theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to encourage a greater emphasis on developing skills for work in (a) schools and (b) colleges. \p Janet Daby: The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, covering ages 5 to 18, to ensure a rich, broad, inclusive and innovative curriculum that readies young people for life and work.

The Review is being undertaken in close consultation with education professionals and other experts, parents, children and young people, and other stakeholders such as employers, universities and trade unions. The Review has consulted employers and further education (FE) providers through events and meetings and has received call for evidence submissions from a variety of employers, colleges and representatives.

FE colleges already prepare people of all ages for the skills they need for work, delivering on wide range of technical education and training. This includes the following:
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of vacancies for educational psychologists. \p Catherine McKinnell: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

The department does not hold any specific data regarding the number of vacancies for educational psychologists.

As the employers of educational psychology services, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that their services are adequately staffed. The department is, however, taking measures to support local authorities by investing in building the pipeline.

The department is investing over £21 million to train 400 more educational psychologists from 2024. This is in addition to the £10 million currently being invested in the training of over 200 educational psychologists who began their training in September 2023. As these trainees complete their studies, they will join the workforce to support local authority educational psychology services.

To support local authority services to recruit and retain their educational psychology workforce, following graduation, trainees who have had their training funded by the department are required to remain in local authority employment for a minimum period. For trainees beginning their course in September 2024, this requirement has increased to three years.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the national flood risk assessment data, published on 25 March 2025, whether she has written to schools with buildings in flood zones (a) two and (b) three. \p Stephen Morgan: The department’s Schools Water Strategy team works with delivery partners such as the Environment Agency, water companies and lead local flood authorities to deliver flood prevention measures in schools through a number of workstreams.

The Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in schools project collaborates with industry experts to jointly fund SuDS’ installation in schools at risk of surface water, reducing their flood risk.

The Environment Agency Partnership contributes funding to enable large-scale community flood schemes to be delivered.

The Property Flood Resilience assesses and implements property flood resilience and recovery measures across the school estate, targeting schools in high-risk areas and schools that have suffered repeated disruption.

Awareness and Education signposts or provides schools with appropriate information and tools to manage their water-related climate risks, as well as educational materials to support this and necessary behavioural changes

The department has invested in measures to reduce risk to flooding at 573 schools to the end of 2024/25 through the Schools Water Strategy, and will continue to invest in flood prevention in schools at risk of flooding in line with the published Sustainability and Climate Change strategy.

All education settings are expected to have a climate action plan to prepare for the effects of climate change, of which flooding is one. Taking a whole-school approach to climate change includes consideration towards climate adaptation and mitigation, supporting carbon reduction and nature recovery and increasing resilience to climate-related impacts such as flooding. The department has commissioned the Sustainability Support for Education hub to help settings start or continue with their sustainability journey, as well as funding the Climate Ambassador programme, which provides access to tailored support from experts from industry to develop and implement their climate action plans. Details about the hub can be found here: https://www.sustainabilitysupportforeducation.org.uk/. Details about the programme are available here: https://climateambassadors.org.uk/.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of fully funding apprenticeships for under-22s in SMEs on apprenticeship starts. \p Janet Daby: I refer the hon. Member for Stockton West to the answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 42594.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to (a) expand and (b) promote non-academic education routes to support young people into employment. \p Janet Daby: As part of the government’s plan to ‘Get Britain Working’, we will launch a new Youth Guarantee for young people aged 18-21 in England to ensure that they are supported to access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or help to find work.

The department is investing in and promoting a wide range of non-academic routes to support young people into employment, including:
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David Simmonds:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what her Department's policy is on the Rooney Rule when drawing up shortlists for employing staff. \p Seema Malhotra: The Office for Equality and Opportunity (OEO) is aware of what has come to be known as the Rooney Rule, but this is a US initiative and we have not adopted a policy on it.

As both employer and custodian of the policy as set out in the Equality Act 2010 (The Act), OEO is familiar with the positive action provisions in the Act. These provisions enable employers to deploy positive measures in recruitment where certain groups are under-represented in the workforce, whether as a whole or in more senior positions. Candidates from the under-represented group must be equally qualified for the role alongside other candidates before they can be considered for selection. In other words positive discrimination, which disregards merit, is unlawful under the Act..
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Andrew Lewin:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help councils use unspent Section 106 contributions. \p Matthew Pennycook: While there are a variety of entirely legitimate reasons why local planning authorities may be holding unspent developer contributions, including to facilitate the effective delivery of phased development projects, we recognise the need to ensure that the contributions that developers make to mitigate the impact of development and make it acceptable in planning terms are used effectively and in a timely manner.

