theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Layla Moran:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many homes his Department has identified as requiring an upgrade from single-phase to triple-phase electricity supply, in the context of the criteria for being a zero-carbon household. \p Michael Shanks: My Department does not hold this data, however only a small minority of homes are likely to need an upgrade from a single to three-phase connection to accommodate multiple or higher-powered low carbon technologies.
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Dan Norris:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to (a) encourage and (b) support local communities which host clean power projects. \p Michael Shanks: DESNZ and Great British Energy are developing the Local Power Plan, designed to accelerate the local and community energy sector in support of the Clean Power Mission.

On 21 May we published a working paper on community benefits and shared ownership of low carbon energy infrastructure. Developers of low carbon energy generation and storage infrastructure would be required to contribute to funds, which can be used to support the local community.

Plans are in place for households within 500 metres of new or significantly upgraded electricity transmission infrastructure to get up to £2,500 off their electricity bills over 10 years.
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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will bring forward his planned timeline for consulting on the future of the Renewables Obligation Certificate scheme. \p Michael Shanks: A number of generating stations under the Renewables Obligation scheme come to the end of their support in 2027. The Government is aware that may affect their commercial viability. We are assessing the impact that the end of support will have on security of supply, clean power 2030 and the environment. No decisions have been made on future support.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to increase uptake of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme among (a) GP practices and (b) other small non-domestic buildings. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Boiler Upgrade Scheme continues to provide grants of up to £7,500 for small non-domestic property owners, with the threshold for single heat pump installations set at 45kWh. The grants are in addition to the 0% rate of VAT on the installation of heat pumps and biomass boilers, currently up until March 2027.

To support uptake, the Government is performing communications targeted at non-domestic consumers to increase awareness and knowledge of the scheme and are continuing to engage with stakeholders to understand more about how to reduce barriers to heat pump deployment in these buildings. The approach to decarbonising non-domestic buildings more broadly will be set out in October this year.
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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support his Department is providing for local authorities to implement the Warm Homes Local Grant. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: To support local authorities to implement the Warm Homes: Local Grant, the Government is funding a free Technical Assistance Facility called the Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise: ‘RISE’. RISE provides technical support for local authorities from when they request funding to beginning to upgrade homes, as well as access to experts, training and guidance to enhance their capability to deliver the scheme. All local authorities in England can access support through this facility. In addition, Government has procured a delivery partner to provide ongoing support to local authorities throughout the delivery period, with each project assigned a Delivery Support Manager to provide project delivery expertise.
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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the support provided by Retrofit Information Support and Expertise to Cheltenham Borough Council for implementing works funded through the Warm Homes Local Grant. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Retrofit, Information, Support, and Expertise (RISE) is a free support service funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), which provides training, guidance and support to help social housing providers, local authorities and their supply chains across England plan and deliver successful domestic retrofit programmes. For specific queries relating to support received or available to specific organisations, organisations are encouraged to engage with the RISE team directly at xxx@xxx.xx . If organisations would like to speak to the department about the RISE service, you are welcome to contact DESNZ at: TAF mailbox. xxx@xxx.xx
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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when the next batch of funding from the Warm Homes Local Grant will be available for Cheltenham Borough Council. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Cheltenham Borough Council participates in the Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG) as part of a consortium led by Stroud District Council. Stroud District Council is expected to receive the initial payment of WH:LG funding shortly, subject to the Council completing any administrative actions requested.

As the consortium lead, Stroud District Council will be responsible for managing any distribution of funding to consortium members, including Cheltenham Borough Council.
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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how Retrofit Information Support and Expertise is supporting contractors to implement the Warm Homes Local Grant in Gloucestershire. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Retrofit, Information, Support, and Expertise (RISE) is a free support service funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), which provides training, guidance and support to help housing providers and their supply chains across England, to plan and deliver successful domestic retrofit programmes. For specific queries relating to support received or available to supply chain organisations, including in specific regions. organisations are encouraged to engage with the RISE team directly at xxx@xxx.xx . If organisations would like to speak to the department about the RISE service, you are welcome to contact DESNZ at: TAF mailbox. xxx@xxx.xx
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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the capacity of skilled workers in Gloucestershire to implement the Warm Homes Local Grant before winter 2025. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government has not made a specific assessment of the capacity of skilled workers in Gloucestershire to implement the Warm Homes: Local Grant.

