theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on a treaty with Mauritius on the British Indian Ocean Territory. \p Stephen Doughty: I have had regular discussions with Ministerial colleagues on issues related to a treaty with Mauritius on the British Indian Ocean Territory. HM Government remains committed to reaching an agreement with Mauritius in the best interests of both parties.
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Calum Miller:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the US Ambassador on comments about Ministers by members of the incoming US Administration. \p Stephen Doughty: We thank US Ambassador Jane Hartley for her years of service to furthering the UK-US relationship before her departure from the UK. The Foreign Secretary last met with the Ambassador on 5 December. They discussed a range of issues relating to the UK-US relationship.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help protect UK nationals in Europe from Dengue. \p Stephen Doughty: FCDO Travel Advice provides information to British nationals travelling overseas, including any health risks. Country Travel Advice pages link to the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC)'s Travel Health Pro website [https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries], which offers comprehensive health advice and country-specific advice to travellers on a full range of health issues, including dengue where appropriate. NaTHNaC is commissioned by the UK Health Security Agency to provide travel health advice to the British public. Travel Advice pages are kept under regular review.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for the treaty on the British Indian Ocean Territory of his recent discussions with his counterpart in Mauritius. \p Stephen Doughty: Discussions between the UK and Mauritius on the future exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory remain ongoing. It is not appropriate to provide a running commentary on those discussions. We will continue to work closely with Mauritius to conclude a deal that is in both sides' shared interests.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 December 2024 to Question 19318 on British Nationals Abroad: Detainees, whether he has made changes to his Department's (a) processes and (b) services in respect of supporting British nationals abroad since July 2024. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The government is committed to strengthening consular services, including through introduction of a right to consular assistance in cases of human rights violations and the appointment of an envoy. My department is considering a package of measures to achieve this, which we will announce in due course. The FCDO continuously reviews its processes to provide better service for those who require consular assistance, including through feedback, insight and lessons learned. Recently we have introduced an improved service to book appointments and a new FCDO digital triage AI tool which provides British nationals quick, efficient responses to their questions online.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of UK humanitarian aid to Sudan is spent in-country. \p Anneliese Dodds: 100% of our bilateral humanitarian ODA allocation to Sudan is spent in Sudan.

In addition, the UK has provided many tens of millions of pounds of humanitarian assistance this year to people who have fled Sudan to elsewhere in the region such as Chad and South Sudan.
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Barry Gardiner:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 19633 on the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, what recent assessment he has made of the extent to which primary legislation will be required before ratification. \p Anneliese Dodds: The Government is completely committed to ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement, also known as the "High Seas Treaty" or "Global Oceans Treaty"), which is in line with our determination to reinvigorate the UK's wider international leadership on climate and nature. Work is in hand on the measures needed to implement the detailed and complex provisions of the Agreement before the UK can ratify.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps he has taken with (a) international counterparts and (b) the Secretary of State for Defence to remove explosive ordnance from areas that have previously been conflict zones. \p Anneliese Dodds: The FCDO-funded Global Mine Action Programme (GMAP) is the Government's main programme for removing mines, cluster munitions and other explosive ordinance from previous conflict zones. GMAP currently funds clearance in Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, Laos, Somalia, South Sudan, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe. The Integrated Security Fund also funds clearance in Sri Lanka and Tajikistan. In October 2024, the UK participated in a Ukraine mine action conference, that re-affirmed donor commitment to supporting Ukraine's national mine action strategy. In November 2024, the UK participated in the 5th Review Conference of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. Clearing legacy contamination is outside the remit of Ministry of Defence.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 January 2025 to Question 18873 on Sudan: Humanitarian Aid, what potential alternative cross-border routes beyond Adré for humanitarian aid delivery into Sudan he has identified. \p Anneliese Dodds: The UK continues to push for additional aid routes into Sudan, including through Aweil, Renk and Panakuach, as well as Adré, to facilitate aid deliveries, particularly into areas held by the Rapid Support Forces, and for routes to be free of bureaucratic and administrative impediments. In addition, the UK continues to press for improved cross-line routes, including into Khartoum.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 January 2025 to Question 18873 on Sudan: Humanitarian Aid, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in Sierra Leone following the Russian veto of the UN Security Council Resolution on protecting civilians. \p Anneliese Dodds: The Foreign Secretary spoke with his Sierra Leonean counterpart on 9 January. During their discussion, the UK and Sierra Leone agreed on the urgent need for a political solution to the conflict in Sudan to prevent more needless civilian deaths and a further spread of famine. We continue to work closely with the UN, regional stakeholders, and Council members, including Sierra Leone, to ensure the Council continues to support efforts towards peace in Sudan.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 January 2025 to Question 18873 on Sudan: Humanitarian Aid, what steps he is taking to ensure the protection of civilians. \p Anneliese Dodds: On 11 October 2023, the Human Rights Council adopted the UK-led 'Sudan Core Group' resolution to establish an independent and international Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) to ensure the credible allegations of human rights violations and abuses by all sides are investigated impartially. The UK led lobbying for the renewal of the FFM mandate in October, which passed with an increased vote margin and support from two African states. The UK strongly supports the International Criminal Court's active investigation into the situation in Darfur, including allegations of crimes committed since April 2023. This support has included the secondment of expert investigators to support the ICC's work in several countries.