Local planning authorities are expected to use all of the funding received by way of planning obligations. Individual agreements should normally include clauses stating when and how the funds will be used by and allow for their return, after an agreed period of time, where they are not.

The Planning Advisory Service (PAS), funded by the Department, provides support to local planning authorities in the governance of developer contributions.

Any local planning authority that receives a contribution from development through section 106 planning obligations must prepare and publish an Infrastructure Funding Statement at least annually. Reporting on developer contributions helps local communities and developers see how contributions have been spent and understand what future funds will be spent on, ensuring a transparent and accountable system.

The government is committed to strengthening the system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2025 to Question 53184 on Housing: Disability, on what date her Department will set out its policies on accessible new build housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: As per the answer to Question UIN 53184 on 27 May 2025, the government will shortly set out its policies on accessible new build housing, reinforcing our commitment to ensuring everyone has access to a safe, suitable home.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 45670 on Green Belt: Planning Permission, how many homes were approved on greenfield land within the Green Belt in each year since 1997-98 for which figures are held. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department does not hold the requested information.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 40908 on New Towns: Planning Permission, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the loss of the 1,300 homes and 30,000sqm of commercial development originally planned by the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 40908 on 7 April 2025.
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Sir Julian Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on the potential merits of increasing the use of mediation in the planning process. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has had no recent discussions with stakeholders about the increased use of mediation within the planning system.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with the Mayor of London on the green belt review being undertaken by the Greater London Authority. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Secretary of State meets with the Mayor of London regularly to discuss a range of matters.

The government has awarded the Greater London Authority £770,000 to undertake a Green Belt review in conjunction with 11 London boroughs. A further six London boroughs have also each received £70,000 to undertake Green Belt reviews.

The Green Belt Planning Practice Guidance issued on 27 February 2025 will assist Mayors and local planning authorities considering reviews of their Green Belt.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21626 on Renters' Rights Bill, for what reason the Impact Assessment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill was not published in a timely manner. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Department aims to publish Impact Assessments in a timely manner, in line with the ‘Better Regulation Framework’ guidance, which states that an Impact Assessment ‘should be published alongside relevant legislation when it is laid before Parliament.’

In exceptional circumstances this may not be possible, for example, where the legislation is urgent, further work is needed following concerns expressed by the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) or where the assessment is with RPC for review. In those circumstances, the Department works with the RPC to ensure the Bill Impact Assessment and RPC opinion is published as soon as possible.

The Impact Assessment for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill was published 6 May 2025 ahead of the Bill’s Commons committee stage.
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John Whitby:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to make Integrated Care Boards statutory consultees for planning applications for care homes. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 22103 on 13 January 2025 and to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510).
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on redevelopment for housing of (a) golf courses and (b) other green space sporting facilities located on (i) Green Belt and (ii) Metropolitan Open Land. \p Matthew Pennycook: Metropolitan Open Land is a local designation used by the Mayor of London in his London Plan.

Policy relating to the designation, as well as the current extent of Metropolitan Open Land, is entirely a matter for the Mayor.

The government’s approach to the Green Belt, including the circumstances in which Green Belts should be reviewed, is set out in Chapter 13 of the revised National Planning Policy Framework that was published on 12 December 2024. The Framework makes clear that local planning authorities should review their Green Belt in exceptional circumstances, including situations where an authority cannot meet its identified needs through other means.

It is only in built-up areas that residential gardens are excluded from the definition of previously developed land.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance to local planning authorities on the (a) enforcement of and (b) inclusion of a (i) deposit and (ii) bond in section 106 agreements made in relation to embassies. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has not issued specific guidance to local planning authorities on the (a) enforcement of or (b) inclusion of a (i) deposit and (ii) bond in section 106 agreements made in relation to embassies. Overall guidance on planning obligations can be found on gov.uk here.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of local authority-owned homes that are empty in each local authority in England. \p Matthew Pennycook: The number of local authority owned homes that are empty in each local authority in England can be found in Live Table 615 here on vacant dwellings in England at local authority district level. Figures in this table show vacant dwellings owned by local authorities within each local authority area in England.

