theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) industry, (b) NGOs and (c) other stakeholders on the future of UK REACH. \p Emma Hardy: This Government is committed to protecting human health and the environment from the risks posed by chemicals. We regularly engage with a range of stakeholders, including industry representatives, NGOs, academic organisations and other Government departments, in order to seek their input, harness their expertise and provide updates of Defra policy developments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the nature restoration fund on (a) peatlands, (b) ancient woodlands and (c) other irreplaceable habitats. \p Mary Creagh: The Planning and Infrastructure Bill provides an opportunity to accelerate housebuilding and infrastructure delivery by using development to fund nature recovery. This will create a win-win outcome, benefitting both the economy and nature, where both are currently stalled.

The Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) will offer an alternative way for developers to discharge existing environmental obligations related to protected sites and species, without reducing overall levels of environmental protection. The Bill sets out that the specific environmental obligations which may be in scope of Environmental Delivery Plans in future are only those stemming from the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, or the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, which includes ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees, as well as blanket bog and lowland fen (which are peatland habitats), should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists. These protections will continue to apply.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

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Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made a comparative assessment of the environmental impact of disposable period products and (a) environmentally friendly and (b) reusable products. \p Mary Creagh: Defra has not carried out a comparative assessment of the environmental impact of different types of period products.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to introduce robust traceability of dogs across the UK. \p Daniel Zeichner: Compulsory dog microchipping was introduced in England in 2016. All dogs must be microchipped before they are eight weeks old and relevant information including breeder details recorded with a Defra-compliant database operator which helps support traceability.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2025 to Question 36866 on Internal Drainage Boards: Cambridgeshire, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of all pumping infrastructure under the Middle Level Commissioners. \p Emma Hardy: The Middle Level Commissioners take responsibility for assessing the condition and adequacy of their infrastructure. Where they identify a need for future capital investment, the Environment Agency (EA) will support them to secure funding and deliver capital schemes for their assets.

The pumping infrastructure in the Fens is important in enabling communities and businesses in this area to continue to thrive and support the local and national economy. The EA is developing a long-term adaptive plan for flood infrastructure in the Fens. The 'Fens 2100+’ Programme is a £9.8 million programme to develop a Fens-wide flood resilience investment strategy that achieves long-term value for money and generates regional and national benefits. It’s being developed with, and for, Flood Risk Management Authorities so they can plan for the next 20-25 years of flood risk management. This investment strategy will be completed in 2025. The Middle Level Commissioners, and the assets and system they manage are a key part of this work.

The Government has also announced an additional £16 million in funding for IDBs this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 37757 on Fisheries: South Atlantic Ocean, what assessment he has made of the impact of Chinese fishing fleets on fishing stocks in the South Atlantic. \p Emma Hardy: Defra is aware of significant fishing activity undertaken by Chinese vessels operating in the South Atlantic. There is a high level of fishing activity targeting squid in an area of the high seas to the north of Falkland Islands waters.

The Falkland Islands Government continue to gather information on the health of squid and other stocks in the region. Data is also compiled at a larger scale by The Food and Agriculture Organisation, including in its State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture report. The most recent edition of this report from 2024 highlights that in 2021, 58.8% of all assessed fish stocks in the Southwest Atlantic and 59.5% in the Southeast Atlantic were at biologically sustainable levels.

Defra is also aware that gaps in fisheries data collection still remain and continues to seek progress on addressing these gaps through the United Nations and Food and Agriculture Organisation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a centralised and digitalised ID and traceability system across the UK to prevent the illegal movement of horses and other equine species. \p Daniel Zeichner: This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

The Government recognises the importance of the equine sector to the UK economy and of improving equine identification and traceability. We have no current plans to implement mandatory digital identification, but we remain in close touch with the industry to look at potential improvements.

