theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_193
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_193

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) Dorset County Hospital and (b) associated community services have adequate (i) staffing and (ii) resources for winter 2025-2026. \p Karin Smyth: Both Dorset County Hospital and Dorset Healthcare, as the primary providers of community services in Dorset, have assessed their resource and capacity requirements for the winter period as part of the annual planning process. These take account of the expected impact of surges in seasonally affected conditions and the associated infection prevention and control challenges this presents.

The winter plans are underpinned by robust organisational business continuity plans to maintain services in the event of loss of workforce or service capacity and are aligned to wider system resilience planning across health and social care partners to help manage and mitigate the risks of anticipated increases in demand and acuity expected over this period. System-level plans include provision for surge and escalation responses at times of peak operational pressure.

The Dorset County Hospital has a comprehensive Operational Resilience and Capacity Plan for winter 2025/26, which aligns to NHS England’s Urgent and Emergency Care priorities and forms part of Dorset’s overall system plan.

The Government continues to strengthen the resilience of elective care, including through expanding valuable protected elective capacity, including in surgical hubs and community diagnostic centres.

Nationally we have invested nearly £26 billion in additional funding for supporting both immediate winter capacity and the infrastructure transformation, new surgical hubs, diagnostic scanners, and enhanced digital systems, that will establish the Neighbourhood Health Service and make future winters fundamentally different, building towards our milestone of 92% of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks for treatment.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_194
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_194

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of community diagnostic centres in reducing pressure on hospitals. \p Karin Smyth: As set out in the Elective Reform Plan and the 10-Year Health Plan, community diagnostic centres (CDCs) are key to delivering on the Government’s ambition to move more planned care from hospitals to the community, reducing pressure on hospitals and delivering more convenient care close to home.

CDCs deliver additional, digitally connected, diagnostic capacity, providing patients with a co-ordinated set of diagnostic checks in the community in as few visits as possible, enabling an accurate and fast diagnosis on a range of clinical pathways.

Under the Government, CDCs have delivered over 9.4 million tests and scans since July 2024, supporting patients to access vital tests, scans, and checks around their busy working lives.

In August 2025, the Government confirmed that 100 CDCs across the country are now offering out of hours services by opening for 12 hours a day, seven days a week, meaning patients can access vital tests, scans, and checks around their busy working lives. We are committed to increasing this number further.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_195
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_195

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) additional funding and (b) operational support his Department will provide to Integrated Care Systems in (i) rural areas and (ii) West Dorset in winter 2025-2026. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England is responsible for determining funding allocations to integrated care boards (ICBs), including those covering rural areas and West Dorset. This process is independent of the Government and is informed by advice from the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA).

Funding allocations for 2025/26, published on 30 January 2025, include an ACRA-recommended adjustment specifically focused on rurality that reflects the additional cost of providing home-delivered community services in sparsely populated areas, and recognises the longer travel times required to deliver said services. Allocations cover the whole financial year, so there is not winter specific additional funding provided. Further information on funding allocations for 2025/26 is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/allocation-of-resources-2025-26/

All ICBs and trusts have developed their own winter plans, which were stress tested at regional events throughout September to expose any weaknesses and to be strengthen where necessary. We continue to work closely with the most challenged trusts, providing targeted improvement support to help them improve their four-hour and 12-hour performance, and reduce ambulance handover delays.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_196
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_196

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with regulatory bodies on the standards required of individuals providing ultrasound scans in non-NHS settings. \p Karin Smyth: The Department does not hold data on the prevalence and use of private ultrasound clinics. No recent discussions have taken place with regulatory bodies on the standards required of individuals providing ultrasound scans in non-National Health Service settings.