The latest published statistics refer to vacant dwellings owned by local authorities in England on 31 March 2024, including homes earmarked for sale or demolition, or awaiting or undergoing major repairs.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of short-term holiday lets on local housing availability in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire. \p Matthew Pennycook: Whilst second homes and short-term lets can benefit local economies, the government appreciate that excessive concentrations in some areas of the country can impact the availability and affordability of homes, both to rent and buy.

We remain committed to introducing a registration scheme for short-term lets and removing the furnished holiday lets rules to ensure all income from property will be treated the same for tax purposes.

We also recognise that more needs to be done and are considering what additional powers we might give local authorities to enable them to respond to the pressures created by short term lets.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure adequate (a) infrastructure is and (b) public services are in place before the approval of large-scale housing developments in (i) Fylde constituency and (ii) Lancashire. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 26106 on 5 February 2025.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what additional infrastructure is required to support the proposed development of residential housing at Wyton Airfield in Cambridgeshire. \p Matthew Pennycook: Wyton Airfield is dependent on delivering A141 road improvement works. These are currently at preparation of outline business case stage with a proposed date for publication of November 2025.

Following renewed engagement on the project as part of the new taskforce to support the release of surplus public sector land for housing, My Department is not aware of other project specific infrastructure requirements.
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Uma Kumaran:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will update the Decent Homes Standard for social housing to ensure that kitchens over 20 years old are renewed by social landlords. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government will consult this year on a new Decent Homes Standard for the social and private rented sectors.
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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to change the 10% commission charge which affects park home owners. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 44299 on 16 April 2025.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance to relevant authorities on whether the use of a hotel as asylum hostel accommodation constitutes a material change of use. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has not issued any such guidance.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to make changes to the (a) Housing Revenue Account model and (b) Right to Buy scheme. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government recognises that changes in rent policy, inflationary pressures, and increased costs associated with investing in existing stock since 2012 have led to increasing strain on Housing Revenue Accounts. The principle of self-financing remains the right one but we are committed to working with councils to overcome the pressures on their Housing Revenue Accounts and to supporting them to make a greater contribution to social and affordable housing supply.

This government is also committed to the Right to Buy. We want to ensure that council tenants who have lived in, and paid rent on, their social homes for many years can retain the opportunity to own their home. However, reform of Right to Buy is essential to better protect much-needed social housing stock, boost council capacity and build more social homes than we lose, supporting the government’s commitment to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

We have returned the maximum cash discounts to between £16,000 and £38,000 and we are allowing councils to keep 100% of the receipts from sales so that they are better able to build and buy new homes. We consulted last autumn on further reforms to the Right to Buy, including increased protections for new builds and changes to eligibility requirements. The consultation is now closed, and the government will set out next steps shortly.

We will also set out more detail of our future investment in social and affordable housing at the Spending Review next week.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the five-point plan set out in the report entitled Securing the Future of Council Housing, published in September 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 27397 on 7 February 2025.
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Chris Coghlan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Gatwick airport expansion on local house prices. \p Matthew Pennycook: MHCLG Ministers cannot comment on live planning applications due to their quasi-judicial role in the planning system.

All information provided to the Secretary of State for Transport by the applicant, the Examining Authority, and any parties who chose to make written representations in relation to the application in question is available on the Planning Inspectorate website.
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Rachel Gilmour:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to legally redefine the term affordable housing to be linked to social rent. \p Matthew Pennycook: To reflect this government’s priorities, the revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 places greater emphasis on the delivery of Social Rent homes and includes a separate definition of Social Rent so that it is not referred to as just one of a number of types of affordable housing for rent.

The government continues to consider what further steps we can take to honour our commitment to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the beer and pub sector on UK culture and tourism. \p Chris Bryant: The Pub and beer sector hold a special place in British culture, as well as being a core attraction for tourists and local people alike. They are an essential part of the visitor economy and found in every single community across England. They are a place for social gatherings, entertainment, food and drink as well as overnight accommodation.