Defra also regularly engages with officials in the devolved governments to discuss matters of equine identification and traceability.  Officials also share data on equines located in the UK with the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland and with the Department for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the Republic of Ireland.  The majority of equine movements into and out of GB take place between the island of Ireland and GB.
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Mr Clive Betts:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to amend the biodiversity net gain rules on small sites being potentially developed by SME builders. \p Mary Creagh: As is the case with any new policy, we are collecting information and evidence about the implementation of mandatory biodiversity net gain, including for small sites. Government is committed to working closely with the sector to make Biodiversity Net Gain work effectively and implement solutions to unlock new homes without weakening environmental protections.
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Alison Bennett:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle fly-tipping. \p Mary Creagh: We are seeking powers in the Home Office’s Crime and Policing Bill to provide statutory enforcement guidance to help councils make full and proper use of their fly-tipping enforcement powers. These include fixed penalty notices of up to £1000, vehicle seizure and prosecution action which can lead to a significant fine or even imprisonment.

We have committed to forcing fly-tippers and vandals to clean up the mess they have created as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour. We will provide further details on this commitment in due course.

Defra officials chair the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group through which we work with a wide range of stakeholders, including officials from the Department for Transport, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and devolved governments, to promote good practice on preventing fly-tipping. Various practical tools are available from their webpage which can be found at: https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/national-fly-tipping-prevention-group.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed base-rate Extended Producer Responsibility fees on levels of use of different recyclable materials by the packaging industry. \p Mary Creagh: Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) requires producers to bear the end-of-life costs associated with packaging that they place on the market, rather than the proportion of recycled materials contained.

The Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) has been used by producers to assess packaging recyclability from January 2025. The RAM is an important aspect of pEPR as it will determine the modulation sub-category, and therefore the level of fees applicable to that material, with higher fees applied to less sustainable packaging.

We have made a full impact assessment of implementing packaging extended producer responsibility will have which we published when The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 were laid before parliament.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

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Greg Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for the level of extended producer responsibility fees of the recyclable nature of glass packaging. \p Mary Creagh: The potential implications of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) fees on the recyclable nature of glass packaging have been considered within the framework of the scheme, particularly through the mechanism of fee modulation. Modulation of pEPR fees from year two of the scheme will result in lower fees for more sustainable packaging and higher fees for less sustainable packaging.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

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Greg Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to (a) exempt or (b) reduce extended producer responsibility fees for brewers using glass bottles containing a high proportion of recycled glass. \p Mary Creagh: Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) requires producers to bear the end-of-life costs associated with packaging that they place on the market, rather than the proportion of recycled materials contained. Officials have been working with stakeholders, including representatives from the hospitality sector, to consider potential future amendments to the definition of household packaging. The use of reusable/refillable packaging is encouraged under pEPR, as producers are only required to report and pay disposal cost fees for household packaging the first time it is placed on the market.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

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Greg Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will regularly publish the methods by which extended producer responsibility fees are (a) calculated and (b) used. \p Mary Creagh: We have previously published additional guidance to accompany any release of updated base fee amounts which provides a more detailed breakdown of fee calculations for each material and the data involved. Similar accompanying information will be provided alongside upcoming local authority payment notifications in April 2025 and the fee amounts for 2025-2026 in June 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 35545 on Environment Protection: Henley-on-Thames, if he will hold discussions with Ofwat on the adequacy of the progress on the improvement scheme at Horton-cum-Studley sewage treatment by Thames Water. \p Emma Hardy: My officials and I have regular conversations with Ofwat and other regulators, to discuss a range of activities, including delivery by water companies.

Ahead of Price Review 24 (PR24), funding investment works through 2025 – 2030, the Horton-cum-Studley site has had further works identified to meet the government’s targets by reducing spills to no more than 10 per year and causing no adverse ecological impact. The exact delivery date of these works is officially to be confirmed.

