theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_252
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_252

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of physicians responsible for medical malpractice which resulted in a pay-out in the 2024-25 financial year, broken down by nationality. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_253

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Billions to be redirected back into patient care with NHS reform, published on 11 November, if he will publish the upfront costs of these reforms. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_254

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to respond to Question 77307 on Cancer: Health Services, tabled on 15 September 2025. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_255
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_255

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to provide the total (a) number and (b) value of clinical negligence claims paid out to category f patients in financial year 24/25. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_256

Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board on the (a) public petition and (b) campaign to safeguard Arthur Rank Hospice. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_257

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Further to his Department’s press release entitled Billions to be redirected back into patient care with NHS reform, published on 11 November, if he will publish the calculations for the stated £1bn a year saving. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_258

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total (a) number of claims and (b) value of clinical negligence claims paid out in financial year 24/25 were attributed to language barrier issues. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_259

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) early detection and (b) surveillance of antibiotic-resistant infections. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_260

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a dedicated whistleblowing line for NHS staff and patients to report issues with language barriers in the National Health Service. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_261

Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much the NHS has recovered from patients who were not entitled to free NHS in each of the last three years. \p Karin Smyth: For this answer, we have taken ‘patients who were not entitled’ to mean chargeable overseas visitors.

The Department publishes data on the income identified from chargeable overseas visitors in England as part of the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts. The cash payments received by the National Health Service from overseas visitors are also published annually in the consolidated NHS provider accounts. The following table shows the aggregate income identified, and cash payments received by the NHS in England, from overseas visitors over the last three years:

Year

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

Aggregate income identified

£67,000,000

£100,000,000

£123,000,000

Cash payments received in-year

£25,000,000

£32,000,000

£42,000,000

Source: The Department of Health and Social Care Annual Report and Accounts and Consolidated NHS provider accounts.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_262
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_262

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of covering the insurance costs of employers for volunteer workers in healthcare settings. \p Karin Smyth: There are currently no plans to undertake an assessment regarding insurance arrangements for volunteer workers in healthcare settings.

Whilst all regulated healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom are legally required to maintain appropriate clinical negligence cover and most are covered by state schemes for their National Health Service work, for volunteers it depends on the arrangements made by the NHS organisation. Some volunteer organisations may already have their own insurance in place for their volunteers. It is up to individual NHS organisations to make decisions about the management and deployment of volunteers to support their service needs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_263

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on meeting the 18-week treatment targets in the Elective Reform Plan. \p Karin Smyth: Tackling waiting lists is a key part of our Health Mission. We have exceeded our pledge to deliver an extra two million operations, scans, and appointments, having delivered 5.2 million additional appointments between July 2024 and June 2025. This marks a vital first step to delivering on the commitment that 92% of patients will wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment, in line with the National Health Service constitutional standard, by March 2029.

The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the productivity and reform efforts needed to return to the constitutional standard. Planning Guidance for 2025/26 sets a target that 65% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks by March 2026, with every trust expected to deliver a minimum 5% improvement on current performance over that period.

Since April, when the Elective Reform Plan came in to effect, the percentage of patient pathways that involved waits of less than 18 weeks for treatment has improved by 2%, rising from 59.8% to 61.8% as of the end of September. This is the best performance since June 2022. The referral-to-treatment waiting list decreased to 7.39 million in September 2025, a reduction of 231,854 since the start of July 2024. But we know there is still much more to do, and we will continue to support NHS trusts to deliver our targets through innovation, sharing best practice to increase productivity and efficiency, and ensuring the best value is delivered.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_264

Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the (a) head count and (b) number of full time equivalent employees was in (i) NHS England and (ii) his Department in each month since February 2025. \p Karin Smyth: This data is published monthly and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dhsc-workforce-management-information#2025
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_265

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of removing the use of body mass index thresholds to determine eligibility for joint replacement surgery. \p Karin Smyth: The Department has made no specific assessment of the potential merits of removing the use of body mass index (BMI) thresholds to determine eligibility for joint replacement surgery. It is the responsibility of individual integrated care boards to determine policies for their local area.

As with all surgery, BMI would be considered as part of a holistic, personalised perioperative evaluation of the risks versus clinical need for joint replacement surgery of an individual patient. However, BMI should not be considered in isolation and in and of itself should not act as a barrier to surgery.