Prior to beginning to upgrade homes, and drawing down the funding allocated for this, all local authorities participating in the scheme are required to demonstrate they have procured sufficient capacity to deliver the funding. Local authorities concerned that there is insufficient capacity in their area to deliver their project are encouraged to contact their assigned Delivery Support Manager for the scheme.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many (a) general practice surgeries and (b) other non-domestic organisations by sector have (i) applied for and (ii) received support through the boiler upgrade scheme. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not have data specifying the nature of the business or a sector-level breakdown for non-domestic installations under the scheme. From May 2022 to April 2025, the scheme has received 394 non-domestic voucher applications, with 250 non-domestic grants paid.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme update and publish monthly statistics here, which includes number of grants paid by whether the property is domestic or non-domestic and technology type (tab 1.5), with further information on number of grants paid by whether the property is domestic or non-domestic broken down by financial year (tab A1.4).
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Carla Denyer:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the UK’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution emissions reduction target, what his emissions reduction target is against a 2019 emissions baseline. \p Kerry McCarthy: The UK has set an ambitious 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% by 2035, compared to base year levels. The base year is 1990 for carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide and 1995 for hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride and nitrogen trifluoride.

The latest 2019 emissions statistic can be found in the Government’s publication of UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions here.

UK 2035 NDC performance will be assessed in 2037 based on the latest emissions estimates available at the time. Historical emissions estimates are revised annually to incorporate new data, improved methods and changes to international guidelines. Therefore, the % reductions on specific years (excluding the base year) are subject to change.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 54292 on Financial Services: Environment Protection, what information he holds on which councils offer municipal green bonds. \p Kerry McCarthy: The Government does not hold information on which councils offer municipal green bonds centrally. It is the responsibility of the local authority to advertise and communicate bond offers at the time of their launch.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of trains arrived (a) on time and (b) within three minutes in the last six months. \p Lilian Greenwood: The rail industry uses four-weekly rail periods rather than calendar months for reporting performance figures. The average punctuality over the most recent six rail periods, based on arrivals at all recorded station stops, and covering all operators in Great Britain between 8 December 2024 and 24 May 2025 is as follows:

On Time: 68.3%

Within 3 minutes: 85.9%.
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Noah Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that accessibility improvements at railway stations can still be delivered in cases where applications to the Access for All scheme are unsuccessful because that scheme is over-subscribed. \p Lilian Greenwood: Accessibility improvements at stations are delivered in a variety of ways, in addition to those funded via the Access for All programme. Whenever the industry installs, replaces or renews station infrastructure, this must meet current accessibility standards. In addition, accessibility improvements can be developed and funded locally, in partnership with Network Rail and train operators.