In February 2025 Ofwat opened an enforcement case into Thames Water to investigate whether its delayed delivery of environmental improvements schemes has meant the company has breached its obligations. The focus of that investigation is schemes that were intended to be delivered in the 2020-25 period. Ofwat's investigation will keep under review if there is any further action to take in relation to the delivery of schemes planned for the PR24 period (2025-30).
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Steve Yemm:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department took to undertake due diligence on (a) the Legacy Landscapes Fund and (b) the potential impact of that Fund on the rights of indigenous peoples. \p Mary Creagh: Defra undertakes due diligence assessments on Official Development Assistance (ODA) programmes in order to understand and mitigate programmatic risks and gain assurance on capacity and capability of delivery partners. Following best practice, Defra commissioned comprehensive due diligence on the Legacy Landscapes Fund (LLF) prior to funding. This objectively assessed LLF against a wide range of indicators, including programme delivery, safeguarding and risk management. Particularly related to Indigenous Peoples, the due diligence considered LLF’s detailed Environmental & Social Management System, which informs risk analysis and mitigation in its landscapes, and LLF’s requirements around Indigenous Peoples’ Plans, which aim to ensure programme funding fosters full respect for the identity, dignity, human rights, economies, and cultures of Indigenous peoples. Overall, the due diligence scored the fund positively against the indicators assessed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department undertook research on Extended Producer Responsibility schemes in other countries during the design of the proposed weight-related fee structure for his proposed scheme. \p Mary Creagh: Defra has engaged with and sought to learn from a range of schemes in Europe and further afield in the design of our pEPR scheme, both in the development of policy and implementation of the scheme. As a result, our approach limits producers’ costs to those of efficient and effective collection systems and apportions these between materials based on the costs of their management using appropriate weight and volume-based metrics. This is in line with international good practice.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that pubs are not charged twice for recycling glass bottles under Extended Producer Responsibility rules. \p Mary Creagh: Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) obligates brands and packaging producers to pay the costs of managing household packaging waste. In most cases, this will not be individual pubs but the business supplying the pub with packaged goods. It is up to individual producers whether to pass these costs on to their customers. The pEPR fees are intended to incentivise producers to use less packaging and to ensure the packaging they do use is environmentally sustainable. For example, where producers use reusable packaging, they will only pay a pEPR fee the first time it is used. Reuse will therefore provide a significant decrease in fees and customers, such as pubs, will see a decrease in waste management costs.

Industry is already making progress in this area, the British Beer and Pub Association and ABInbev recently hosted a well-attended glass bottle reuse workshop where UK glass reuse trials were showcased. This included a Greene King trial which started with 25 pubs last year and which will soon be expanded to several hundred pubs, and the multi-retailer glass reuse trial that is due to start in Newport later this year.
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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on the number of producers switching from glass to plastic packaging. \p Mary Creagh: We have considered feedback from all material sectors, which has included including feedback from the glass sector on the risks of material switching towards plastic and fibre-based composite packaging. We have received limited evidence of decisions to investigate or implement switching. The evidence received indicates expected lead time for major products of at least one to two years to implement any decisions. We continue to engage with the glass sector on reuse which will bring environmental benefits and a reduction in EPR liabilities.
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John Glen:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure transparency in the (a) calculation and (b) use of extended producer responsibility fees. \p Mary Creagh: The Local Authority Packaging Cost and Performance Model (LAPCAP), alongside the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 will provide transparency on fee calculations and how the fees are used by Local Authorities. PackUK, the scheme administrator for pEPR, is required to publish information explaining how it has assessed Local Authority payments for the Operational Year.
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Dame Caroline Dinenage:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing regional Circular Economy Champions to support the Circular Economy Taskforce. \p Mary Creagh: This Government recognises that delivering circular economy principles through local action is key for any Circular Economy Strategy. We believe it is crucial to listen to high-performing and high-ambition local, regional, and combined authorities, as well as private sector bodies, that are already, or could potentially develop and deliver, local circular economy initiatives.

As ambitious, impactful, and replicable examples which other local and combined authorities, and/or businesses could adopt, we are engaging with these organisations, together with the Circular Economy Taskforce, as we develop our Circular Economy Strategy for England.
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Dame Caroline Dinenage:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what changes to legislation the Circular Economy Taskforce is considering to help increase the size of the repair and reuse economy. \p Mary Creagh: This Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy. We have convened a Circular Economy Taskforce, comprising experts from industry, academia, and civil society, to help develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England. The strategy will map our transition to a circular economy, supported by a series of roadmaps that detail the interventions that the government and others will make on a sector-by-sector basis.