As part of the NHS Elective Reform Plan there is a commitment to expand access to the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme for patients waiting for hip and knee surgery.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_266

Charlie Maynard:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to address the shortage of community nursing services. \p Karin Smyth: The Government recognises the essential role of district nurses and wider community nursing teams in delivering high-quality care closer to home, preventing avoidable hospital admissions, and supporting people to live well in their communities. We are committed to strengthening the community nursing workforce and ensuring services are equipped to meet rising demand and increasing clinical complexity.

NHS England supports the development of future district nurses by funding the Specialist Practitioner Qualification either as an apprenticeship or as a full-time course at a higher education institution. The Level 7 District Nursing Specialist Practice Qualification, including the apprenticeship route, provides a sustainable and nationally consistent route into district nursing roles.

Alongside this, NHS England has continued to modernise career pathways within community nursing, supporting clear progression from healthcare support worker roles through to advanced and consultant practice. This is helping to retain experienced staff and create attractive, long-term careers in community settings.

We are also improving workforce planning through the Community Nursing Safer Staffing Tool. This evidence-based tool supports providers to assess and plan safe and responsive staffing levels, ensuring district nursing teams are resourced appropriately for the needs of their local population.

The Government is working with NHS England and professional organisations, including the Queen’s Nursing Institute of Community Nursing and the Royal College of Nursing, as we implement the ambition of the 10-Year Health plan to deliver more care outside hospital and build Neighbourhood Teams.

This includes developing principles to help organisations identify, record, and address care and population needs. We are also supporting systems to expand multidisciplinary neighbourhood teams, recognising that contemporary care is delivered by a blend of registered nurses, specialist district nurses, healthcare support workers, allied health professionals, and advanced practitioners. This approach helps manage demand, improves continuity of care, and ensures that people receive the right expertise at the right time.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 41 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, how much funding his Department plans to provide for the mission to becoming a defence industrial leader by 2035 in (a) British Pound Sterling and (b) as a proportion of the annual defence budget. \p Luke Pollard: The Government has boosted defence spending by £5 billion this year alone, as part of the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War. This will see defence spending increase to 2.6% of GDP from 2027 with an ambition of hitting 3% by the end of next Parliament

The Defence Investment Plan, which will be published later this year, will set out how we will align our funding to deliver the vision set out in the Strategic Defence Review, including a new partnership with industry.

Future funding beyond the current Spending Review period will be subject to further Spending Reviews.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_268

Dave Doogan:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his Ministerial colleagues on the £9.2 million Scottish Government funding for (a) skills and (b) training in BAE. \p Luke Pollard: I welcome Scottish Government‘s support for this vital investment into skills and training in BAES and the contribution it will make to shipbuilding on the Clyde.

The Ministry of Defence announced £182 million of skills funding as part of the Defence Industrial Strategy, which will be used across Scotland and the rest of the UK to support the growth of skills in the defence sector.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department is offering to people affected by alleged sexual abuse relating to medical checks carried out between the 1970s and 2016 British Army recruitment processes. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: There is no place in Defence for sexual abuse or misconduct, and we are fully supporting Wiltshire Police’s investigation. I urge anyone who has more information to contact Wiltshire Police as soon as possible, we will stand with the survivors.

For those personnel still serving, every unit has a comprehensive welfare system, ready to support them. . The network of agencies includes Unit Welfare Officers, Welfare Services, chaplains, Equality and Diversity Advisers, and Women’s Royal Voluntary Service. Personnel also have access to the Army confidential helpline, SpeakOut, and the Samaritans helpline, Combat Stress 24-hour mental health helpline xx-xxxx-xxxx) for serving personnel and veterans.

For veterans, the MOD provides an MOD Veterans Service, which offers bespoke advice and assistance following a holistic assessment of needs tailored to each individual's specific circumstances. Welfare Managers provide free and confidential advice and work closely with voluntary organisations, local authorities and all areas of the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure veterans and their families are offered the best possible help and advice. Further information on this service can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/veterans-welfare-service

Victims and survivors of sexual assault can access information and support via the Government’s site https://sexualabusesupport.campaign.gov.uk/
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 26 September 2024 to Question 1555 on Ministry of Defence: Equality and with reference to the Freedom of Information Act response with reference FOI2025/21409, disclosed on 12 September 2025, if he will publish that response. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is content for this Freedom of Information request response to be published, and a copy is provided below.