According to research published by The British Beer and Pub Association when asked about their go-to spots during UK holidays, 6 in 10 respondents said they visit pubs, placing them just behind restaurants (73%) and on par with historic landmarks (63%).

The Government remains dedicated to ongoing collaboration with the DBT who oversees policy for hospitality to ensure stakeholder views are represented. This commitment will help ensure the UK has an attractive and competitive hospitality offer for both domestic and international visitors.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his polices of levels of economic growth in Northern Ireland. \p Hilary Benn: Economic growth is the priority for this government, taking advantage of the UK’s unique strengths and untapped potential so we can put more money in people’s pockets, and our Industrial Strategy is central to that.

The Industrial Strategy will be published in June and will support the Northern Ireland Executive’s plans for growth. We have identified eight sectors that offer the highest potential for growth and are working alongside the Northern Ireland Executive, business leaders, and trade unions to ensure that the whole of Northern Ireland benefits from the Industrial Strategy. The latest figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency show that Northern Ireland experienced stronger growth than the United Kingdom as a whole last year.

At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor confirmed the Northern Ireland Executive would receive a record £18.2 billion this year - the largest settlement in real terms in the history of devolution. This includes a £1.5 billion top-up through Barnett in 2025-6. It is now for the Executive to allocate this money in line with its priorities and this Government wants to work with the Executive to help promote Northern Ireland as a fantastic place to invest and do business.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to help improve public services in Northern Ireland. \p Hilary Benn: Alongside providing £235 million in funding for projects through the Public Sector Transformation Board, we have strengthened the exchange of best practice on improving public services. £129 million of this funding has already been allocated to services in health, SEN and education, waste rainwater management, planning and justice.

We continue to work with the Executive as it prioritises spending, progresses transformation, and focuses on reducing waiting lists. For example, following the publication of the NHS Plan: Reforming Elective Care for Patients in February, we have now agreed to further collaboration between UK Government and Executive health departments to improve access to timely, high-quality care for patients in Northern Ireland and across the UK.

This Government is committed to working with our Executive colleagues on our shared goal of improving public services.
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Claire Hanna:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Health Minister on establishing a public inquiry into issues around cervical screening in the Southern Health Trust. \p Hilary Benn: I recognise the serious concerns regarding cervical screening services in Northern Ireland. However, this is a devolved matter and responsibility rests with the Northern Ireland Department of Health.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I liaise regularly with the NI Minister of Health and have raised cervical screening issues following a meeting with victims and relatives of cervical screening errors. We will take the next opportunity to ask what steps are being taken to ensure that women in Northern Ireland are receiving the care they need.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. \p Hilary Benn: The Government has already begun the process of repealing and replacing the previous Government's Legacy Act. On 4 December 2024, I laid a proposed draft remedial order before Parliament that, if adopted, will remove from the Act a number of provisions that have been found by the NI courts to be incompatible with the UK’s human rights obligations. These include all those relating to the immunity scheme, and the bar on new civil cases.

While we want to make progress as swiftly as possible, we remain committed to engaging widely with all interested parties to help determine what provisions should be included in new primary legislation. At the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) on 24 April, the Governments discussed Legacy issues, including proposals for legislative reform, and the Government remains committed to introducing primary legislation when Parliamentary time allows.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of inflation on small and medium businesses in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire. \p Gareth Thomas: DBT monitors the financial health of the SME population using a wide range of sources, including the SME Finance Monitor which stated that in 2024, 35% of SMEs rated costs as a major obstacle to running business in the next 12 months, compared with 38% in 2023. The Bank of England is responsible for controlling inflation through monetary policy tools. It has cut the interest rates four times since August 2024 as inflationary pressures eased from their recent peak, working to sustainably returning inflation to the 2% target rate.