The UK is also funding the Sudan Witness project delivered by the Centre for Information Resilience, which gathers open-source evidence on harms against civilians and civilian infrastructure, with a view to future accountability efforts. As penholder on Sudan at the UN Security Council, the UK co-led a protection of civilians resolution on Sudan with Sierra Leone in November, which was cynically vetoed by Russia. We continue to work with the UN, key regional stakeholders and Council members to ensure the Council continues to act in support of peace in Sudan.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with (a) the Secretary of State for the Home Department and (b) other Cabinet colleagues to reduce the amount of Overseas Development Assistance spent on asylum hotels. \p Anneliese Dodds: The Home Secretary is committed to ensuring asylum costs fall and has already taken measures to reduce the backlog and will end the use of expensive hotel accommodation. We expect these plans to create more space in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget to spend on our international development priorities overseas. In-donor refugee costs will be published in the provisional Statistics on International Development publication in Spring 2025. The first meeting of the re-established ODA Board, chaired by me and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, will focus on in-donor refugee costs.
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Mr Andrew Mitchell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy to use evidence-based, responsive vaccination programmes around the world. \p Anneliese Dodds: The UK supports evidence-based responsive vaccination programmes as part of our dedication to improving global health. The UK is one of the largest donors to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has vaccinated over a billion children. Gavi's vaccination programmes are guided by the latest scientific evidence and expert advice from the World Health Organisation's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE), coupled with in-depth, evidence-based analysis to ensure the effectiveness of its vaccination programmes.
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John Milne:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Moroccan counterpart on the potential merits of a compensation scheme for UK citizens that lost their investments in the Paradise Golf and Beach Resort project; and whether he has taken other steps to help ensure adequate (a) financial and (b) other compensation for those affected. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office remains committed to helping all British investors affected by the failure of the Paradise Golf & Beach Resort (PGBR) development and will continue in its efforts to work with the Moroccan authorities to help them receive the compensation to which they are entitled. His Majesty's Ambassador to Rabat continues to seek opportunities to raise PGBR with his counterparts and relevant stakeholders in Morocco to encourage a satisfactory resolution to this longstanding issue. FCDO officials in London continue to raise the issue with their counterparts in the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of UK nationals in countries bordering the Red Sea. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not hold this information; the UK Government does not require British nationals to register with the nearest British Embassy or Consulate when overseas.
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Tim Roca:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of supporting charities that support pregnant women and newborn babies in Afghanistan. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK is committed to supporting vital health services in Afghanistan, including for pregnant women and newborn babies. Our £161 million aid programme provides support to the most vulnerable, delivered through non-governmental organisations, UN agencies, and the Red Cross Movement. In 2023/24 the UK helped more than 1.4 million people, of whom over 1 million were women, to access essential health services, and we reached at least 57,000 children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women with dietary supplements.
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness, (b) potential and (c) adequacy of relations between the UK and North Africa. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The relationship between the UK and the countries of North Africa focuses on a range of shared interests, including trade and investment, working together on migration, regional stability, and people-to-people links. There is greater potential, including to increase trade from £11bn, and to meet demand for greater English language capacity. We are working to develop comprehensive partnerships to tackle irregular migration and have regular dialogues on regional stability, such as the importance of tackling Russian efforts to increase its presence in the region and aligning efforts to address the conflicts of the Sahel and wider Middle East.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies on Western Sahara of Morocco’s autonomy plan. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK continues to support UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. The UK strongly supports the work of Staffan de Mistura, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara, and continues to encourage constructive engagement with the UN political process. The UK believes this process is the best way to solve the long-standing dispute by delivering a solution agreeable to all parties, one which would contribute significantly to regional security and prosperity.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 December 2024 to Question 19307 on Syria: Humanitarian Aid, what assessment he has made of (a) the impact of the situation on civilians in Syria, (b) the need for humanitarian aid in Syria and (c) the best way to respond to the humanitarian situation. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Fourteen years of conflict in Syria has significantly impacted civilians, with over 16 million people needing urgent humanitarian assistance and 13 million people displaced. In response to recent events, humanitarian agencies have rapidly scaled up the ongoing international aid effort in Syria. The UK announced an additional £61 million to support this.