Request:

“How many staff in the MOD have job titles that includes at least one of the words (a) equality, (b) diversity, (c) inclusion, (d) gender, (e) LGBT or (f) race?

How many staff in each of the armed forces have job titles that includes at least one of the words (a) equality, (b) diversity, (c) inclusion, (d) gender, (e) LGBT or (f) race?”

Following an internal review on 27 August 2025, this was refined to:

“In your letter of 12 August you state that if I am:

“willing to accept a response to your request that was based on the searchable data held in MOD’s two human resources databases: MyHR, for civilians and the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA), for military personnel, we would be able to provide this to you.”

I would be happy to receive the information on that basis – thank you.”

Response:

In a competitive age, our advantage derives from the talent and skills of our people. We must attract, recruit, and retain the best people drawn from the broadest diversity of thought, skills and background. Roles flagged as LGBT are predominantly working on implementing the LGBT Veterans Review and Financial Recognition Scheme.

Civil Service (data taken from MyHR):

Section 1: Position Titles

Number of People in Positions

(a) Equality

0

(b) Diversity

20

(c) Inclusion

3

(d) Gender

0

(e) LGBT

7

(f) Race

0

Section 2: Additional Related Position Titles

Diversity and Inclusion

4

D&I

10

Section 3: Job Description

Diversity and Inclusion*

18

Total number of unique individuals in positions one of the above terms

55

*7 of the 18 are also included in the position title section and/or additional related position title (section 1 and 2).

Caveats/explanations as follows:

Armed Forces (data taken from JPA):

Service

Position Titles and Number of People in Positions

Total

Diversity

Diversity & Inclusion

Gender Race

Gender &

Inclusion

LGBT

Army

0

1

1

0

5

2

9

Royal  Navy

0

7

0

1

0

0

8

Royal Air Force

2

0

0

0

3

0

5

Total

2

8

1

1

8

2

22

Caveats/explanations as follows:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_271

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 127 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published in June 2025 how much his Department plans to spend on Defence Intelligence in each year of this Parliament. \p Al Carns: This Government has made a historic commitment to defence investment – rising to 2.6% in 2027. Future budgets for Defence Intelligence are being finalised as part of the Defence Investment Plan.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_272

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking with his US counterpart to ensure that advanced F-35 fighter jet technology is not utilised by the Chinese Government. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence works closely with the F-35 Joint Program Office to protect sensitive defence technologies associated with the F-35 programme.

There are comprehensive security, counter-intelligence, and export-control arrangements in place to prevent any unauthorised access, transfer, or exploitation of advanced capabilities by third parties, including the Chinese Government.

We continue to engage regularly with our US counterparts to ensure these protections remain robust, up to date, and fully aligned with our shared national-security priorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_273

James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the response of 21 October 2025 to Question 81717, what the level of funding per service user was for (a) Defence Transition Services, (b) Personal Recovery Units and (c) the Veterans Welfare Service in each year since 2023. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold this information. Each case is unique, and the MOD spends as necessary to support each individual.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 2.6 of the report entitled The UK’s F-35 capability, HC 989, published by the National Audit Office on 11 July 2025, what steps are being taken to address personnel shortfalls within the F‑35 programme. \p Luke Pollard: We inherited a retention and recruitment crisis from the last Government and are determined to fix it.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has introduced a programme of surging recruitment for the RAF so that it returns to workforce balance across every specialisation.

This activity includes a significant focus on the engineer profession where, over the last two years, the RAF has offered joining bonuses and increased the capacity of Technical Training Schools to enable more recruits to be trained.

To improve retention, the RAF has implemented a Financial Retention Incentive for engineers.

The recruitment and retention of personnel remains one of the top two priorities for the Chief of the Defence Staff.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_275

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 22 of the report entitled The UK’s F-35 capability, HC 989, published by the National Audit Office on 11 July 2025, if he will set out the updated estimate of the whole‑life cost of the (a) equipment, (b) personnel, (c) infrastructure, (d) fuel, (e) ammunition and (f) total cost of the F‑35 programme. \p Luke Pollard: The F-35 programme reports costs to the Departments and National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) policy as a Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP). My Department will address the Public Accounts Committee recommendations in the formal Government response to the Committee in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_276

Llinos Medi:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which body is responsible for administering and overseeing the £625 million construction skills programme. \p Andrew Western: Following recent machinery of government changes, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will have lead responsibility for the Construction Skills Package and will act as Senior Responsible Owner (SRO). Policy responsibility and budget control for different elements of the package will sit across DWP and the Department for Education (DfE), with Baroness Smith retaining ministerial responsibility for the skills portfolio, including the Construction Skills Package.

