theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of fizzy drinks on type 2 diabetes. \p Ashley Dalton: Scientific risk assessment and United Kingdom dietary recommendations are based on independent advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).

In 2015, the SACN published its report on Carbohydrates and Health and recommended that “the consumption of sugars-sweetened beverages should be minimised in children and adults”. With respect to type 2 diabetes, the SACN noted that “a greater risk is associated with a higher intake of sugars-sweetened beverages”. Energy intakes that consistently exceed requirements lead to weight gain and obesity in the long term.

A 2014 Public Health England report found that adults living with obesity are five times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than adults of a healthy weight. Approximately 90% of adults with type 2 diabetes are living with overweight or obesity.

The SACN is currently considering the World Health Organisation’s guideline on the use of non-sugar sweeteners and the associated systematic review, and whether additional assessment is required. The SACN is due to publish a position statement in 2025.
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Chris Coghlan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2025 to Question 24011 on Coronavirus: Disease Control, when he plans to update the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual and Health Technical Memoranda guidelines to ensure (a) recognition of the role of airborne transmission of SARS-Cov-2 and (b) appropriate guidance on (i) the use of FFP3 masks, (ii) improved standards of ventilation and air filter devices in (A) clinical and (B) non-clinical healthcare settings and (iii) other measures to limit airborne transmission of (1) Covid-19 and (2) other respiratory viruses; and if he will take steps to ensure the distribution of those guidelines to all employers and providers of healthcare workers. \p Ashley Dalton: The NHS England National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) provides adaptable guidance to support local decision-making. Healthcare organisations are responsible for conducting dynamic risk assessments to determine when enhanced infection control measures, such as the use of FFP3 masks, are necessary. These assessments take into account factors such as ventilation quality, local infection prevalence and specific care environments.

Should new evidence emerge that warrants updates, the guidance will be reviewed and revised accordingly by NHS England and UKHSA to ensure the highest standards of infection prevention and control are maintained across healthcare settings. Any updates will be disseminated appropriately to healthcare employers and providers to support consistent implementation
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Jo Platt:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a centre of excellence for care and research for infection-associated chronic conditions. \p Ashley Dalton: We do not anticipate setting up a new centre of excellence for care and research specifically for post-viral or infection-associated conditions. The Department funds research on post-viral conditions through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR and Medical Research Council (MRC) remain committed to funding high-quality research to understand the causes, consequences, and treatment of post-viral conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and long COVID, and are actively exploring next steps for stimulating further research in this area. The MRC and NIHR currently fund research through a variety of routes, including infrastructure, research programmes, capacity building, for example research fellowships, and in the case of NIHR, research delivery to support recruitment to studies. Funding is available for infection-associated research.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of uto-enroling eligible families to the Healthy Start scheme. \p Ashley Dalton: The Healthy Start scheme was introduced in 2006 to encourage a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies and young children under four from very low-income households. It can be used to buy, or put towards the cost of, fruit, vegetables, pulses, milk and infant formula. Those on the scheme have access to free Healthy Start Vitamins for pregnant women and children aged under four years old.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) operates the Healthy Start scheme on behalf of the Department. All applicants to the Healthy Start scheme, where they meet the eligibility criteria, must accept the terms and conditions of the prepaid card at the point of application. As the prepaid card is a financial product and cannot be issued without the applicant accepting these terms, NHS BSA is not able to automatically provide eligible families with a prepaid card. However, the scheme is kept under review, and we remain open to all viable routes to improve uptake to ensure that as many eligible people as possible are accessing the scheme, to support their children with a healthy start in life.

In January 2025, Healthy Start supported over 353,000 people.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what purposes the Health Research Authority has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months. \p Ashley Dalton: Artificial intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.

In line with the Government's commitment to modernising AI usage across public services, the Health Research Authority (HRA) is carefully considering how to integrate AI safely and securely within its organisation.

AI deployment at the HRA remains in its early stages. Currently, AI is not permitted for writing official communications, minute-taking, or analysing personal data. However, to support responsible AI adoption, the HRA is exploring a trial of Microsoft 365 Copilot to help staff make better use of AI while maintaining rigorous ethical and regulatory standards.