While there are no legal requirements for those carrying out ultrasound in the Untied Kingdom to hold specific professional qualifications or registration, all providers in England who provide ultrasound scans must be registered with the Care Quality Commission and meet certain legal duties, which includes ensuring that anyone carrying out such activity has the appropriate skills, knowledge, and experience.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_197
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_197

Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of access to ear wax removal services for patients in Newbury constituency. \p Karin Smyth: The Department has made no specific assessment of services in Newbury because it is for integrated care boards to commission cost-effective healthcare to meet the needs of their local populations. Guidance for patients on ear wax build-up, including when to seek advice from a pharmacist or general practitioner, is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/earwax-build-up/
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_198
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_198

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2025 to Question 87401 on Prosthetics and Wigs: Ethnic Groups, whether he will ensure that there is guidance or a requirement for NHS Trusts to procure breast prosthesis and wigs which meet the diverse needs of their patients, beyond the availability of such products through the NHS Supply Chain frameworks. \p Karin Smyth: NHS Supply Chain manages a framework agreement for the provision of external breast prosthesis and chest support garments, only which was renewed in November 2024. The framework provides the breadth of products available to meet National Health Service trusts and/or foundation trusts assessment and patient choice requirements.

The product ranges on the framework include a variety of materials, types, shapes, sizes, and colours to meet diverse needs, and all suppliers have some product ranges available in more than one colour. Some products are better suited to exercise and swimming, but the provision of a prosthesis is limited to a softie, which is textile based, immediately after surgery and a silicone based prosthesis once wounds have healed.

NHS trusts and foundation trusts are responsible for their own procurement activity to meet the requirements of their patients and clinicians. NHS England has a list of approved regional and national frameworks that NHS provider organisations can use, and they are encouraged to buy from a framework if it catalogues the particular product or service.

The accreditation standards required to be on the list cover a range of areas, from minimum contractual terms and conditions, robust supplier appointment and value for money assessment processes, through to the sharing of commercial and commission data with NHS England.  Details and the list of accredited host organisations can be found at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/system-guidance-for-the-implementation-of-framework-host-management/

NHS Supply Chain is on this list and is the main supplier of goods and services into the NHS.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_199
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_199

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many job vacancies there were for (a) Foundation Year 1 doctors, (b) Foundation Year 2 doctors and (c) specialty training posts in (i) England and (ii) Suffolk NHS region at the most recent date for which data is available. \p Karin Smyth: The Department does not hold information on the number of vacancies for Foundation Year 1, Foundation Year 2, or specialty training posts in England or in the Suffolk National Health Service region.

NHS England collects and publishes data relating to the fill rates for training places in medical specialties. These are for the entry point of the initial recruitment processes for the specific training programme, rather than a measure of total vacancies at a given point in time. This information is available at the following link:

https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/fill-rates
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_200
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_200

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate she has made of the potential cost to the public purse of the maintenance costs for the site that was formally the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People. \p Karin Smyth: The former site of Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People in Leatherhead is not owned by a National Health Service trust, and therefore any maintenance costs will not be met by NHS maintenance budgets.

We recognise the importance of providing funding for adult social care. The Spending Review allows for an increase of over £4 billion of funding to be made available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_201
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_201

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support his department is making available for trusts to help reduce bed occupancy to the RCEM recommended level of 85% occupancy. \p Karin Smyth: As part of our winter preparations, we are asking trusts to place a special focus on reducing bed occupancy ahead of Christmas, creating additional capacity and improving patient flow.

The Urgent and Emergency Care plan, published in July, focuses on those improvements that will see the biggest impact on urgent and emergency care (UEC) performance this winter and on making UEC better every day. The plan is backed by almost £450 million of capital investment for Same Day Emergency Care, Mental Health Crisis Assessment Centres, and new ambulances, avoiding unnecessary admissions to hospital and supporting the diagnosis, treatment, and discharge on the same day for patients. The plan supports a permanent shift in how we manage demand and patient flow.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_202
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_202

Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to (a) monitor and (b) mitigate the potential impact of the NHS England restructuring on the mental health of affected staff. \p Karin Smyth: Safeguarding the mental health and wellbeing of colleagues while delivering the changes needed for the future of NHS England is a key priority for NHS England. NHS England has designed and implemented an equity-focused support package which has been shaped and informed jointly with staff networks, representative of the diversity of the organisation, trade unions, and health and safety representatives to meet the diverse needs of colleagues in the organisation. The support includes:

- dedicated mental health resources through the Employee Assistance Programme, with confidential counselling, and occupational health and wellbeing services available to all staff;

- inclusive guidance for line managers to help them identify and respond to wellbeing concerns in a way that is sensitive to individual circumstances, including those related to protected characteristics and personal responsibilities; and

- targeted support for staff networks and underrepresented groups, ensuring that voices from across NHS England’s organisation are heard and supported during this transition.

