the two organisations together, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds, including the delivery of public health functions currently delegated to NHS England. The abolition of NHS England will strip out the unnecessary bureaucracy and cut the duplication that comes from having two organisations doing the same job. We will empower staff to focus on delivering for the public and patients.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_13

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will conduct a review into the (a) supply chain and (b) distribution of prescription medication to pharmacies in England. \p Karin Smyth: Medicine supply chains are complex, global, and highly regulated and there are a number of reasons why supply can be disrupted, many of which are not specific to the United Kingdom and outside of Government control, including manufacturing difficulties, access to raw materials, sudden demand spikes or distribution issues, and regulatory issues. We have drawn on up-to-date intelligence and data on the root causes of medicine supply issues, with manufacturing problems being the most dominant root cause.

The resilience of UK supply chains is a key priority, and we are continually learning and seeking to improve the way we work to both manage and help prevent supply issues and avoid shortages. The Department, working closely with NHS England, is taking forward a range of actions to improve our ability to mitigate and manage shortages and strengthen our resilience. As part of that work, we continue to engage with industry, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and other colleagues across the supply chain as we progress work to co-design and deliver solutions. We have plans underway to increase the awareness of our work. Given that there is a large amount of work already underway to ensure supply chain resilience, there are no current plans to conduct a new supply chain review.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_14

Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the longest recorded ambulance response time was in the South West in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025 to date. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England publishes official statistics for ambulance service performance. These statistics include average response time performance by category of incident. However, official statistics are not available on the proportion or longest response times. The following table shows the average response times for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, in hours, minutes and seconds, broken down by category, from April 2024 to March 2025:

Category 1

Category 2

Category 3

Category 4

April 2024

0:09:28

0:36:48

1:39:18

1:45:02

May 2024

0:09:42

0:40:40

2:06:24

2:07:45

June 2024

0:09:41

0:43:14

2:07:44

1:59:21

July 2024

0:09:28

0:39:09

1:48:25

1:46:47

August 2024

0:09:39

0:32:29

1:22:39

1:26:47

September 2024

0:09:41

0:42:49

2:12:56

2:28:53

October 2024

0:10:27

0:57:38

3:48:29

4:06:36

November 2024

0:10:16

0:59:03

3:44:06

3:12:55

December 2024

0:09:57

1:00:32

4:00:16

3:58:37

January 2025

0:09:41

0:51:45

2:35:27

3:36:47

February 2025

0:09:10

0:40:28

2:14:13

2:49:12

March 2025

0:09:00

0:37:02

1:57:13

2:25:05
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_15

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is aware of Blenrep; and when it will be available to NHS patients. \p Karin Smyth: The Department is aware of the medicine belantamab mafodotin (Blenrep). In the United Kingdom, medicines need to have a licence before they can be marketed, granted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Licences confirm the health condition the medicine should be used for and the recommended dosage. To get a licence, the manufacturer of the medicine is required to provide evidence that shows that the medicine is safe and effective enough to be used for a specific condition and for a specific group of patients, and that they can manufacture the medicine to the required quality.

After a review of the safety, quality, and efficacy of Blenrep, it was approved for a marketing authorisation on 17 April, in combination with other products for use in the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma.

Newly licensed medicines are appraised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which is the independent body responsible for developing evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service on new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of resources. Following receipt of the marketing authorisation, the NICE will progress its appraisals of Blenrep as soon as possible.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_16

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on resolving the land ownership on the site of the proposed new access road to Hinchingbrooke Hospital from Views Common. \p Karin Smyth: The North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust is in ongoing discussions with the Cambridgeshire Constabulary over the acquisition of land for a new access road to the Hinchingbrooke Hospital site. The New Hospital Programme team are engaging with the trust and across the Government to support progress towards a resolution.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_17

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 35541 on Hormone Replacement Therapy, what discussions he has had with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on the adequacy of the process for applying for UK licenses for HRT implant manufacturers. \p Karin Smyth: The processes of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are now performing within the expected timelines, and are meeting company commitments. Guidance has been updated on 3 April 2024 to aid the rapid approval of medicines, ensuring that quality, safety, and efficacy assessments are completed.

The assessment of hormone replacement therapy products falls within these overall processes, and we are working closely with Department’s medicines supply to ensure the early flagging of issues, so they can be resolved by either companies or the MHRA.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_18

Rachel Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase transparency around the awarding of contracts to private healthcare companies. \p Karin Smyth: Transparency and value for money are key priorities in elective care, including where care is delivered by independent sector providers. Contracts between commissioners and providers have to comply with the NHS Payment Scheme, a set of prices and rules used to deliver the most efficient, cost-effective care to patients. These unit prices are consistent across independent providers and National Health Service providers.

Contracts are awarded to independent sector providers in line with the NHS England Provider Selection Regime (PSR). The PSR was introduced by regulations made under the Health and Care Act 2022, and it helps us ensure that these decisions are made in the best interest of patients and service users. Further information on the NHS England PSR is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/how-commissioning-is-changing/nhs-provider-selection-regime/

Where a contract is awarded, commissioners are mandated to adhere to the NHS Standard Contract. Where a PSR direct contract is awarded, the award notification must be published as part of the tender process, ensuring the process is transparent. Further information on the NHS Standard Contract is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/nhs-standard-contract/

Where patient choice applies to a service, commissioners cannot restrict the number of providers that contracts are awarded to. Any contract awarded in relation to a service that is within the scope of patient choice must be done so under the Direct Award Process B of the PSR Regulations, and commissioners must comply with the transparency notice publication requirements set out in those regulations.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_19

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of AI on detecting cancer. \p Karin Smyth: The Department is testing artificial intelligence (AI) in areas that cause the most harm to health and to our economy. Through the £113 million AI award, a number of technologies that support with cancer diagnosis have been tested.