If there are any sources of funding that can be identified locally, for example from s106 monies, that would also be a way of bringing accessibility at stations further forward.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 57342 on Robin Hood Line: Standards, how many rail replacement buses were used on the Robin Hood Line in the last six months. \p Lilian Greenwood: Between 8 December 2024 and 24 May 2025, 87 rail replacement buses were used on the Robin Hood Line. 48 buses were for pre-planned engineering work which took place on 28 of the days, and 39 buses were used due to emergency or on the day disruptions on 21 days.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 57342 on Robin Hood Line: Standards, what proportion of trains on the Robin Hood Line arrived (a) on time and (b) within three minutes in each of the last six months. \p Lilian Greenwood: The proportion of Robin Hood Line services in each rail period (4 weeks) from 8 December 2024 to 24 May 2025, (a) that arrived at their destination on time was: 50.7%; 54.9%; 60.4%, 59.8%; 57.8% and 60.5% and (b) trains that arrived at their destination within 3 minutes was 74.9%, 80.1%, 83.8%, 84.8%, 82.1%, 84.4%.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 57342 on Robin Hood Line: Standards, how many of the 11% of late trains on the Robin Hood Line in that period were cancelled. \p Lilian Greenwood: Between 1 April and 26 April 2025, 89 per cent of all services for all stations on the Robin Hood Line arrived within three minutes of their schedule arrival time, 11 per cent arrived later than three minutes. Cancellations are measured separately as the train has not departed all stations, in the same time frame. 2.34 per cent of Robin Hood Line services were cancelled.
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Caroline Voaden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve transport services in rural areas. \p Lilian Greenwood: This Government knows that integrated public transport is vital to keeping communities connected. We also know that in rural and semi-rural areas, bus services can be a lifeline for many and can be the only means of accessing services, including other modes of transportation such as rail links.

The Government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December to put the power over local bus services back into the hands of local leaders. In addition, we are investing £1 billion this year to support and improve bus services and keep fares affordable.

The Government confirmed a £2.3 billion investment in local transport through the Local Transport Grant (LTG) at the Spending Review. This funding is for smaller cities, towns and rural areas, and will enable local authorities to deliver more ambitious transport projects.
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Antonia Bance:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to take steps to review taxi licensing in the context of the findings of the National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Department for Transport will legislate to address the important issues raised in Baroness Casey’s report, tackling the inconsistent standards of taxi and private hire vehicle driver licensing. We will work as quickly as possible and consider all options – including out of area working, national standards and enforcement – seeking the best overall outcomes for passenger safety.

In the interim we will act urgently to make improvements, including consulting on making local transport authorities, including combined authorities, responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, and determining how existing statutory guidance can be strengthened to further protect the public. We are also reviewing authorities’ compliance with existing guidance and will hold those who do not follow it to account.

Some important protections have already been put in place since earlier inquiries into Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation. All licensing authorities in England now undertake extensive driver background checks, and since 2023

they are required to use a single database to prevent a driver refused a licence in one area on safety grounds going elsewhere. Careful consideration of the options is needed as we do not want any change to decrease the availability of highly vetted licensed drivers and vehicles and inadvertently increase the use of those offering illegal services that evade these licensing checks.
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Navendu Mishra:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to provide funding for step-free access at Heaton Chapel Station. \p Lilian Greenwood: This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.

In May 2024, the previous government selected 50 stations for initial feasibility work for potential upgrades as part of our Access for All programme. This did not include Heaton Chapel railway station.

Given the acute funding pressures on capital investments, any sources of funding that can be identified locally, for example from s106 monies, would also be a way of bringing accessibility at this station further forward.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help reduce rail fares. \p Lilian Greenwood: We are overhauling the fares system to make it easier for passengers to trust that they are buying the right ticket and getting the best fare. We need to balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers as we reform fares and deliver Great British Railways, ensuring everyone gets a fair deal.

This year's fares increase of 4.6 per cent was the lowest increase in three years and will help to support the Government’s long-term plans to achieve financial sustainability of the railway.