NHS England is actively monitoring the impact of change through multiple feedback channels, including the annual staff survey, engagement forums, Health and Safety Committee staff network, and recognised trade union forums, as well as through sickness absence, and direct feedback mechanisms.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_203
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_203

Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) nurses and (b) other healthcare professionals currently exposed to hazardous medicinal products; and if he will publish an estimate of how many and what proportion of healthcare workers would be affected by the introduction of a definition of hazardous medicinal products. \p Karin Smyth: The Department has not made an estimate of the number of nurses and other healthcare professionals exposed to hazardous medicinal products. The Department has not made an estimate of how many and what proportion of healthcare workers would be affected by the introduction of a definition of hazardous medicinal products.

Any incidents involving staff exposure to hazardous medical products are reported and handled through local National Health Service body reporting procedures. Risk assessments should be undertaken routinely and mitigations put in place to minimise any environmental exposure to health care professionals, and others, relating to hazardous medicinal products.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_204
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_204

Steve Barclay:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what current unbudgeted pressures his Department is aware of within its spending plans. \p Karin Smyth: The 2025 Spending Review was published on 11 June by HM Treasury and sets out departmental budgets for day‑to‑day spending until 2028/29, and until 2029/30 for capital investment. The 2025 Spending Review is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spending-review-2025-document

The Department is now underway with a financial planning exercise to allocate budgets within those financial years. Spending plans will be set out in the Main Supply Estimates when published in due course by HM Treasury.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_205
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_205

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year. \p Karin Smyth: The Department has not run any recruitment with the sole aim of increasing the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.

The Department has not run any internship schemes but has participated in the following internship schemes, to deliver greater diversity in the Civil Service and make it more representative of the people it serves, in the past 12 months:
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_206
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_206

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that NHS (a) maternity wards and (b) perinatal services treat fathers as active participants in the birth process. \p Karin Smyth: The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has committed to putting the voices of families, including fathers, at the heart of the approach to improving quality, safety and accountability in maternity services.

Baroness Amos’ independent national investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal services will ensure that the lived experiences of families, including fathers and non-birthing partners, are fully heard and used to inform the development of the national recommendations. A National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will take forward the recommendations of the investigation to develop a new national action plan to drive improvements across maternity and neonatal care.

National bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Royal College of Midwives have issued guidelines emphasising the importance of involving fathers and partners in maternity and perinatal care. These guidelines set expectations for trusts to adopt family-centred care and to treat fathers as active participants, not just visitors or observers. These resources are available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng201/chapter/recommendations#:~:text=Antenatal%20classes-,1.3.,NICE%20guideline%20on%20postnatal%20care

Fathers and partners can now receive evidence-based assessments and support through specialist perinatal mental health services where needed, with some NHS trusts now also working with Home Start UK’s Dad Matters project to support paternal mental health. The project engages with fathers to help them understand their baby, their role as a father, and how transition to fatherhood may affect them and their family.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_207
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_207

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many staff in his Department (a) did not retain employment following the completion of their probationary period and (b) had their probationary period extended in each of the last five years. \p Karin Smyth: The Department’s probation policy and guidance advises managers on the steps to take to assess a new employee’s suitability for the post and to provide support to enable them to succeed. It also advises on the steps to take where performance, attendance, or conduct are not satisfactory. This can include exiting the employee or extending their probation to provide further evidence for a final decision on their suitability.