The HRA can draw on a range of resources, published on the GOV.UK website, to inform AI usage, for example the Generative AI Framework, the Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework, the Data Ethics Framework, the AI Opportunities Action Plan, and the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard. The HRA also has access to the Government Digital Service, part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, for expert advice.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment he has made of the level of uptake of the flu vaccine in (a) 2024 and (b) the last five years for which data is available. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK Health Security Agency publishes provisional monthly data on flu vaccine uptake in England in eligible patient groups, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/vaccine-uptake#seasonal-flu-vaccine-uptake:-figures

The following table shows the percentage of general practice patients with vaccination coverage, broken down by patient groups, from 2019/20 to 2024/25:

Patient group

Over 65 years old

At risk

Pregnant women

Two year olds

Three year olds

2024/25

73.8%

38.6%

33.7%

40.9%

42.4%

2023/24

77.0%

40.3%

30.9%

41.0%

41.3%

2022/23

78.4%

46.3%

33.2%

39.8%

42.2%

2021/22

81.5%

49.3%

37.3%

46.6%

49.1%

2020/21

80.2%

51.5%

43.0%

54.1%

56.5%

2019/20

70.6%

40.8%

41.3%

37.0%

36.9%

In addition, the following table shows the percentage of school aged children and frontline health care workers in England with vaccination coverage, from 2019/20 to 2024/25:

Primary school, from Reception to Year 6

Secondary school

Frontline health care workers

2024/25

54.0%

44.0%

36.2%

2023/24

53.8%

41.2%

41.0%

2022/23

55.5%

10.3%

46.7%

2021/22

52.9%

37.8%

58.8%

2020/21

59.8%

53.5%

75.3%

2019/20

57.9%

N/A

68.5%

Note: for secondary school pupils, the eligible year groups varied by season, and so for the years 2024/25, 2023/24, and 2021/22 the data covers those from Year 7 to Year 11, but for 2022/23 it only covers those from Year 7 to Year 9, and for 2020/21, it just includes those in Year 7.

Caution should be used when comparing flu vaccine uptake between seasons. In 2024/25, adult groups, excluding pregnant women, were eligible from 3 October, rather than 1 September, as in previous seasons. Therefore, vaccine uptake data for this season is not comparable to previous seasons in these groups. In addition, the roll out to secondary school aged children has not been uniform, in some years not all of those in Year 7 to Year 11 were offered the vaccine.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he expects NHS trusts to reach the 62-day cancer waiting time standard. \p Ashley Dalton: As we set out in our new plan for reforming elective care, we are committed to improving performance on cancer waiting times. The National Health Service’s annual operational planning guidance set out a national commitment to improve waiting times, with every trust expected to deliver a minimum 5% improvement. Further details will be set out in a dedicated national cancer plan.
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Terry Jermy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Health and Security Agency is taking to prevent population exposure to lead. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is raising awareness and has published advice and guidance for the public and professional partners on the risk of harm from lead exposure, and effective public health interventions to reduce lead exposure. The guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lead-poisoning-advice-for-the-public-and-healthcare-professionals.

The UKHSA supports partners in identifying the pathways and sources of lead and in introducing public health interventions to aid in reducing exposure.
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Mr Louie French:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to provide a redress scheme for those harmed by Sodium Valproate and surgical mesh implants. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government is carefully considering the valuable work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and the resulting Hughes Report. The report sets out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex matter involving work with other Government Departments. The Government will be providing an update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s Report at the earliest opportunity.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety, Women’s Health and Mental Health had an introductory meeting with individuals and stakeholders representing those harmed by sodium valproate on 12 December 2024 and patient groups representing those harmed by Pelvic mesh on 17 December 2024.

The meetings were arranged so the Minister could hear individuals’ experiences of the issues raised in the Hughes Report and understand their key concerns around both financial and non-financial redress options.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to introduce legislation on advertising restrictions for foods that are high in (a) fat, (b) sugar and (c) salt. \p Ashley Dalton: Implementing restrictions on the advertising of less healthy food and drink products on television and online is a commitment for the Government. This includes a 9:00pm watershed on television and a 24-hour restriction on paid-for advertising of these products online.

On 3 December 2024, we brought forward secondary legislation to confirm the products, businesses, and services in scope of the restrictions, and published guidance on the affected food and drink products. We are working with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and regulators to support businesses as they prepare for the regulations to come into force United Kingdom-wide from 1 October 2025.
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Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the gap in healthy life expectancy between regions in England. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government recognises that health inequalities in the United Kingdom are stark, with life expectancy differing dramatically between and within communities. At the heart of our Health Mission is a focus on addressing the social determinants of health, with the goal of halving the gap in healthy life expectancy between regions of England, so more people live longer and in good health.