Our rail sale, celebrating the 200th anniversary of passenger train in this country, saw passengers travelling with up to 50 per cent discounts on their fares from 17 January to 31 March, accounting for just over 1 million discounted trips, bringing in £9.23 million in gross sales.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she is taking steps to measure the potential impact of active travel funding on the number and proportion of trips (a) walked, (b) wheeled and (c) cycled. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department for Transport and Active Travel England have developed a number of tools that measure the potential impact on numbers and proportions of people walking and cycling of active travel investment. This includes tools to enable local authorities to estimate increases in walking and cycling and the associated cost-benefit case for individual active travel schemes and the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) Model.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to encourage people who do not regularly exercise to become more active through the Active Travel Fund. \p Simon Lightwood: In February, the Department and ATE announced £8.5 million of funding over 25/26 for Cycling UK, Living Streets and Modeshift to deliver walking, wheeling and cycling initiatives in schools and communities, including a focus on less physically active groups. In addition, ATE has allocated £40.5 million in revenue funding over 25/26 for local authorities through the Consolidated Active Travel Fund. This funding can be used by local authorities to deliver outreach schemes and complements Bikeability funding for school children and Active Travel Social Prescribing Pilots underway in some authorities.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to provide funding for the final phase of the South West Rail Resilience Programme. \p Lilian Greenwood: Following the Chancellor’s Spending Review statement on 11 June we are now working to confirm our portfolio of rail enhancements, which will be announced shortly.
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Emma Foody:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 59057 on Roads and Roundabouts: Northumberland, how many direct representations her Department has received from (a) officials and (b) elected representatives of Northumberland County Council on (i) the Road Investment Strategy, (ii) Moor Farm roundabout and (iii) Seaton Burn roundabout in the last 12 months. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Department for Transport has received no formal representations from officials or elected representatives at Northumberland County Council on the Road Investment Strategy, Moor Farm Roundabout or Seaton Burn roundabout in the last 12 months. However in addition to representations set out in my answer of 16 June to question 59057, National Highways has confirmed that representatives from Northumberland County Council have attended formal Stakeholder Reference Group meetings in September 2024, and have contributed to the development of the strategic case for the proposals to improve Moor Farm and Seaton Burn Roundabouts in the RIS Pipeline.
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Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help increase the use of green fuels in the transport system. \p Mike Kane: Our policies are reducing emissions from surface transport, primarily through supporting renewable fuel used in road transport. We are also supporting the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel with the SAF Mandate introduced in January, the Advanced Fuels Fund supporting UK producers, and a revenue certainty mechanism to help unlock investment in UK projects.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the (a) Financial Conduct Authority and (b) Chancellor of the Exchequer on the affordability of motor insurance for drivers requiring specialist vehicles due to (i) disability and (ii) mobility needs. \p Lilian Greenwood: This Government is committed to tackle the high costs of motor insurance. The cross-Government motor insurance taskforce, launched in October, is comprised of ministers from relevant government departments and the Financial Conduct Authority and Competition and Markets Authority. The taskforce is supported by a separate stakeholder panel of industry experts representing the insurance, motor, and consumer sector.

The Taskforce has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums. It is looking at the increased insurance costs on consumers and the insurance industry, including how this impacts different demographics, geographies, and communities.

The Taskforce was co-chaired by the Secretary of State for Transport and the Economic Secretary to the Treasury when they most recently met on 28 April 2025 and further meetings are being planned. It has yet to make recommendations. The Government will provide updates in due course.
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Tom Gordon:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department would make an estimate of the cost of extending the statutory minimum criteria to allow disabled bus pass holders to use their passes at all times on weekdays. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department for Transport conducted a review of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme which considered expanding statutory travel times for all passholders. We are currently considering next steps.
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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much of the £209 million of reallocated HS2 Funding for Better Local Transport was allocated to Worcestershire for each of the seven years following the announcement. \p Simon Lightwood: The previous government made several unfunded commitments. This government is committed to long-term sustainable funding settlements to support local authorities in building credible delivery plans for local transport improvements.

Worcestershire County Council will receive a capital allocation of £66.9m, in addition to the £13.6m capital allocated for 2025/26 through the LTG and Integrated Transport Block. Allocations are published on gov.uk.

In addition to the £0.5m resource funding it is receiving in 2025/26, Worcestershire will also receive a share of the £104m LTG resource funding that was announced at Spending Review 2025. Individual allocations will be confirmed in due course.