Defra recognises that repair and reuse are fundamental tenets of any circular economy, and a successful transition aims to eliminate waste and promote sustainability through reuse and resource efficiency. We will consider the evidence for appropriate action, including legislative changes, right across the economy as we develop the strategy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to publish non-illustrative fees for extended producer responsibility for packaging. \p Mary Creagh: A third set of illustrative base fees were published in December 2024, based on improved data, to provide greater certainty to business. Producers are required to submit the next round of 2024 data by 1 April 2025. Following this and pending satisfactory regulatory checks, we intend to use this data to publish pEPR base fees by June 2025 for the current Operational Year. Invoices will be issued in October 2025.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that young people can access the countryside. \p Mary Creagh: We are currently providing £4.45 million funding to deliver a second phase of Generation Green, to help more disadvantaged children and young people experience the benefits of the great outdoors. This builds on the legacy of the successful first phase of the Generation Green programme. Although this funding will end at the end of March 2025, we will continue to seek opportunities to help young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, access the countryside.

The DfE Sustainability and Climate Change Unit and the Defra Access to Nature teams are working collaboratively to align policy development on access to nature and opportunities for children and young people to engage with nature, alongside enhancing education and skills. Together we want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience and learn about nature, in order to behave responsively, protect and enhance it, whilst also supporting building important skills.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the condition of the water in the River Thames. \p Emma Hardy: Cleaning up England’s rivers, lakes and seas is a priority for the Government. The Government has taken immediate and substantial action to address the performance of water companies who are not delivering for the environment or their customers.

Significant steps are being taken to address pollution through the Water (Special Measures) Act and record investment in PR24 to enhance infrastructure, and ensure clean and sustainable water resources for future generations.

As part of Price Review 24 (PR24), Thames Water will undertake a significant investment programme to improve the environment over the 2025-30 period. These investments include: £784 million to reduce the use of storm overflows and £1.2 billion to prevent nutrient pollution.

At the beginning of February, the Thames Tideway Tunnel (TTT) was fully activated and is now diverting sewage flows away from the river. The TTT was the final part of the London Tideway Tunnel system which will help reduce the volume of discharges by around 95%, leaving behind a cleaner, healthier Thames.

On 13 March, the Mayor of London announced plans for investment to clean up London’s rivers. The Mayor, Transport for London, Thames Tideway, London Wildlife Trust, and Thames Water announced an injection of over £1.8 billion across the next five years to protect and improve river health in London. The plans include £7 million to prevent road run-off pollution from entering waterways and help reduce flood risk.
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Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of speech and language therapy posts are vacant in (a) each Integrated Care Board and (b) England. \p Karin Smyth: The Department does not hold information on the number of speech and language therapist posts which are vacant.

NHS England publishes quarterly NHS hospital trust vacancy and job advert data. This data identifies vacancy rates for total NHS staff and also separately for registered nurses and doctors at a national and regional level but is not detailed enough to identify vacancy rates for speech and language therapists.

The vacancy statistics are published at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-vacancies-survey
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the potential cost to the NHS of missed appointments by children and young people with cancer due to unaffordable travel costs. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families. NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring the healthcare needs of their local communities are met, including providing support for travel.

The National Health Service in England runs the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests, when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional.

Patients who do not qualify for the HTCS and who are on a low income may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through Universal Credit or a Personal Independence Payment. There are also a number of charities in the United Kingdom who provide support, including financial support, for patients with cancer.

The Department has not made an estimate of the potential cost to the NHS of missed appointments by children and young people with cancer due to travel costs. On 4 February 2025, the Department relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce to identify tangible ways to improve outcomes and experiences for young cancer patients. The Taskforce will explore opportunities for improvement, including detection and diagnosis, genomic testing and treatment, research and innovation, and patient experience. The Taskforce will also ensure that the unique needs of children and young people with cancer are carefully considered as part of the National Cancer Plan.
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Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to improve access to preventative intervention for patients at risk of lower-limb amputation. \p Ashley Dalton: For patients at risk of lower-limb amputation, including those diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI), timely interventions for revascularisation are crucial, along with preventative measures and early diagnosis.

In 2022, NHS England commissioned a two-year Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) scheme, which incentivised the adoption of the Peripheral Arterial Disease Quality Improvement Framework (PAD-QIF), which aims to reduce delays in assessment, investigation, and revascularisation in patients with CLTI and in turn amputation rates.