Work is currently underway across the Department and with NHS England and the regional Directors of Public Health to develop approaches to address regional health inequalities. In line with the Government’s Health Mission, the Department’s goal is to create a more equitable healthcare system that leaves no person or community behind.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the process of issuing death certificates following the change to the responsibilities of medical examiners on 9 September 2024 does not lead to undue delays in families being able to arrange funerals. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government is monitoring the impact of the death certification reforms, including the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death Regulations 2024, which came into legal effect on 9 September 2024. Early data indicates the median time taken to register a death appears to have risen by one day, from seven days to eight days. This figure is for all deaths, as it includes those certified by a doctor and those investigated by a coroner. The average time taken to register has increased further over the recent Christmas weeks, but this was expected given increases are observed during this period every year; the average is expected to decrease again as more data becomes available for January and February 2025. The median time taken to register a death varies depending on the type of certification. Deaths certified by a doctor, that comprise approximately 80% of deaths registered each week, have typically had a median time to registration of seven days. We note that the medical examiner system was active on a non-statutory basis before the introduction of the statutory system on 9 September 2024, and this makes direct ‘before’ and ‘after’ comparisons challenging to draw conclusions from.

The core purposes of the death certification reforms are to introduce scrutiny of the cause of death to detect and deter malpractice, to improve reporting, and crucially to put the bereaved at the centre of the process by offering a conversation with the medical examiner about the cause of death. The expectation on doctors and medical examiners is clear, that they should complete certification as quickly and efficiently as possible, and the Government is working with all stakeholders to make sure this is the case.
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Richard Tice:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many staff in his Department are responsible for (a) processing and (b) responding to Freedom of Information Act requests; and if he will make an estimate of the annual cost to the public purse of this work. \p Karin Smyth: The Department has a central team with a headcount of 13.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff who are responsible for managing Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and related appeals work. FOIs can be requested for any part of the Department's work. As such, various members of staff in the Department may at some point be involved with responding to an FOI request.

Most of these staff will carry out such work as part of their overall responsibilities. As such it is not feasible to determine, for the purposes of answering this question, precisely how many staff are responsible for processing and responding to FOI requests across the entire Department, or to provide estimates of the resulting costs.

Information on FOI volume and performance by department is published by the Cabinet Office, and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics
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Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps with NHS England to review the (a) volume and (b) type of antidepressants prescribed on the NHS and their (i) side effects, (ii) long-term effectiveness and (iii) addictiveness. \p Karin Smyth: The National Institute of Care and Excellence (NICE) and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are the relevant regulatory bodies in this area. While antidepressants can be helpful for some patients, NICE guidance recommends a range of non-drug options that should be considered first for people who present with less severe mental health conditions.

For patients diagnosed with depression, antidepressants are an effective treatment method. NICE has produced guidelines on antidepressants, which are available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng222/resources/depression-in-adults-treatment-and-management-pdf-66143832307909

To ensure antidepressant drugs are made available to patients only where the benefits outweigh the potential harms, NHS England is encouraging integrated care boards to address inappropriate antidepressant prescribing and to consider commissioning services for patients wishing to reduce or stop antidepressants.

MHRA is leading a project to improve the information supplied with dependency-forming medicines. The project aims to improve risk minimisation measures and better inform and educate healthcare professionals and patients about the risk of dependence, addiction, tolerance, and withdrawal related to a wide range of medicines, including antidepressants in the United Kingdom.
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Liam Conlon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help support parents who have suffered from baby loss. \p Karin Smyth: The Government recognises that experiencing a baby loss can be an extremely difficult time and we are determined to make sure all women, babies and their families receive safe, personalised and compassionate care, particularly when things go wrong.

Many trusts have specialist bereavement midwives, who are trained to care for and support parents and families who have suffered the loss of their baby. All trusts are now signed up to The National Bereavement Care Pathway, which acts as a set of standards and guidance that trusts should follow when a patient has suffered a baby loss.

Paid Parental Bereavement Leave was introduced in 2020. This entitlement is available to parents who lose a child under 18 years old, including where a baby is stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy.