Construction skills policy and funding in Wales is devolved. HM Treasury has confirmed that information on funding received by the Welsh Government can be found in the Block Grant Transparency: October 2025 - GOV.UK. The Welsh Government is free to allocate this funding as it sees fit across its responsibilities.

The £625 million announced for construction skills training is largely for the Spending Review period from FY2026-27 to FY2028-29. Funds will be allocated and released aligned with the delivery needs of each strand of the programme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

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Kirsty Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his predecessor's Oral Statement of 17 December 2024 on Women's State Pension Age Communication: PHSO Report, Official Report, Vol. 759, column 168, what the research from 2006 was that she was referring to. \p Torsten Bell: DWP research report no. 434 “Attitudes to pensions: The 2006 survey” was considered as part of the Government’s decision announced in the 17 December 2024 Oral Statement.

DWP research report no. 447 “Evaluation of Automatic State Pension Forecasts”, was referenced in the 11 November 2025 Oral Statement and a copy of this report has been deposited in the Libraries of the House.

We have decided to retake the decision as it relates to the communication of State Pension age as report no.447 contains relevant information that was not considered at the time of the original decision. In re-taking the decision, we will consider the evidence from report no.447 alongside other relevant evidence and material. The process to re-take the decision has already begun.
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Kerry McCarthy:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making pensioners who live with a partner below State Pension age eligible to receive age-appropriate welfare benefits. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We have no current plans to do so. Ensuring that individuals, including those below State Pension age, can get into and stay in work is important for individuals in helping them to continue saving for their own retirement and contributes to the wider economy.

Since 2019, couples have needed to claim working age benefits (usually Universal Credit) until both members reach pension age.

Once in receipt of Universal Credit, the younger partner can access the same employment support that is available for customers below State Pension age. The partner above State Pension age can still receive their State Pension, but this will be taken into account in full when assessing entitlement and calculating the couple’s Universal Credit award.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on the number of providers that have ceased offering Access to Work services due to (a) systemic delays and (b) insufficient funding since January 2025. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We have interpreted “providers” to mean support workers, third parties, and stakeholders who deliver support to Access to Work customers.

The Department does not hold data on how many providers may have ceased offering Access to Work services due to (a) systemic delays or (b) insufficient funding since January 2025.

Access to Work operates as a reimbursement grant, the service or support must be provided before payment is made. The customer is the recipient of the grant and claims for the support they have used, not the provider. As such, the Department does not monitor providers or track whether they have ceased offering Access to Work services.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support is available for disabled candidates standing for election. \p Sir Stephen Timms: It is this government’s ambition to see more disabled people in public office. We have been clear that we will champion disabled people’s rights and work closely with them so that disabled people’s views and voices are at the heart of decision-making.

A new fund is currently being developed to assist with the additional disability-related costs of contesting elected office. More information about the fund will be announced in due course.

Additionally, as part of the current MHCLG-funded sector support programme, the Local Government Association (LGA) delivers the Be a Councillor campaign - which aims to attract people who reflect the communities they serve to put themselves forward for local election. The LGA programme also supports disabled people in local politics, through a disabled local councillors leadership programme and a disability champions network across local authorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_281

Laurence Turner:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 83545 on Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, if he will publish a version of that table covering each year for which his Department holds equivalent data. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The spend by the Department for Work and Pensions on the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme is included for the available years in a table below.

Financial year

Cost (£000s) in nominal terms

1993/94

26

1994/95

17

1995/96

-

1996/97

9

1997/98

12

1998/99

-

1999/00

60

2000/01

60,734

2001/02

6,525

2002/03

568

2003/04

478

2004/05

429

2005/06

500

2006/07

389

2007/08

200

2008/09

-

2009/10

292

2010/11

92

2011/12

-

2012/13

-

2013/14

0

2014/15

100

2015/16

240

2016/17

240

2017/18

360

2018/19

200

2019/20

300

2020/21

240

Source: outturn-and-forecast-tables-spring-statement-2025.xlsx
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reducing the Housing Benefit taper rate to 55 per cent for people living in supported accommodation in work. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department recognises the challenge arising from the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for residents in supported and temporary accommodation.