Flexible humanitarian funding, strengthened co-ordination, and an updated assessment of needs are key for responding effectively. Unimpeded access, free from political interference or targeting of humanitarian workers, is essential to deliver assistance to those in need across Syria. We continue to advocate for this.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with his international counterparts to promote the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We have repeatedly condemned Taliban restrictions on women and girls' rights, including through UN Security Council and Human Rights Council resolutions and, most recently, at a G7+ meeting of Special Representatives in Geneva on 16 December. As the Foreign Secretary has said, exclusion of women from all aspects of public life is a tragic setback for Afghanistan. Officials from the Doha-based UK Mission to Afghanistan continue to press Taliban acting ministers and Afghan officials on human rights abuses in Afghanistan, including the most recent ban on female medical education. We are committed that at least 50 percent of people reached by our £161 million aid programme in Afghanistan will be women and girls.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the decision by the Taliban to prohibit women and girls from undertaking midwifery and nursing courses in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK is deeply concerned at reports of a ban on women accessing medical training in Afghanistan, including midwifery education. We have released a statement strongly condemning the decision and officials from the Doha-based UK Mission to Afghanistan have met with Taliban leaders to urge them to reverse this decision. We have made clear that this is yet another affront to girls' right to education and will threaten the lives of countless women and girls who will be denied critical medical care, as well as their children. Officials are working closely with partners to assess the mid to long-term effects. We continue to press the Taliban on all human rights abuses in Afghanistan.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to provide humanitarian (a) assistance and (b) aid to Afghanistan. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK is taking a leading role in the humanitarian response to the people of Afghanistan and has provided over 2.7 million people with humanitarian assistance in financial year 2023/24. The FCDO is planning £161 million of funding to Afghanistan this financial year (2024/25) which includes both humanitarian aid and support for essential services. All funding is provided directly to implementing partners such as UN organisations, the Red Cross and NGOs, and we remain committed that at least 50 percent of people reached are women and girls. We are focused on supporting both emergency relief and strengthening the capacity of Afghan communities.
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Sarah Owen:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with Rwandan counterparts on (a) human rights abuses and (b) violence against women and girls by militia groups in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. \p Anneliese Dodds: The UK is closely monitoring the situation in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and continues to raise our concerns about reported human rights violations at the highest levels with the Governments of Rwanda and DRC, most lately by the British High Commissioner on the 13 January. The Minister for Africa also spoke with the Rwandan Foreign Minister on 9 January to emphasise the UK's concern at the recent escalation of violence in eastern DRC and ongoing violations of the current ceasefire agreement by armed groups, including M23.

As a member of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, the UK is especially concerned by the continuing high rates of violence against women and girls in eastern DRC. We continue to encourage the Governments of Rwanda and DRC to re-commit meaningfully to the Luanda regional peace process and deliver lasting protection for civilians, including those in particularly vulnerable communities.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what percentage of humanitarian aid spending on Sudan was spent on refugees outside of Sudan in the last 12 months. \p Anneliese Dodds: 100 per cent of our bilateral humanitarian ODA allocation to Sudan is spent in Sudan.