All allocations beyond 2029/30 are subject to future Spending Review processes.
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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much Local Transport Grant funding has been allocated to Worcestershire in each year of the Spending Review 2025. \p Simon Lightwood: Spending Review 2025 confirmed a £2.3 billion investment in local transport through the Local Transport Grant (LTG) for smaller cities, towns and rural areas, outside London which do not receive City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) or Transport for City Regions (TCR) funding. Capital funding allocations for all eligible local authorities are published on gov.uk

Worcestershire County Council will receive a total LTG capital allocation of £66.9m between 2026/27 and 2029/30, consisting of £13.8m in 2026/27, £16m in 2027/28, £17.7m in 2028/29 and £19.5m in 2029/30.

In addition, Worcestershire will receive a share of the £104m LTG resource funding that was announced at Spending Review 2025. Individual allocations of resource funding will be confirmed in due course.
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Shaun Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, what assessment she has made of the (a) adequacy of the funding for the M54 link road to the M6 and (b) potential economic impact on the (i) region and (ii) UK. \p Lilian Greenwood: As the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 11 June 2025, this Government will deliver notable improvements to people’s everyday travel by providing £24 billion of capital funding between 2026-27 and 2029-30 to maintain and improve roads across the country. Delivering faster, safer and more reliable journeys and unlocking economic growth across the country. We will provide updates on specific schemes in due course.
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Tom Gordon:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department would make an estimate of the cost of requiring all local government authorities to provide a companion pass for disabled pass holders who cannot travel alone. \p Simon Lightwood: The introduction of companion passes for disabled passholders under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme would be an additional concession, introduced at the discretion of local authorities depending on their needs and circumstances. The Department for Transport therefore has no plans to produce an estimate of implementing this at a national level.
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Noah Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increased funding for transport infrastructure on economic growth. \p Lilian Greenwood: Growth is this government’s top priority and formed a fundamental part of the analysis informing the Spending Review. Our significant investment in transport infrastructure will deliver a step-change in transport connectivity across the country, which is vital for economic growth. It boosts productivity by reducing travel time for businesses; widening access to markets and supporting trade; better matching workers’ skills to high quality jobs; and increasing the economic density of the country.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 59713 on Foreign Investment in UK: Northern Ireland, on what date he discussed filling the role of US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland with the US Administration and Congress. \p Hilary Benn: Economic growth is the number one priority of the Government. That is why we are working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive to create a thriving, competitive and regionally balanced economy in Northern Ireland through increased investment, job creation, and higher living standards.

I had a range of meetings during my visit to Washington in March, but the role of a US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland was not raised with me. There has not been such a position in every US Administration, and is a matter for which the US Administration is responsible.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether nursing positions for the provision of care in corridors will be advertised in Lancashire. \p Karin Smyth: The Department does not hold the information requested.
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Mike Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the uptake is of (a) Covid-19 and (b) flu vaccinations in Tunbridge Wells constituency . \p Andrew Gwynne: The information is not held in the format requested. Monthly data includes the numbers of those vaccinated, but the data is not extrapolated and is based on the response rate of those organisations responding to the monthly survey. NHS England and local authority data is not held for the Tunbridge Wells constituency.

National level COVID-19 and flu vaccine uptake percentages for eligible general practice (GP) patients are published weekly by the UK Health Security Agency for the 2024 to 2025 season. This includes a descriptive analysis comparing weekly uptake percentages to the same week in the previous season. The seasonal uptake reports for 2024 to 2025 are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-flu-and-covid-19-surveillance-reports-2024-to-2025-season

Flu vaccine uptake data for GP patients, school-aged children, and frontline healthcare workers is published monthly. Healthcare worker data also includes COVID-19 vaccine uptake data. The data for the 2024 to 2025 season is available at the following link:

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

Regional level COVID-19 data for the Autumn 2024 campaign is published by the Office of National Statistics in the National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports for the 2024 to 2025 season, which are available at the following link:

https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/dfae04aa7f624cdd89af6903c76c0056/explore
wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_3

Tom Gordon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the expiry of funding for T1DE pilot services on the health and well-being of patients in (a) Bournemouth and (b) London. \p Andrew Gwynne: The National Health Service recognises the impact that type 1 diabetes with disordered eating can have on people and their families, which is why it has been piloting services to support those with the condition, and integrating care to help people improve their confidence and ability to manage their diabetes alongside their mental wellbeing. These pilots have shown improved outcomes for patients and cost effectiveness, and the NHS has now expanded sites to every region of the country, so that even more people can benefit from them.