A wide range of customers currently receive rent support through Housing Benefit, including pensioners, residents in supported or temporary accommodation, and those who have not yet migrated to Universal Credit. Any amendment to the Housing Benefit taper would therefore apply across these groups.

The Housing Benefit income taper ensures that people in work are better off than those wholly reliant on benefits, and it only applies to those with earnings. However, the treatment of earnings in Housing Benefit is less generous than under Universal Credit. Consequently, while customers in supported accommodation are better off working than not working, some may face disincentives to increase their hours to maintain Universal Credit entitlement.

The Department is considering options to improve work incentives for residents of supported and temporary accommodation, taking account of stakeholder views. Any future decisions on housing support will be made in the round, prioritising measures that best meet Government objectives within the current fiscal environment.

It remains our priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter and sustain employment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_283

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to promote the use of engineering controls such as (a) biological safety cabinets and (b) closed system drug transfer devices during the preparation and administration of hazardous medicinal products. \p Sir Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 October 2025 to Question UIN 84444.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_284

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to develop a list of hazardous medicinal products and require safety data sheets for finished medicines. \p Sir Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 October 2025 to Question UIN 84436.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_285

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he will require NHS employers to provide ongoing education, training and health surveillance for all staff (a) who handle or (b) may be exposed to hazardous medicinal products. \p Sir Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 October 2025 to Question UIN 84444.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_286

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on the number of complaints submitted by disabled service users to the Access to Work scheme which were not resolved within the 20-working-day target in the last 12 months. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The standard definition of a complaint across DWP is:

Any expression of dissatisfaction about the service provided which is not resolved by operational staff as normal business.

An ‘Official’’ complaint would be received in writing and usually via the local MP or authorised advocate on behalf of the customer. These complaints would be logged and dealt with in line with our official complaints policy.

‘Official’ complaints have a 20-working day target.

During the period 01/11/2024 – 31/10/2025, 106 were received and 3 were not resolved within the target date.

‘Other’ complaints are also received but are dealt with informally as part of normal business and are usually handled in real-time by our DWP Telephony staff.

Other complaints have a 15-working day target.

During the period 01/11/2024 – 31/10/2025, 909 were received and 4 were not resolved within the target date.

What is not a complaint

Please note that the data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only, and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. They should therefore be treated with caution.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_287

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure people with (a) learning disabilities and (b) mental health challenges receive (i) adequate and (ii) consistent support through Access to Work. \p Sir Stephen Timms: In the Pathways to Work Green Paper, we consulted on the future of Access to Work and how to improve the scheme so that it helps more disabled people in work. Since Access to Work was first designed, the style, scope and cost of the support that people require has changed significantly, yet Access to Work has stayed broadly the same. There is a strong case for looking at the future role and purpose of Access to Work, as part of the wider changes to Get Britain Working.

We have recently concluded (end of June) the Access to Work Collaboration Committees, in which we engaged with a range of stakeholders, including Disabled People’s Organisation representatives and lived experience users, to provide discussion, experience, and challenge to the design of the future Access to Work Scheme. Whilst the committees have now ended, we will seek opportunity to engage with stakeholders as we move forward with policy development, recognising the value of their input and expertise. We will be reviewing all aspects of the Scheme now that the consultation has closed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_288

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Leader of the House, further to the Point of Order of 30 October 2025, Official Report, Column xx-xxxx-xxxx, by the Right Hon Member for Basildon and Billericay, on Written Parliamentary Questions, if the Leader of the House will raise this issue with Ministers in the Department for Transport. \p Sir Alan Campbell: The government's position regarding the relationship between the treatment of requests for information through parliamentary questions and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 - as set out in the Guide to Parliamentary Work - is unchanged.

Following the Point of Order from the Hon. Member, I understand the Minister for Roads and Buses has written to him on this matter. The Department for Transport has issued an apology, provided the relevant information released through an FOI request and corrected the initial Written Parliamentary Question.

More widely, I have written to all Members of Cabinet and spoken with Departmental Parliamentary Clerks to remind departments and Ministers about the importance of providing full and helpful responses to parliamentary questions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_289

Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the local democracy reporting service on providing (a) public service accountability and (b) fact based local reporting. \p Ian Murray: The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) supports the vital role of local news, helping communities and local businesses to scrutinise decisions that impact them and holding public services to account through fact-based local reporting. The Government welcomed the recent retendering of LDRS contracts and the extension of the scheme until the end of the current BBC Charter period (December 2027).