Alongside this, NHS England has implemented a range of initiatives aimed at improving prevention and early diagnosis of conditions which increase the risk of needing lower-limb amputations. These include NHS Health Checks for early detection of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, and expanding community diagnostic centres (CDCs) to improve early detection.

The 10-Year Health Plan, once published, will set out the Government's overarching vision for delivering the critical shift from a focus on treating illness to preventing conditions such as CVD.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 38182 on LGBT+ People: Fertility, whether his Department plans to remove the requirement for female same sex couples to self-find prior to accessing IVF services on the NHS. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government recognises that fertility treatment across the National Health Service in England is subject to variation in access. Work continues on joint advice from the Department and NHS England about the offer around NHS-funded fertility services, including the issues for female same sex couples.

Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards and are based on the clinical needs of their local population. We expect these organisations to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, ensuring equal access to fertility treatment across England. The NICE is currently reviewing these guidelines.
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Ian Sollom:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to reply to correspondence of 5 February 2025 from the hon. Member for St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire on healthcare in Northstowe. \p Stephen Kinnock: I replied to the Hon. Member on 28 March 2025.
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Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help make it easier for patients with chronic urinary tract infections to receive referrals from their GPs. \p Stephen Kinnock: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published guidelines for the referral of patients who present with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), which is available at the following link:

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/urinary-tract-infection-lower-women/management/recurrent-uti-no-haematuria-not-pregnant-or-catheterized/

There are specific referral criteria for women, compared to men and children. There are also guidelines in place for those who present to Pharmacy First. If the patient has had a history of UTIs, they are asked to see their general practice (GP) surgery, rather than being prescribed antibiotics by the pharmacy.

Patients with recurrent UTIs should be referred to secondary care to exclude other causes, perhaps through an ultrasound scan or a cystoscopy. Once cleared, patients may be prescribed prophylactic antibiotics.

The number of lower urinary tract symptom service clinics are locally managed and commissioned by integrated care boards, in accordance with local population need.

While there are no current plans to train GPs and urologists on recognising the symptoms of chronic UTIs, NHS England’s UTI reduction workstream was established as part of the delivery of the UK 5-year action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2019 to 2024. This workstream aims to enhance prevention, support early and accurate diagnosis, and improve the treatment of UTIs through identifying and adopting best practice, and through interventions for different population groups.

NHS England has also been working with other public bodies, including the UK Health Security Agency, to strengthen the guidance regarding the appropriate use of diagnostics, including dipsticks. GPs can request testing for chronic UTIs via several pathways, including at point-of-care, via community diagnostic centres, or via laboratories. Laboratories across England adhere to stringent quality standards, including the UK Accreditation Standard ISO 15189, and implement robust internal and external quality assurance schemes, ensuring the accuracy of the tests used.
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Laura Kyrke-Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of his Department's consultation on The licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England, published on 2 September 2023. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to taking action to address longstanding concerns about the safety of the cosmetics sector and is exploring options for further regulation in this area. This includes considering the proposals that the Department previously consulted on for the introduction of a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England. We will set out the details of our approach at the earliest opportunity.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

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Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking through the NHS 10-Year Plan to improve public access to first aid (a) training and (b) equipment. \p Ashley Dalton: The 10-Year Health Plan will deliver the three big shifts our National Health Service needs to be fit for the future: from hospital to community; from analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention. The detail of the plan will be set out in due course, but all of these shifts are relevant to improving first aid in all parts of the county. Throughout the 10-Year Health Plan engagement process, we have sought the views of first aid charities and organisations, with representation from the British Red Cross at our Partners Council, where they have provided views on emerging policy themes.