The Department, in partnership with NHS England and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, produced the Medical Emergencies in Eating Disorders guidance in May 2022, which has a full annexe on type 1 diabetes and eating disorders, and they are currently working to roll out the guidance to all systems.

NHS England is continuing to expand community-based eating disorder service capacity, including crisis care and intensive home treatment, to improve outcomes and recovery, reduce rates of relapse, prevent eating disorders continuing into adulthood and, if admission is required as a very last resort, reduce lengths of stay. NHS England has asked local health systems, through this year’s NHS operational planning guidance, to focus on improving performance against the waiting time standards for children’s eating disorders services of 95% of urgent cases seen within one week, and 95% of routine cases seen within four weeks.
wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_4

Tessa Munt:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will extend the 22 January deadline for NHS Trusts to apply for funding towards new radiotherapy machines. \p Andrew Gwynne: The funding for new radiotherapy machines will be used to replace outdated machines, and allocated to trusts using criteria that NHS England has developed. The new machines will support the recovery of cancer waiting times and help ensure that patients have access to the most up-to-date treatments. The £70 million central funding is not intended to replace every machine aged 10 years and older, and the spending on machines remains the responsibility of local systems.

There are no plans to extend the 22 January 2025 deadline, nor has the relevant NHS England team received any requests from providers to do so. NHS England is working with providers to ensure they can get applications completed in time.

There are no plans for an assessment of the potential merits of requiring NHS England to include the cost of artificial intelligence products with this funding.

NHS England does not hold any data on the effectiveness of radiotherapy machines relative to the number of doses that they deliver. NHS England has set out a technical specification for linear accelerators with three options that providers need to choose between, however, the technical specification does not make any requirement about the number of fractions to be delivered.
wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_5

Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many meetings the Minister for Health (Secondary Care) has attended on (a) A&E performance and (b) flow through the emergency care system. \p Karin Smyth: I have attended regular winter preparedness meetings since 26 September 2024. Urgent and emergency care performance is a standing agenda item within these meetings.

In addition, I have meetings most days to discuss the reform and improvement of the health and care system, with performance and patient flow a regular matter in such discussions.
wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_6

Mike Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that NHS patients who consent to have their data shared with UK medical institutions for research and development will not have their data shared overseas. \p Karin Smyth: Research studies in which patients choose to share their data must adhere to strict legal and ethical standards, including compliance with the United Kingdom’s General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the common law duty of confidentiality. As part of this, participants must be fully informed about how their data will be used, including with whom it might be shared, so they can make an informed decision about their participation.

The National Health Service and major UK research institutions are increasingly adopting secure data environments for data access, with researchers accessing data through secure online portals rather than it being directly shared with them. Each NHS and research organisation has its own processes when sharing data that ensure that they comply with legal requirements. Consent materials would explain the circumstances where data may be made available outside of the UK.

NHS England, for example, enters into formal data sharing agreements where it is sharing information with researchers, which specifies the geographical area within which data processing is permitted. Where data processing occurs outside the UK, additional conditions must be fulfilled to ensure researchers put in place adequate organisational and technical controls, and comply with their legal responsibilities in relation to overseas transfers that are required under UK GDPR.

NHS England undertakes routine audits of data sharing agreements to ensure that high standards are consistently maintained.
wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_7

Peter Prinsley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce elective surgery waiting lists in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket constituency. \p Karin Smyth: The Elective Reform Plan, launched as part of the Government’s Plan for Change, sets out how we will get back to the NHS Constitutional Standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from Referral to Treatment by the end of this Parliament, and will also ensure that patients have the best possible experience of care.