Additionally, the UK continues to provide significant support to those fleeing Sudan, most recently with the Foreign Secretary announcing a major aid increase on 17 November to support people affected by the conflict, including in neighbouring countries, such as Chad and South Sudan.
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness, (b) potential and (c) adequacy of relations between the UK and East Africa. \p Anneliese Dodds: East Africa and the UK have strong people-to-people ties, vital trading relations, critical security partnerships, and British institutions such as the BBC are hugely popular. We have a significant Official Development Assistance (ODA) portfolio - in October 2024, Lord Collins visited Ethiopia, where he announced £16m in funding to support the Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme, and Seychelles, to sign an ambitious economic security partnership on illicit finance. As penholder on Somalia at the UN Security Council, we delivered a mandate for the new African Union Stabilisation and Support Mission. With sufficient stability, East Africa has potential for greater commercial cooperation with UK and the new Africa approach will set out a distinctive UK offer which addresses shared interests and strengthens partnerships.
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James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the reported killings of religious minorities in Nigeria; and what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to help ensure freedom of religion and belief in that country. \p Anneliese Dodds: The UK champions Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all in Nigeria and beyond. No one should live in fear because of what they do, or do not believe in. We work to uphold the right to FoRB through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora and we regularly raise FoRB bilaterally with the Nigerian Government. The UK Government is committed to supporting Nigeria to address ongoing security challenges, including violent extremism and intercommunal violence, which continue to impinge on the rights of Nigerians to FoRB. This includes financial support to programmes which strengthen mechanisms to resolve conflict and build resilience in affected communities. Through our UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, we also engage with Nigerian security actors to address these complex issues.
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Emily Thornberry:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to Question 20170 on Cabinet Office: Ministers' Private Offices, tabled on 16 December 2024. \p Georgia Gould: With apologies to the Rt. Hon. Member, the answer has now been published.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether she plans to decolonise the (a) artwork and (b) heritage assets in (i) her Department and (ii) each of its arm’s length bodies; and what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the publication entitled Public Commemoration in Wales: Guidance for Public Bodies, published by the Welsh Government in March 2024. \p Dame Nia Griffith: There has been no change in the Wales Office’s management of artwork or heritage assets since the previous administration. The Wales Office does not have any arm’s length bodies.

While we have made no formal assessment of the implications of the publication ‘Public Commemoration in Wales: Guidance for Public Bodies’, the Wales Office would consult the guidance, as appropriate, in the context of any activity led by the department on future public commemorations in Wales.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what industrial disputes are ongoing within (a) their Department and (b) each of the arm’s length bodies connected to their Department; how many (i) staff and (ii) contractors are involved in each dispute; what the form of industrial action is in each dispute; which recognised trade union is involved in each dispute; what the substantive matter is that is being disputed in each case; and what steps he plans to take to end each dispute. \p Ian Murray: The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other Government bodies, principally the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Justice, who remain the employers.

There are currently no ongoing industrial disputes with the Ministry of Justice or the Scottish Government employees.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Solicitor General, what industrial disputes are ongoing within (a) their Department and (b) each of the arm’s length bodies connected to their Department; how many (i) staff and (ii) contractors are involved in each dispute; what the form of industrial action is in each dispute; which recognised trade union is involved in each dispute; what the substantive matter is that is being disputed in each case; and what steps he plans to take to end each dispute. \p Lucy Rigby: There are no ongoing industrial disputes within the Attorney General’s Office, Government Legal Department, HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, Serious Fraud Office, or Crown Prosecution Service.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Solicitor General, whether she plans to decolonise the (a) artwork and (b) heritage assets in (i) the Attorney General's Office and (ii) each of its arm’s length bodies. \p Lucy Rigby: There has been no change in the Attorney General’s Office’s management of artwork or heritage assets since the previous administration.