The number of staff in the Department who did not retain employment following the completion of their probationary period, and those whose probationary period was extended, in each of the last five years is set out below:

- in 2025, four staff did not retain employment and four had their probationary period extended;

- in 2024, two staff did not retain employment and two had their probationary period extended;

- in 2023, there were no staff who did not retain employment and no staff had their probationary period extended;

- in 2022, four staff did not retain employment and three had their probationary period extended;

- in 2021, one staff member did not retain employment and one had their probationary period extended.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_209
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_209

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce wait times to see a neurologist. \p Karin Smyth: Cutting waiting lists is a key priority for the Government. We have exceeded our pledge to deliver an extra two million operations, scans, and appointments, having delivered 5.2 million more appointments across elective care services. This marks a vital first step to delivering on the commitment that 92% of patients will wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment, in line with the National Health Service constitutional standard, by March 2029.

Between September 2024 and 2025, we reduced the number of incomplete neurology pathways by over 15,000, from 234,720 to 219,221, and reduced the average waiting time for neurology services from 16.2 to 15.2 weeks. 57.2% of patients referred were waiting within 18 weeks, up from 54% at the same point last year. This is still lower than the national average and we are continuing efforts to improve this, recognising that this is a challenged specialty.

The January 2025 Elective Reform Plan commits to reforming outpatient services, including by supporting general practitioners and hospital doctors to work better together to ensure referrals are used only when a patient really needs hospital care, through increased uptake of Advice and Guidance. There are a number of initiatives at the national level supporting service improvement and better care for patients with neurological conditions, including the United Kingdom-wide Neuro Forum, RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit, and the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_210
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_210

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Billions to be redirected back into patient care with NHS reform, published on 11 November, if he will publish the upfront costs of these reforms. \p Karin Smyth: The reforms announced on 11 November will involve some upfront costs associated with organisational change, including the reintegration of NHS England and the restructuring of integrated care boards.

The Government is committed to ensuring that Parliament and the public are appropriately informed of these costs. Information will be published at the appropriate time, in line with established reporting mechanisms, to ensure transparency and accountability. The Department will continue to provide updates as the reforms progress.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_211
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_211

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 15 of the six-monthly update on the implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong, published on 23 October 2025, what diplomatic steps she is taking to help ensure that China adheres to its international legal commitments. \p Seema Malhotra: The Government raises areas of concern with the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities on a regular basis at both official and ministerial level. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary did so in a phone call with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on 6 November.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_212
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_212

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the role of China in influencing stability on the Korean Peninsula. \p Seema Malhotra: Diplomacy and negotiations are the best way to secure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. The Republic of Korea is a valued partner with whom we routinely discuss these important issues.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_213
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_213

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what conversations she has had with her counterpart in Bangladesh following the International Crimes Tribunal sentencing of Sheikh Hasina to death. \p Seema Malhotra: The Minister of State for International Development visited Bangladesh on 13-14 November, reasserting the strong partnership between our two countries, and emphasising the UK's support for human rights and democracy. The UK Government's policy on the death penalty is clear: we oppose it in all circumstances, as a matter of principle.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_214
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_214

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her Japanese counterparts concerning the proposed new Embassy of the People's Republic of China. \p Seema Malhotra: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 19 May 2025 to Question 51656.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_215
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_215

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the treatment of Christians in North Korea; and what steps the Government is taking to raise freedom of religion or belief with international partners. \p Seema Malhotra: The UK remains deeply concerned by unacceptable reports of ongoing, widespread, and systematic human rights violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Defending the right to freedom of religion or belief for all is a priority for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and a key strand of our DPRK human rights strategy. The UK regularly raises concerns about the DPRK's human rights violations, including the lack of freedom of religion or belief, both with the DPRK embassy in London and in multilateral fora. On 20 November 2025, the UK co-sponsored the UN General Assembly's Third Committee resolution condemning North Korea's human rights abuses.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_216
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_216

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the Venezuelan Government concerning the journalist Carlos Correa. \p Chris Elmore: I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 65220.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_217
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_217