We have set an ambition for 2025/26 that we reach 65% of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks nationally, and for all trusts to deliver a minimum 5% improvement by March 2026. We will also publish minimum standards of care that patients can expect to experience, and will make digital improvements, including to the NHS App, to provide patients with greater choice, control, and flexibility.

At the Autumn Budget, my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an additional £1.5 billion in funding to support National Health Service performance across secondary and emergency care, including for surgical hubs. We will set out details of the allocation of funding for surgical hubs at the earliest opportunity, including details and locations of surgical hubs. Trusts with no operational or planned surgical hubs will be prioritised for new hub funding, as well as trusts with the highest waiting lists.

Across the country, dedicated and protected surgical hubs are transforming the way the NHS provides elective care, by focussing on high volume low complexity surgeries. The Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket constituency falls under the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board. They have two recently opened surgical hubs, one in Ipswich, which opened in July 2024, and the second is the Essex and Suffolk Elective Orthopaedic Centre ESEOC, which opened in November 2024.
wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_8

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of fertility treatment appointments in (a) Slough constituency and (b) Berkshire. \p Karin Smyth: Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards (ICBs) and are based on the clinical needs of their local population. ICBs are expected to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guidelines. We are aware that compliance with these guidelines is variable.

NICE is currently reviewing the fertility guideline and will consider whether the current recommendations for access to National Health Service-funded treatment are still appropriate. We expect this review to be published later in 2025.

The Department is working with NHS England to consider future policy options to support ICBs to provide more equitable in vitro fertilisation services.

No assessment has been made of the availability of appointments for sperm testing for fertility investigations or of the availability of fertility treatment appointments in the Slough constituency or Berkshire. This data is not collected centrally.
wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_9

Peter Prinsley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase training facilities for surgeons in the East of England. \p Karin Smyth: All local education providers, including in the East of England, are responsible for ensuring they have the appropriate capacity, including facilities, for training staff, including surgeons.

The General Medical Council’s (GMC’s) Promoting excellence: standards for medical education and training sets out the standards that the GMC expects organisations responsible for educating and training medical students and doctors in the United Kingdom to meet. This includes having the capacity, resources, and facilities to deliver safe and relevant learning opportunities, clinical supervision, and practical experiences for learners.

NHS England’s Education Quality Framework states that all staff, including learners and educators, should have access to the necessary resources, facilities, and equipment to ensure their safety within the workplace and to deliver safe clinical care. The framework is monitored locally in collaboration with medical schools. In addition, NHS England’s NHS Education Funding Agreement sets out in detail the expectations around the premises and facilities of placement providers.
wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_10

Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the guidance entitled Reconfiguring NHS services - ministerial intervention powers, published on 31 January 2024, if he will clarify the changes in circumstances following which he may consider and intervene in the same reconfiguration more than once. \p Karin Smyth: The Department will always review each call-in request on reconfigurations, regardless of any previous or concurrent requests.

If my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care decides to call in a reconfiguration, as per the Health and Care Act 2022, once he has given direction on a called-in reconfiguration, National Health Service commissioning bodies must implement the decision. The statutory guidance, published January 2024, allows for final decisions on a called-in service change to be revisited in limited circumstances, only when a material change in circumstances may be identified, for example an issue arising that might affect the ability to implement a decision made by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-22 conversation_11

Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to increase (a) hospital and (b) social care capacity for winter 2024-25. \p Stephen Kinnock: December 2024 saw record numbers of people attending accident and emergency, a 7.5% increase on December 2023. Despite this, there were 5% fewer delayed discharges than in December 2023.

The Government will tackle delayed discharges by developing local partnerships working between the National Health Service and social care to make sure people do not spend longer than necessary in hospital, and to free up hospital beds. In the integrated care systems that face the most discharge delays, the Department is working directly with partners across health and social care to drive improvements.