Separately, we are developing a Local Media Strategy, in recognition of the importance of this vital sector. As part of this work, we are exploring the role of the BBC in the local news market, including the contribution made by the LDRS, as we move towards the next Charter Review. We are working across Government and with other stakeholders as the Strategy develops. An industry working group was set up in June to consider the issues in more detail and has been meeting regularly since then, including with BBC representatives to discuss the LDRS. More will be announced on the Strategy in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_290

Alex Easton:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the BBC Board on compliance with statutory obligations on impartiality; and whether her Department plans to bring the BBC's editorial standards under Government control. \p Ian Murray: As set out in my response to WPQ 89121, the Secretary of State has been speaking regularly to the Chair of the Board in relation to the points raised in a letter written by Michael Prescott. The public expects and deserves the highest editorial standards from the BBC. The Secretary of State has been consistently clear that where these standards are not met, firm and transparent action must follow.

The BBC is editorially and operationally independent from the Government and this is a crucial component of why people trust it. As such, the BBC Board is responsible for setting and overseeing the BBC’s editorial guidelines and standards.

It is then for Ofcom, as the independent regulator, to ensure the BBC is fulfilling its obligations to audiences, including on impartiality and accuracy, as outlined in the Charter.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_291

Anna Sabine:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government has sought legal advice in relation to the US President's planned legal action against the BBC. \p Ian Murray: This is a matter for the BBC, whose lawyers are now dealing with the issue. The BBC is independent of the UK government and so it is a matter for them and the US President.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_292

Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, what discussions her Department has had on support for young people in the North East to attend universities. \p Josh MacAlister: The department is determined that opportunity is available to all who have the aspiration and talent to succeed in higher education (HE), regardless of where they live.

To inform the development of the Post-16 education and skills white paper, the department engaged with a range of stakeholders, including HE providers, representative bodies, and Mayoral Strategic Authorities across England.

The department will introduce targeted maintenance grants to support students from low-income households studying courses at Levels 4 to 6, including technical qualifications and degrees, aligned with the government’s missions and the Industrial Strategy.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell of the University of Derby has agreed to chair the Access and Participation Task and Finish Group. This will consist of sector experts and charities, with representation from across different regions of the country. It will focus on developing options to address regional disparities in access to HE and tackling the most systemic barriers to access for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_293

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with local authorities on the (a) services and (b) level of financial support provided to kinship carers. \p Josh MacAlister: Local authorities have powers to provide a range of services, including financial support, to help children and families. They are best placed to decide what support is needed and any payments should follow their assessment models. The government does not set a minimum or maximum allowance for kinship carers, but statutory guidance makes clear that children and young people should receive the support they need to safeguard and promote their welfare.

We recognise the financial pressures on local authorities and are committed to improving support for kinship families. To that end, we will soon launch a Kinship Allowance Pilot in selected local authorities in England to help eligible kinship carers with the costs of raising a child.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_294

Patrick Hurley:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of including (a) misinformation, (b) disinformation and (c) conspiracy theories in the guidance entitled Keeping children safe in education, published on 1 September 2025, on schools; and whether she plans to update the guidance to include information for teachers on tackling this issue. \p Josh MacAlister: In response to stakeholder feedback, an amendment was made to paragraph 135 in the statutory guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education’. This came into force on 1 September 2025, and provided further examples of content risks.   The department recognises the significant risks these issues pose to children’s safety and wellbeing, as they can distort understanding, undermine trust and expose pupils to harmful narratives online.   The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review highlighted the importance of all pupils developing the skills they need to identify and challenge misinformation. In making changes to the curriculum, we will support this by strengthening media literacy content in citizenship and English and making citizenship compulsory in primary school so that all children are introduced to this vital content at an early stage.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_295

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 82043 on City of Sanctuary UK, if she will publish the minutes of the three meetings. \p Josh MacAlister: Officials routinely engage with a range of different organisations.

The department does not usually publish minutes between officials and stakeholders.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_296

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the number of home educated children with SEND in Poole constituency. \p Josh MacAlister: The department does not hold information on the number of home-educated children at constituency level.

The latest statistics on elective home education (EHE) in England are available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/elective-home-education/2024-25-autumn-term.

For the 2024/25 autumn term,16% of EHE children were recorded as receiving special educational needs support, whilst 6% of EHE children had an education, health and care plan. This compares with 14% and 5% of the overall school population.