Preet Kaur Gill:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of bilateral programme funding had a gender equality policy marker in the last two years for which information is available; and what proportion of that funding had gender equality as a (a) principal and (b) significant objective. \p Anneliese Dodds: Official data, sourced from the Statistics for International Development, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Creditor Reporting System, is available for 2022 and 2023. This data indicates that in 2022, 58% of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) programmes had a focus on gender equality (using OECD DAC markers Significant and Principal), with (1) 45% marked as Significant and (2) 13% marked as Principal. In 2023, 66% of FCDO bilateral ODA programmes had a focus on gender equality, with (1) 53% marked Significant and (2) 13% marked as Principal. The FCDO remains committed to ensure at least 80% of FCDO's bilateral aid programmes have a focus on gender equality by 2030. Due to an internal systems issue that excluded markers for a number of programmes, data submitted to the OECD Development Assistance Committee by the FCDO published in December 2024 was incorrect. This issue has now been resolved; data has now been corrected and an update published by the OECD.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_218
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_218

Sarah Bool:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of UK spirits duty rates for the on-trade compared to equivalent rates in (a) Ireland, (b) France, (c) Germany, and (d) other EU member states. \p Dan Tomlinson: The UK’s alcohol duty system balances protecting the public finances and promoting health.

There is significant variation in alcohol taxation policy amongst European countries. The World Health Organization recently published a comparison of alcohol taxes across the WHO European Region, which can be found here.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_219
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_219

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of a 5 pence per litre rise in fuel duty on (a) GDP and (b) levels of employment in the logistics sector. \p Dan Tomlinson: At Budget 2025, the Government announced continued support for people and businesses by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut until the end of August 2026. Rates will then gradually return to previous levels. The planned increase in line with inflation for 2026-27 will not take place, with the government increasing fuel duty rates in line with RPI from April 2027. This will save the average van driver £100 next year compared to previous plans, and the average HGV driver more than £800.

The Government considers the impact of fuel duty on the economy, including households and businesses, with decisions on rates made at fiscal events.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_220
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_220

Dr Ellie Chowns:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to WPQ 80434 answered on 17 October 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the proposals on the (a) minimum share rule, (b) upper limit on relief and (c) transferrable allowance in that report. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

As announced at Budget 2025, any unused £1 million allowance for the 100% rate of agricultural property relief and business property relief will be transferable between spouses and civil partners, including if the first death was before 6 April 2026.

The report by the independent Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax) sets out its other potential amendments to the policy are not, in its own words, a “silver bullet”. For example, CenTax acknowledge the proposal for a minimum share test is less effective than the Government’s reforms in raising revenue from the wealthiest estates, could be exposed to tax planning opportunities, would not necessarily prevent wealthy individuals buying land for inheritance tax purposes, and would mean double the number of estates being affected by the reforms (and largely estates below £2 million).
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_221
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_221

Victoria Collins:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the current six‑month deadline for the payment of Inheritance Tax in cases of administrative delays in the granting of probate. \p Dan Tomlinson: The deadline for payment of Inheritance Tax (IHT) is the end of the sixth month after the month in which the death occurs. Personal representatives (PRs) are required to make a payment of IHT before applying for probate. This is a longstanding requirement which ensures that the tax due can be collected quickly and efficiently.

HMRC offers several payment options if there are not sufficient liquid funds in the estate to pay IHT before applying for probate, including the Direct Payment Scheme and the option to pay IHT by yearly instalments. For assets which are eligible for payment of IHT by instalments, only the first instalment will be due before PRs can proceed to apply for probate. Further information on IHT payment options is available at: https://www.gov.uk/paying-inheritance-tax

In certain circumstances, PRs may also apply to HMRC to defer payment of the IHT until probate has been granted (a ‘grant on credit’). Once probate has been issued, the PRs will be expected to pay the outstanding tax as soon as possible. Further information on this option is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/applying-for-a-grant-on-credit-for-inheritance-tax