In addition, the government is establishing trade agreements that will help reduce cost. Supermarkets have said publicly that the recently announced UK-EU SPS Agreement will help to ease the pressure on food prices.
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Wera Hobhouse:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the resilience of the folding e-bike industry in the UK. \p Gareth Thomas: The Department engages with the folding e-bike industry as part of its broader support for UK manufacturing and innovation. Through the Government’s Industrial Strategy, targeting key growth levers such as boosting scaleups, revitalising high streets, improving access to finance, unlocking new markets, and strengthening business capabilities, the Department is helping to create a more competitive and resilient business environment. Notably, on 6 February 2025, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted a recommendation from the Trade Remedies Authority, the UK’s independent body for investigating trade remedies, to maintain measures on folding e-bikes from China, in place since January 2024, providing continued protection for UK manufacturers.
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Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support small manufacturing businesses. \p Gareth Thomas: This Government will continue to support the advanced manufacturing sector, including SMEs, through our forthcoming Industrial Strategy, where advanced manufacturing has been selected as one of eight growth-driving sectors.

Support is available through our Made Smarter Programme where manufacturing SMEs will be able to adopt industrial digital technologies like robotics and autonomous systems to boost their productivity and competitiveness.

Later this year the government will publish its Small Business Strategy, including policies on creating thriving high streets, accessing finance, opening up overseas and domestic markets, building business capabilities, and providing a strong business environment.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2025 to Question 50518 on Government Departments: Legal Opinion, if she will publish a copy of the 2022 version of the guidance. \p Lucy Rigby: I will ensure that a copy of the 2022 version of the legal risk guidance is placed in the library shortly.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-06)

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Katie Lam:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of increasing (a) employer National Insurance Contributions and (b) the National Minimum Wage on GP practices in (i) Kent and (ii) Weald of Kent constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: We have made the necessary decisions to fix the foundations of the public finances in the Autumn Budget. Resource spending for the Department will be £22.6 billion more in 2025/26 than in 2023/24, as part of the Spending Review settlement. The employers’ National Insurance rise and National Minimum Wage rise was implemented in April 2025.

General practices (GPs) are valued independent contractors who provide over £13 billion worth of National Health Services. Every year we consult with the profession about what services GPs provide, and the money providers are entitled to in return under their contract, taking account of the cost of delivering services.

We are investing an additional £889 million into GPs to reinforce the front door of the NHS, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade, and we are pleased that the General Practitioners Committee England is supportive of the contract changes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-06 conversation_208

Katie Lam:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of increasing (a) employer National Insurance Contributions and (b) the National Minimum Wage on care homes in (i) Kent and (ii) Weald of Kent constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government has considered the cost pressures facing adult social care as part of the wider consideration of local government spending within the Spending Review process in 2024.

To enable local authorities to deliver key services such as adult social care, the Government has made available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in 2025/26, which includes an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant.

The additional funding available to Kent in 2025/26 means that they have seen an increase to their core spending power of up to 7% in cash terms.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-06 conversation_209

Katie Lam:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of increasing (a) employer National Insurance Contributions and the (b) National Minimum Wage on dental practices in (i) Kent and (ii) Weald of Kent constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: We have made the necessary decisions to fix the foundations of the public finances in the Autumn Budget. Resource spending for the Department will be £22.6 billion more in 2025/26 than in 2023/24, as part of the Spending Review settlement. The employers’ National Insurance rise and National Minimum Wage rise was implemented in April 2025.

The National Health Service’s planning guidance for 2025/26 has now been published, and sets out the funding available to integrated care boards (ICBs), including the dental ringfence. Dental practices are businesses and decide how they operate themselves, providing they remain compliant with the appropriate regulations. It is up to dental practices to set employee pay and conditions.

The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-06 conversation_210

Katie Lam:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of increasing (a) employer National Insurance Contributions and (b) the National Minimum Wage on pharmacies in (i) Kent and (ii) Weald of Kent constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: We took the necessary decisions to fix the foundations in the public finances at the Autumn Budget. Resource spending for the Department will be £22.6 billion more in 2025/26 than in 2023/24, as part of the Spending Review settlement.

The Department considered the increases to employer National Insurance and the National Living Wage as part of the funding arrangements for community pharmacy in 2024/25 and 2025/26. We have increased funding for community pharmacy to £3.073 billion from April 2025. This represents the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service, at over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26. This shows a first step in delivering stability for the future as well as a commitment to rebuilding the sector.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-06 conversation_211

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of nursing apprenticeships on levels of (a) recruitment and (b) retention in the NHS. \p Karin Smyth: Apprenticeships are an important way to widen routes into the nursing profession, by providing opportunities for people from all backgrounds, and for whom a full-time university course may not be practical or preferred. They also offer existing staff new ways to continue to progress and develop in their career.