In addition, the £21 million AI diagnostic fund is focused on technologies that support with lung cancer diagnosis, such as chest x-rays and chest computed tomography scans.

On top of this, on 4 February 2025, the Department announced that nearly 700,000 women across the country will take part in a world-leading trial to test how cutting-edge AI tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier. The Early Detection using Information Technology in Health, or EDITH, trial is backed by £11 million of Government support via the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_20

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much and what proportion of the capital funding allocated for hospital maintenance at the Autumn Budget 2024 has been allocated to (a) Bedford and (b) Luton and Dunstable Hospitals. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is backing the National Health Service with over £4 billion in operational capital in 2025/26 to fund day-to-day operational investments, including hospital maintenance. The Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes Integrated Care System (ICS) has been provisionally allocated over £60 million of operational capital.

In addition, a £750 million estates safety fund was put in place to begin addressing some of the poorest quality infrastructure across the NHS estate in 2025/26. Estates safety funding has been provisionally allocated to ICSs based on need, critical infrastructure risk, estates incidents, and responses to the recent maternity estates survey. The Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICS has been provisionally allocated £15.5 million in estate safety funding for 2025/26, which can be allocated according to local priorities.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_21

Rachel Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to minimise conflicts of interest within the medical profession. \p Karin Smyth: The General Medical Council (GMC) is the regulator of all medical doctors, anaesthesia associates (AAs), and physician associates (PAs) practising in the United Kingdom. It sets and enforces the standards all doctors, AAs, and PAs must adhere to. The GMC is independent of the Government, is directly accountable to Parliament, and is responsible for operational matters concerning the discharge of its statutory duties.

The GMC’s core guidance, Good medical practice, sets out what is expected of all registrants, including ‘Acting with honesty and integrity’ and ‘Sharing information with patients’ which requires that medical practitioners be ‘open and honest with patients about any interests’ that may affect, or could be seen to affect, the way they propose, provide, or prescribe treatments, or refer patients. This guidance is made under powers in the Medical Act 1983. The GMC can take action against professionals who fail to meet these requirements, and serious or persistent breaches that pose a risk to patient safety and/or public trust may put a registrants’ registration at risk. The GMC’s core guidance, Good medical practice, is available at the following link:

https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/good-medical-practice-2024---english-102607294.pdf

Although the Department is not currently taking steps to minimise conflicts of interest, all medical professionals are expected to be open and transparent about any relevant interests, to enable patients to make informed decisions about their treatment and care.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_22

Ian Byrne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of NHS Ophthalmology departments that do not have enough consultants to provide a full service for patients needing treatment for (a) glaucoma and (b) wet macular degeneration. \p Karin Smyth: The Department does not hold information on shortages of ophthalmology consultants. Appropriate levels of staffing will be decided by local system workforce planning.

NHS England publishes quarterly National Health Service hospital trust vacancy and job advert data. The publication sets out vacancy rates for total NHS staff and, separately, for registered nurses and doctors at a national and regional level. The latest data for December 2024 shows the vacancy rate for doctors was 5.2%. The data is not detailed enough to identify vacancy rates for ophthalmology consultants.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_23
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_23

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 35541 on Hormone Replacement Therapy, what discussions he has had with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on encouraging manufacturers to apply for a UK license for HRT implants. \p Karin Smyth: Oestrogen and testosterone hormone replacement therapy (HRT) implants are not licenced in the United Kingdom. The Department is working closely with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to ensure safe access to these products. We have also reached out to specialist importers who can source unlicensed medicines in order to find alternative sources of both HRT implants for UK patients. We will continue to work closely with the MHRA, and the National Health Service to ensure suitable alternatives are available for patients.

The MHRA has held regular discussions with the importer of the unlicenced medicine and the Department is actively looking at this to ensure ongoing supply from this and other sources. Stakeholder groups, including the Patient Safety Commissioner and the British Menopause Society, have also been kept actively informed.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_24
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_24

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the abolition of NHS on the capacity of ICBs to cut their running costs. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England has asked the integrated care boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners of health and care services, and to reduce the duplication of responsibilities within their structures, to achieve a 50% cost reduction in their running cost allowance. NHS England provided additional guidance to ICBs, National Health Service trusts, and NHS foundation trusts on 1 April 2025. In this guidance, ICBs are tasked with developing plans by the end of May setting out how they will manage their resources to deliver across their priorities. NHS England will be working closely with ICBs to support the development of these plans, ensuring that their implementation reduces duplication and supports patient care. Further information is available at the following link:

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

In his letter to ICBs, Sir Jim Mackey committed to greater transparency and moving back to a fair shares allocation policy over time.

As we progress with returning functions to the Department, a comprehensive assessment of any impacts and risks associated with the change will be conducted. We will ensure our decisions are guided by evidence and focused on improving patient care.