In February 2024, the Department launched the Baby Loss Certificate service. This service is a non-statutory, voluntary scheme to enable those who have experienced any pregnancy loss to record and receive a certificate to provide recognition of their loss if they wish to do so.
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Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of children’s A&E provision in North Worcestershire. \p Karin Smyth: No such assessment has been made by the Department. The commissioning of children’s accident and emergency services in North Worcestershire is the responsibility of local National Health Service commissioners, in partnership with providers and in the best interest of their populations.
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Alison Hume:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of endometriosis services in the North East. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health as we build a National Health Service fit for the future, and women’s equality will be at the heart of our missions. We have also taken urgent action to tackle gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Reform Plan. In gynaecology, the plan supports innovative models offering patients care closer to home as well as the piloting of gynaecology pathways in community diagnostic centres for patients with post-menopausal bleeding.

We encourage any woman or girl with symptoms of endometriosis to contact their general practice (GP). Within the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, a GP may then refer a patient to a secondary care service, and in the Scarborough and Whitby area this will likely be to one of two services. Firstly, there is an endometriosis centre based in York Hospital, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.yorkhospitals.nhs.uk/our-services/organdonation/a-z-of-services/womens-health/endometriosis-centre/

This is accredited by the British Society of Gynaecology Endoscopy and includes a multi-disciplinary team of experts providing high-quality, evidence-based care and treatment for people with all grades of endometriosis. Secondly, there is a Gynaecology Service at South Tees Hospital, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/services/gynaecology/

This includes an endometriosis specialist, provided from James Cook University Hospital in Middlesborough, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/consultants/miss-pinky-khatri/
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer to Question 26150 General Practitioners: Bedfordshire, if he will make an estimate of the size of the healthcare workforce in Bedfordshire in July 2029. \p Karin Smyth: The Department has made no estimate of the size of the healthcare workforce in Bedfordshire in July 2029. We have launched a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the National Health Service. The plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed to move healthcare from hospital to the community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention.

A central part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities.

This summer we will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, to treat patients on time again. We will ensure the NHS has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.
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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to reduce diagnosis times for endometriosis. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health and improving the diagnosis times for gynaecological conditions, including endometriosis.

We have taken urgent action to tackle gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Reform Plan. In gynaecology, the plan supports innovative models offering patients care closer to home, and the piloting of gynaecology pathways in community diagnostic centres.

Endometriosis is also included in the core curriculum for general practitioners, and for obstetricians and gynaecologists. The General Medical Council is introducing the Medical Licensing Assessment for the majority of incoming doctors, including all medical students graduating from the academic year 2024/25 and onwards. Within this assessment are a number of topics relating to women’s health, including endometriosis. This will encourage a better understanding of endometriosis among doctors as they start their careers in the United Kingdom.

Clinical guidelines support healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat conditions. In November 2024 the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published updated recommendations on the diagnosis, management, and treatment of endometriosis. This is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng73
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Preet Kaur Gill:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to reproductive healthcare services. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is prioritising women’s health as we reform the National Health Service, to ensure that all women can access the care they need. We are committed to the Women’s Health Strategy and are continuing work to deliver it. Our longer-term priorities for implementing the Women’s Health Strategy will be aligned with the 10-Year Health Plan and our missions.

The Department and NHS England have taken urgent action to tackle gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Reform Plan. In gynaecology, the plan supports innovative models offering patients care closer to home, as well as the piloting of gynaecology pathways in community diagnostic centres for patients with post-menopausal bleeding.

Public health services, such as sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception, are commissioned by local authorities in England through a ring-fenced Public Health Grant. In 2025/26, the Government is increasing funding through the ringfenced Public Health Grant to £3.858 billion. This is a cash increase of £198 million compared to 2024/25, providing local authorities with an average 5.4% cash increase and 3.0% real terms increase. This represents a significant turning point for improving access to local health services, marking the biggest real-terms increase after nearly a decade of reduced spending, between 2016 and 2024.

Contraception is also available from a range of other settings, including direct from pharmacies, both prescribed and over the counter, from general practices, online, and through other health care services.
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Lee Pitcher:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the supply of Creon; and what support his Department is providing to patients who are not able to use alternative medicines. \p Karin Smyth: The Department continues to engage with suppliers of Creon and other pancreatic enzyme replacement therapies (PERT) to boost production to mitigate the supply issue. The supplier of Creon expects to receive increased quantities for 2025. Suppliers of alternative PERT and specialist importers of unlicensed medicines continue to supply increased volumes to assist in covering the gap in the market. The Department has issued management advice to healthcare professionals which directs clinicians to unlicensed imports when licensed stock is unavailable, and which includes actions for integrated care boards to ensure local mitigation plans are implemented. The Department, in collaboration with NHS England, has created a webpage to include the latest update on PERT availability and easily accessible prescribing advice for clinicians.
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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has plans to commission a review into the medicines supply market; what assessment he has made of the potential impact of price concessions on the medicines supply market; and what steps his Department plans to take to (a) support pharmacies and (b) ensure patients have access to medicines. \p Karin Smyth: There are no plans to commission a review into the medicines supply market.