We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again. This will include how we ensure we train healthcare staff, through all training routes, to support patients in all of our communities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-06 conversation_212

Peter Prinsley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to protect anaesthetist as a professional title. \p Karin Smyth: The Government recognises that the protection in law of certain professional titles is important for public safety. Protecting a title provides assurance to the public that someone using that title is competent and safe to practise.

The title anaesthetist is not protected in law in the United Kingdom. Section 49 of the Medical Act 1983 currently protects the titles physician, doctor of medicine, licentiate in medicine and surgery, bachelor of medicine, surgeon, general practitioner, apothecary, and any name, title, addition, or description implying that a person is registered with the General Medical Council (GMC).

The Government has set out its intention to reform the legislative frameworks of all healthcare professional regulators, starting with the GMC. The Government is aiming to consult on draft GMC legislation by the end of this year and it expects to lay the legislation during this Parliament. The Government will review current protection of title offences including those concerning professions regulated by the GMC as part of this work.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-06 conversation_213

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 29 May 2025 to Question 52925 on Hinchingbrooke Hospital: Roads, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) Cambridgeshire Constabulary and (b) Hinchingbrooke Hospital on resolving the land ownership dispute. \p Karin Smyth: Pursuant to our answer to Question 52026 on 15 May 2025, the Department is not directly involved in the negotiations over ownership of the land that is proposed for the new access road to Hinchingbrooke Hospital. The New Hospital Programme team in the Department is engaging with the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust and supporting them in their discussions with the Cambridgeshire Constabulary on the potential acquisition of this land for the new access road.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-06 conversation_214

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of nursing apprenticeships. \p Karin Smyth: We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again. This will include how we ensure we train healthcare staff, through all training routes, to support patients in all of our communities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-06 conversation_215

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Q204 of the oral evidence given by him to the Health and Social Care Committee on 8 April 2025, HC 563, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of an increase in the geographical area of integrated care boards on the adequacy of rural NHS services' (a) funding and b) staffing levels. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England has asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners of health services and to reduce the duplication of responsibilities within their structure. NHS England provided additional guidance to ICBs, NHS trusts, and NHS foundation trusts on 1 April 2025, where ICBs were tasked with developing plans setting out how they will manage their resources to deliver across their priorities. This letter is available at the following link:

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

Ministers and the Department will work with the new transformation team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to ensure ICBs continue to fulfil their future functions effectively within the running costs cap and unlock the benefit of working at scale to deliver better care for their population, including for those in rural areas.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-06 conversation_216

Kevin McKenna:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the the approval process of (a) high tariff drugs (b) the use of Obinutuzumab in patients with lupus who have experienced severe infusion reactions with rituximab. \p Karin Smyth: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that makes recommendations on whether new licensed medicines, including high cost medicines, should be routinely funded by the National Health Service in England, based on the evidence of their costs and benefits. The NICE aims, wherever possible, to publish guidance close to the time of licensing, and the NHS in England is required to fund NICE recommended medicines, normally within three months of final guidance.

The NICE is in the early stages of evaluating obinutuzumab with immunosuppressive therapies for treating lupus nephritis. Its independent committee will meet to consider the evidence on 10 December 2025, and the NICE currently expects to publish final guidance in March 2026. The evaluation is currently on track to be published within 90 days of marketing authorisation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-06 conversation_217

Peter Prinsley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to encourage medical schools to sign the NHS England sexual safety in healthcare organisational charter. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is clear that there is no place for sexual misconduct of any kind in medical education or anywhere else. We expect university leaders, working with National Health Service organisations and all others involved in medical education, to stamp out this issue wherever it occurs.

The Department and NHS England are working with medical schools and the Medical Schools Council to improve sexual safety for medical students on placements in the NHS. This includes encouraging those medical schools who are yet to sign up to the NHS sexual safety in health charter to do so, and ensuring that they have in place robust processes and policies and appropriate support for students.

To support universities to tackle sexual misconduct, the Office for Students has also introduced new requirements for preventing, addressing, and investigating incidents to take effect in August 2025. The Department for Education is working with sector bodies to help providers prepare to implement the new measures.