Whilst the 10-Year Health Plan is being developed, we are continuing to invest in first aid training and equipment. For example, the Community Automated External Defibrillators Fund is a £1 million fund that is increasing the number of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) within England. Further to this, NHS England has partnered with St John Ambulance to co-ordinate skills development to significantly increase the use of AEDs by individuals in community settings.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-01 conversation_50

Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which stakeholders (a) he and (b) his officials have met with while (i) preparing, (ii) publishing and (iii) bringing forward the Mental Health Bill. \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 (2025-04-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-01 conversation_51

Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people with autism have been sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983 in each of the last five years. \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 (2025-04-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-01 conversation_52

Tessa Munt:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many new radiotherapy machines were applied for from the funding announced in the Autumn Budget 2024; and which hospital trusts applied. \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 (2025-04-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-01 conversation_53

Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have met with the Bring People Home from Psychiatric Hospital campaign to discuss the Mental Health Bill. \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 (2025-04-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-01 conversation_54

Tessa Munt:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding was allocated to the emergency radiotherapy capital equipment fund in 2024-25; and which hospital trusts have been awarded that funding. \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 (2025-04-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-01 conversation_55

Navendu Mishra:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to treatment for people with Parkinson’s in (a) Stockport constituency and (b) Greater Manchester. \p Ashley Dalton: We have delivered an additional two million appointments in England, seven months ahead of schedule. This includes operations, consultations, diagnostic tests, and treatments. These additional appointments have taken place across a number of specialities, including neurology.

We have launched a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the National Health Service. The plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed, to move healthcare from hospital to the community, from analogue to digital, and from treatment to prevention. A central and core part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities, including in the Stockport constituency and Greater Manchester.

There are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with Parkinson’s disease in England, including the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology, the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit, and the Neurology Transformation Programme.

Once diagnosed, and with a management strategy in place, the majority of people with Parkinson’s can be cared for through routine access to primary and secondary care. NHS England commissions the specialised elements of Parkinson’s care that patients may receive from 27 specialised neurology centres across England. One of these neurological centres is based at the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust in Greater Manchester.

Within specialised centres, neurological multidisciplinary teams ensure patients can access a range of health professionals, including Parkinson’s disease nurses, psychologists, and allied health professionals such as dieticians and speech and language therapists, and that they can receive specialised treatment and support, according to their needs.

In addition, in February 2024, a new treatment for advanced-stage Parkinson’s, foslevodopa–foscarbidopa, was rolled out in the NHS. It has been shown to improve motor function, with patients experiencing longer periods of time without dyskinesia.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-01 conversation_56

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of the ringfenced £340 million budget for the Innovative Medicines Fund has been spent in each year since its launch in June 2022. \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 (2025-04-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-01 conversation_57

Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to improve early interventions for young people with severe mental health issues. \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 (2025-04-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-01 conversation_58

Sir Christopher Chope:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason applicants seeking mandatory reversal of decisions made by the NHSBSA on vaccine damage claims are required as a precondition to adduce fresh evidence without which no mandatory reversal is possible; and whether there is statutory provision for such a restriction. \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 (2025-04-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-01 conversation_59

Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the absorption of NHS England into his Department on his Department's timetable for the publication of the updated NHS Long Term Workforce Plan. \p Karin Smyth: Sir Jim Mackey will lead the transition team bringing the work of NHS England and the Department together over the next two years. This work will have no impact on the forthcoming publication of the 10-Year Health Plan and the subsequent reconsideration of the long-term workforce needs of the National Health Service which will follow.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-01 conversation_60

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in what month this year he expects the Urgent and Emergency Care Improvement Plan to be published. \p Karin Smyth: The urgent and emergency care improvement plan will set expectations for the National Health Service in England to deliver improvements in urgent and emergency care services and set the foundations for future areas of reform, in line with the 2025/26 NHS Operational Planning Guidance. It is anticipated that the plan will be published as part of the current NHS planning round.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-01 conversation_61

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number and proportion of nurses on a bursary unable to find nursing jobs after graduating. \p Karin Smyth: The Department does not hold the information requested.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-01 conversation_62

Peter Prinsley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the potential cost to the public purse was of spending on FeNo machines in the NHS in the last 12 months. \p Karin Smyth: As part of the Respiratory Solutions Framework, NHS Supply Chain supplies fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) devices and related consumables. The spend for the past 12 months is as follows:

Please note that these figures are for spend by NHS Supply Chain, and do not include spending for the whole National Health Service.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-01)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-01 conversation_63

Jack Rankin:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to encourage transparency from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities when allocating funds for the Horse Race Betting Levy. \p Ashley Dalton: The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities is not involved in the allocation of funds from the Horserace Betting Levy (HBL). The HBL is administered by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.