HM Courts & Tribunals Service has invested in more staff, alongside system and process improvements to reduce and maintain lower processing times for probate applications during the last year. The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness in the quarterly family court statistics bulletin: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/family-court-statistics-quarterly
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_222
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_222

Afzal Khan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment her Department has made of the cost-of-living pressures facing working people in Greater Manchester. \p James Murray: The government is prioritising cutting the cost of living and improving living standards across the UK, including for residents in Greater Manchester. The government recognises that people are still feeling the squeeze on their finances with essential areas such as energy, food and housing remaining too high. That is why we have announced that we are taking around £150 on average off household energy bills, expanding the £150 Warm Home Discount to 6 million lower income households, freezing regulated rail fares and NHS prescription fees for one-year, and extending temporary 5p fuel duty cut until the end of August 2026.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_223
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_223

Afzal Khan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the disparity between wage growth and increases in living costs in Greater Manchester. \p James Murray: Through the growth mission, the government will deliver a milestone of higher living standards in every part of the United Kingdom by the end of the Parliament. The main route to higher living standards is through good, productive jobs, stable employment, and a thriving business environment.

The government is taking action to cut the cost of living and bring down inflation. At the Budget 2025, the government announced that it would deliver a set of measures to remove an average of £150 from household energy bills from April 2026 and would implement a one-year freeze on regulated train fares and prescription charges.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_224
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_224

Lee Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate she has made of the number of older people unable to pay utility bills. \p Torsten Bell: We’re committed to helping pensioners with the cost of living and ensuring financial security in retirement. The State Pension is the foundation of that support. At Autumn Budget 2025 we announced that, in line with the Government’s commitment to the Triple Lock throughout this parliament, over 12 million pensioners will benefit from a 4.8% increase to their basic or new State Pension in April 2026, increasing their income by up to £575 a year. This follows a substantial increase in 2025/26.  The Pension Credit Standard Minimum Guarantee will increase by 4.8% in April 2026, from £227.10 to £238 a week for a single pensioner and from £346.60 to £363.25 a week for a couple, protecting the income of the poorest pensioners. Those in receipt of Pension Credit will also automatically receive the Cold Weather Payment alongside other benefits

The Winter Fuel Payment will benefit over three quarters of pensioners for the duration of this parliament, targeting help to those on lower and middle incomes while ensuring fairness for pensioners and taxpayers

To reduce cost of living pressures immediately, the Budget removed around £150 on average off household energy bills from April 2026 by ending the Energy Company Obligation and taking some of the expensive legacy levies off bills

The Government knows that more needs to be done to support vulnerable households struggling with their energy bills. That's why we are expanding the Warm Home Discount to around an additional 2.7 million households. From this winter, around 6 million low-income households will receive the £150 support to help with their energy bill costs.  We are also providing support for low-income households through our Warm Homes Plan which will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating – upgrading millions of homes over this Parliament. At the recent Budget, we announced £1.5 billion in new funding to support households facing fuel poverty.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_225
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_225

Laurence Turner:To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church makes funding available for the installation of CCTV cameras at pastoral buildings that are not churches. \p Marsha De Cordova: Best practice would be to engage with the diocese in question, the insurance company and with local police, to discuss any specific equipment that might be needed and what local money may be available.  In some cases the insurance company working with the local parish and police can install equipment and devices if needed.  There is some advice on the Church of England website about responding to antisocial behaviour: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/deeper-god-mission-theology (link is under ‘Reconciliation’) It is also worth looking at the Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme, operated by the Home Office, to see whether this particular circumstance might be eligible. A crime reference number would be required

Depending on the cost of the equipment needed the parish may also wish to consider applying to the local authority, which has local discretionary small grant schemes. Under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 monies are available for local authorities to give financial assistance to parish churches for repairs and improvements.
wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_1

David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has held discussions with the European Commission on mitigating the potential impact of proposed EU steel import quotas on UK steel exports. \p Chris Bryant: We are in active dialogue with the European Commission on this issue. The Secretary of State spoke about it with Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, on 20 October.