As separate entities, the responsibility for creating policy and guidance for artwork sits with each individual Arm’s Length Body, rather than with the ministerial department.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Leader of the House, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that all Departments publish impact assessments to Bills when they are published at first reading. \p Lucy Powell: The Government is committed to ensuring Parliament has the information it needs to hold the Government to account and to understand the impact of legislation. When a bill is published the Explanatory Notes include information regarding any financial implications.

I have written to all members of Cabinet regarding their ministerial responsibilities to Parliament. Best practice guidance is also provided to departments through the Cabinet Office Guide to Making Legislation, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-making-legislation.

Published impact assessments, including their date of publication, are available on the Parliament website (https://bills.parliament.uk/).
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Leader of the House, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of recent answers to Written Questions in the context of improving transparency in Government. \p Lucy Powell: Parliament has a right to hold Ministers to account. I have written to all members of Cabinet to remind Ministers of their responsibilities to provide helpful and timely responses to Members' PQs.

The Procedure Committee regularly monitors individual department’s PQ performance, and recently published a report on department’s performance in the 2023-24 session (available at: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/126/procedure-committee/publications/). I look forward to working with the Committee on this and other matters.

I would encourage hon. Members to raise any specific issues they may have with myself and my office.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to her oral contribution of 12 December 2024, Official Report, column 1045, what discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (b) the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and (c) other Cabinet colleagues on the west midlands pension fund. \p Lucy Powell: As the Hon. Member will know from my correspondence with her, following the Business Question on the 12th December 2024, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the 20th December 2024 and asked that this matter be looked into.

I understand that the Hon. Member has now received an update from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on this matter.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure access to mental health services in (a) England, (b) areas with fewer mental health services and (c) rural areas. \p Stephen Kinnock: Waiting lists for those referred for support are too high all across England, especially in areas with fewer mental health services, including for those in rural communities. People with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they deserve or need, which is why we will fix the broken system to ensure we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health, so that people can be confident in accessing high quality mental health support when they need it.

Nationally, we plan to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult mental health services in England to reduce delays and provide faster treatment. We will also introduce access to a specialist mental health professional in every school and roll out Young Futures hubs in every community.

In addition, people of all ages who are in crisis or who are concerned about a family or loved one can now call 111, select the mental health option, and speak to a trained mental health professional. National Health Service staff can guide callers with next steps such as organising face-to-face community support or facilitating access to alternative services, like crisis cafés or safe havens, which provide a place for people to stay as an alternative to accident and emergency or a hospital admission. It is the responsibility of the integrated care boards to commission care to meet the needs of their local population.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

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Adam Thompson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking with the (a) NHS and (b) voluntary sector to introduce (i) clinical and (ii) non-clinical responses for young people with mental health needs. \p Stephen Kinnock: We are committed to delivering a range of support, both clinical and non-clinical, to improve children and young people’s mental health. This includes recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult National Health Service mental health services, to reduce delays and provide faster treatment, helping to ease pressure on busy mental health services.

Nearly 500 NHS-funded mental health support teams were operational in approximately 8,500, or 34%, of schools and colleges across England as of the end of March 2024, covering 4.2 million, or 44%, of pupils or learners. These teams work with young people and parents to manage mild to moderate mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, while also assisting schools to develop a whole-school approach to positive mental health and wellbeing.

We will provide access to a specialist mental health professional in every school in England and roll out Young Futures hubs in every community. The national network of Young Futures hubs is expected to bring local services together, and deliver support for teenagers at risk of being drawn into crime or facing mental health challenges. They will provide open access mental health support for children and young people in every community.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_240

Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of NHS cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia; and whether he plans to increase the coverage of that therapy. \p Stephen Kinnock: It is for local integrated care boards to decide whether cognitive behavioural therapy should be offered to their local populations as a treatment for insomnia.

NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression offers low-intensity therapy which may include interventions around sleep hygiene. Individuals who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression can self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/

https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-health-issues/sleep/
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_241

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to (a) healthcare services, (b) GPs and (c) mental health support in (i) Ashfield and (ii) Mansfield constituencies. \p Stephen Kinnock: Since June 2022, the 42 integrated care boards (ICBs) across England have been responsible for arranging National Health Service healthcare services that meet the clinical needs of their respective populations, with the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB being responsible the Ashfield and Mansfield constituencies.