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 the Department and NHS England are committed to helping to build long term supply chain resilience for medicines. 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.

In our assessment, concessionary prices support medicine supply by helping to ensure that when prices rise in a global market, pharmacy contractors can be paid fairly and continue to access medicines for their patients.

Pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system. We are committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists as part of the shift from hospital to community and from treatment to prevention.

The Government recently resumed its consultation with Community Pharmacy England regarding funding arrangements. for 2024/25 and 2025/26.
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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help improve the quality of care in maternity units. \p Karin Smyth: The Government continues to work with the National Health Service as it delivers its three-year plan for maternity and neonatal services. The plan sets out how the NHS will make maternity and neonatal care safer, more personalised, and more equitable for women, babies, and families.

As part of the delivery plan, all local leadership teams are taking part in a Perinatal Culture and Leadership Programme, helping them to develop and maintain a positive safety culture. Additional funding has also been provided for Maternity and Neonatal Voice Partnerships to ensure local voices are used to inform decisions and services.

An updated version of the ‘Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle’ is being rolled out across England, which is a package of interventions aimed to reduce stillbirths, neonatal brain injury, neonatal death, and preterm birth, as well as initiatives to reduce inequalities. 14 Maternal Medicine Networks have been developed across England to ensure that women with chronic and acute medical problems related to pregnancy have access to specialist management and care.

While good progress has been made, the Government recognises that there are real issues within maternity services. Whilst change will not happen overnight, we are determined to go further to ensure all women and babies receive the care they deserve, and have committed to providing support to trusts failing on maternity care, recruit thousands of new midwives, and tackle the unacceptable inequalities that exist.
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-17 conversation_180

Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the average body mass index of pregnant women in the (a) most recent period for which data is available and (b) five years before the most recent period for which data is available. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to ensuring that all women and babies receive safe, personalised, equitable and compassionate maternity and neonatal care. As part of this, we know that it is vital to support women before, during and after pregnancy.

In the most recent period for which data is available, of women who reached 15 weeks gestation in October 2024 and had a body mass index (BMI) recorded by 14+1 weeks gestation, 7% were underweight (<20 kg/m2), 35% were normal weight (20-24.9 kg/m2), 30% were overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2) and 27% were obese (30+ kg/m2).

BMI data for pregnant women is not available for five years before October 2024, namely October 2019, but data was published using the previous methodology for 2018/19. Of women who had a booking appointment in 2018/19 where BMI was recorded, 3% were underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), 46% were normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), 28% were overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2) and 22% were obese (30+ kg/m2).

There have been changes in methodology and definitions used in data collection between 2018/2019 and October 2024, which means that the data, especially for underweight women, may not be directly comparable.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-17 conversation_181

Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve women’s access to healthcare services. \p Karin Smyth: The Government will prioritise women’s health as we reform the National Health Service, ensuring that all women can access the care that they need. We are committed to the Women’s Health Strategy and are continuing work to deliver it. For example, support for pregnancy loss through a full rollout of Baby Loss Certificates, menopause support in the workplace, and boosting women’s participation in research and clinical trials.

We have also taken urgent action to tackle gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Reform Plan. In gynaecology, the plan supports innovative models offering patients care closer to home, and piloting gynaecology pathways in Community Diagnostic Centres for patients with post-menopausal bleeding. Women’s health hubs also have a key role in shifting care out of hospitals and reducing gynaecology waiting lists. As of December 2024, 39 out of 42 integrated care boards (ICBs) reported to NHS England that they had at least one operational women’s health hub. We continue to engage with and encourage ICBs to use the learning from the women’s health hubs pilots to improve local delivery of services to women. Our longer-term priorities for implementing the Women’s Health Strategy will be aligned with the 10-Year Health Plan and our missions.
wrans/answers2025-02-17 conversation_182
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-17 conversation_182

Ian Sollom:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support NHS dentistry in St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term and increase access to NHS dental care, we will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire constituency, this is the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-17 conversation_183

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of rules on access to (a) cash and (b) banking services in new towns. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Its rules require the UK’s largest banks and building societies to assess the impact of a closure or material alteration of a relevant cash withdrawal or deposit facility and put in place a new service if necessary.

Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. Further information about submitting a cash access request can be found at the following link:  https://www.link.co.uk/helping-you-access-cash/request-access-to-cash

The Government is also committed to ensuring appropriate banking services are in place to support communities across the country. 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. These hubs will provide small businesses and individuals with critical cash and in-person banking services.  Over 200 banking hubs have been recommended to date and over 100 are already open.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-17 conversation_184

James McMurdock:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the tax relief ceiling on private pensions. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government wishes to encourage pension saving, to help ensure that people have an income, or funds on which they can draw, throughout retirement. This is why, for the majority of savers, pension contributions are tax-free.  The annual allowance is currently set at £60,000. The Government keeps all aspects of the tax system under review as part of the annual Budget process, and in the context of the wider public finances.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-17 conversation_185

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what purposes National Savings and Investments has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months. \p Emma Reynolds: NS&I is currently making use of artificial intelligence (AI) across its business.

NS&I has used AI in the last 12 months for its customer service chatbot, a tool used by NS&I customers to obtain answers to product and service queries that they may have. NS&I has also used AI for a digital voice assistant tool for its telephone service

In addition, NS&I has been piloting the use of the Government Communications Service generative AI tool called ‘Assist’, developed to support people working across government in communications roles. NS&I has also used AI to support its coding activities, researching publicly available economic data, and there is an AI component in the wider ongoing work by its operational partners to modernise NS&I's service delivery to customers

Further details about NS&I’s chatbot service will be published in due course online, as part of the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-17 conversation_186

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy on the dairy industry. \p James Murray: The Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) is a tax on pre-packaged soft drinks with added sugar. Drinks without added sugars, such as plain cow’s milk, are not in scope of SDIL.

At Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced a review of SDIL, including the current exemption from the levy for milk-based drinks.

The current exemption applies to milk-based drinks containing at least 75ml of milk per 100ml.

Due to the high sugar content of some milk-based drinks, the Government is reconsidering the evidence justifying the exemption. As young people only get 3.5% of their calcium intake from milk-based drinks, it is likely that the health benefits do not justify the harms from excess sugar.

The review will consider a variety of evidence, including the potential impacts to the diary industry, and no decisions have yet been made. The Government expects the review will conclude in Spring 2025.

More details of the review can be found on gov.uk here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/soft-drinks-industry-levy-review/hmt-hmrc-soft-drinks-industry-levy-review
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-17 conversation_187

James McMurdock:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the level of Vehicle Excise Duty retained by local authorities to be directly allocated to local road maintenance. \p James Murray: Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is collected by the DVLA on behalf of HM Treasury. Estimates for the amount of VED raised in Essex is not available.

The OBR forecast that VED will raise £8.3 billion in 2024-25. Revenue from motoring taxes helps to fund vital public services and infrastructure, including investment in roads and transport. Funding is distributed to local authorities as part of the Spending Review process.

The Government is going well beyond its promise to fix an additional one million potholes per year, by providing a £500 million cash increase on 2024/25 local roads maintenance baseline funding. This will be enough to fix the equivalent of more than seven million extra potholes in 2025/26.

As with all taxes, the Government welcomes representations on how the tax system can be improved. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the public finances.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-17 conversation_188

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to agricultural property relief on the domestic dairy farming industry. \p James Murray: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 gets the balance right between supporting farms and fixing the public finances in a fair way. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992.

The reforms are expected to result in up to 520 estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, in 2026-27 paying more inheritance tax. This means almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.

In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-17 conversation_189

Liz Jarvis:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to extend the Stamp Duty Land Tax holiday for first-time buyers who sign a memorandum of sale before 31 March 2025. \p James Murray: In September 2022, the previous Government announced a change to the level at which first time buyers start paying Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) from £300,000 to £425,000, and the purchase price limit for accessing the relief is currently £625,000. These changes were made temporary in November 2022. After the rates revert on 1 April, first time buyers will still benefit from paying no SDLT up to £300,000, and will be able to claim relief on purchases up to £500,000.

The previous Government made these changes temporary SDLT rates. Individuals will therefore be liable to pay the SDLT at the point at which they complete their property purchase.