We will continue to take a cool-headed approach to any possible tariffs and remain prepared to defend the UK’s national interest where it is right to do so.
wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_2

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission on (a) employment and (b) economic growth in Lincolnshire. \p Chris Bryant: The Secretary of State for the Department of Business and Trade, Peter Kyle, visited China from 10-11 September to co-chair the first UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission since 2018 and the UK-China Industrial Cooperation Dialogue.

The visit delivered over £1bn of market access wins over 5 years, across multiple sectors, including the signing of a Pet Food Protocol which will support British businesses with access to the Chinese market.

DBT, DEFRA, and the British Embassy in Beijing, continue to work with the Chinese authorities to expand access to the Chinese market for British business.
wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_3

Stephen Flynn:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including fish processing in the Energy Intensive Industries scheme. \p Chris McDonald: While fish processing is not an eligible sector under the British Industry Supercharger or Energy Intensive Industries (EIIs) Compensation Scheme, the Government will undertake a review of eligibility criteria in 2026. We would welcome views from a wide range of stakeholders, and the Government would encourage businesses in the fish processing sector to engage with this consultation when the opportunity arises. The Government wants to ensure our support is proportionate, effective and targeted to the most impacted EIIs to aid the net-zero transition.
wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_4

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that critical services continue to run in the event of a major internet outage. \p Kate Dearden: Government has a robust set of policies in place to ensure there are well-defined and tested incident management processes in place, and to ensure continuity of essential functions in the event of system or service failure.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will publish the Government Cyber Action Plan this Winter, which will set out a clear approach for the Government and the Wider Public Sector to manage cyber security and resilience incidents.
wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_5

Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what performance indicators his Department uses to measure the extent to which the British Business Bank has reduced the scale-up financing gap of R&D intensive companies. \p Blair McDougall: The indicator used to assess the financing gap is venture capital (VC) investment as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the UK as compared to the US, measured over 3 years. This gap (across all sectors) has narrowed from 30% greater investment in the US in 2019-2021 to 10% for 2022-2024.

The British Business Bank’s Small Business Equity Tracker report 2025 notes that the gap for R&D intensive sectors is wider. VC investment in these industries represented 0.25% of GDP in the UK during 2022-2024 against 0.31% in the US, equivalent to a gap of 30%.

Between 2022 and 2024, 49% of Bank-supported deals were in the tech sector, compared to 42% of deals across the overall market.
wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_6

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 76822 on Jeffrey Epstein, what records Integrated Corporate Services holds of correspondence (a) to and (b) from Lord Mandelson relating to Sempra Commodities between 2009 and 2010. \p Kate Dearden: Any such information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_7

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that menstrual products are subject to the (a) the UK Medical Devices Regulations 2002, (b) UK Cosmetics regulation and (c) other relevant regulations. \p Kate Dearden: Period products are not regulated as a medical device in the UK. They are regulated under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, which require that only safe products, in their normal or reasonably foreseeable use, are placed on the market. There are obligations on producers and distributors to, where reasonable, sample test products to check safety. During the passage of the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, the Government committed to consult on period product safety.
wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_8

Gareth Snell:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of (a) tableware and (b) crockery used in his Department is made by a British manufacturer. \p Kate Dearden: A small amount of crockery and tableware has been purchased locally using departmental funds. No central record is maintained of these purchases. To determine the country of origin of all such items would require a check of all items in use. The cost of this would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold of £850.
wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-29 conversation_9

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an estimate of the number of Stellantis Luton workers who have not yet found alternative employment as of 1 September 2025. \p Chris McDonald: The Department for Business and Trade has not made an estimate of the number of Stellantis Luton workers who have not yet found alternative employment as of 1 September 2025. The Government worked with Stellantis, Unite the Union and other partners to support affected workers, including via the Department for Work and Pensions’ Rapid Response Service. The range of support available from Jobcentre Plus and partners included connecting people to jobs in the labour market; help with job search including CV writing, interview skills, where to find jobs and how to apply for them; help to identify transferable skills and skills gaps; and what benefits they may get and how to claim.