However, we know that patients are struggling to see a general practitioner (GP) and we are committed to improving access to GP appointments across the country, including in the Ashfield and Mansfield constituencies. That’s why, in October 2024, we provided an £82 million boost to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, enabling the recruitment of 1,000 newly qualified GPs across England. This will increase the number of GPs employed and the number of appointments delivered in GPs, benefitting thousands of patients that are struggling to receive the care they desperately deserve. Additionally, we have announced a proposed £889 million uplift to the GP Contract for 2025/26, the largest uplift in years, with a rising share of total NHS resources going to GPs. We are currently consulting the profession on key proposals to improve access, continuity of care, and GP recruitment.

We recognise that many people in the Ashfield and Mansfield constituencies are not getting the mental health support or care they need. As part of our mission to build an NHS that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, the Government will recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers nationally to reduce wait times and provide faster treatment. We will also provide access to a specialist mental health professional in every school in England, roll out Young Futures hubs in every community, and modernise the Mental Health Act.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_242

Leigh Ingham:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of regulating companies that are funded by local government to provide day activity services to adults with disabilities. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. The CQC has powers under the Health and Care Act 2008 to regulate adult social care services to make sure they provide safe, effective, compassionate, and high-quality care. Where concerns on quality or safety are identified, the CQC uses the regulatory and enforcement powers it has available, and will take action to ensure the safety of people drawing on care and support.

Day activity centres, in which social, recreational, and care services may be provided to older people or those with a disability, are not currently within the scope of the CQC’s regulation, as set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

Any changes to those regulations would be subject to the usual Parliamentary process, which would include a public consultation, and thus an opportunity to consider the merits of further regulation of services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_243

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support his Department is providing to increase patient capacity on mental health wards in (a) Romford constituency and (b) the surrounding area. \p Stephen Kinnock: NHS England’s 2024/25 priorities and operational planning guidance reinforces this focus on improving patient flow as a key priority, with local health systems directed to reduce the average length of stay in adult acute mental health wards to deliver more timely access to local beds. And in areas where there is a clear need for more beds, this has been addressed in part through investment in new units.

It is also important that when people are discharged, this happens in a way that considers their needs on discharge and any risks to their safety. To help support safe and timely discharge decisions, the Department published statutory guidance on discharge from mental health inpatient settings in January 2024. It sets out how health and care systems should work together to support safe discharge from all mental health and learning disability and autism inpatient settings for children, young people and adults. More information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/discharge-from-mental-health-inpatient-settings/discharge-from-mental-health-inpatient-settings

As part of our mission to build a National Health Service fit for the future, we will make sure more mental health care is delivered in the community, close to people’s homes, through new models of care and support, so that fewer people need to go into hospital.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_244

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle delays to care packages. \p Stephen Kinnock: Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their population, which is why, under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care market and to commission services to meet the diverse needs of all local people. In performing that duty, a local authority must have regard to current and likely future demand for such services, and consider how providers might meet that demand.

The Government has announced that a revised policy framework for the Better Care Fund in 2025/26 will shortly be published. This will outline redefined goals that emphasise its commitment to shifting care from hospital to home, and from sickness to prevention.

The Government is supporting local authorities by making up to £3.7 billion of additional funding available for social care authorities in 2025/26, which includes an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_245

Dr Allison Gardner:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve provision of post-natal mental health care in Stoke-on-Trent. \p Stephen Kinnock: Stoke-on-Trent is one of 75 local authorities that is receiving funding to provide bespoke perinatal mental health and parent-infant relationship support through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme.

However, more is needed. Access to these services varies across the country and too many people with mental health issues, including mothers in the 24 months postpartum, are not getting the support or care they need. NHS England is working to ensure that services are accessible to all women who need them.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_246

Richard Burgon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure (a) adequate and (b) sustainable funding for (i) social care and (ii) disability care services. \p Stephen Kinnock: To enable local authorities to provide vital services such as adult social care, the Government is making up to £3.7 billion of additional funding available for social care authorities in 2025/26, which includes an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant, which can be used to address the range of pressures facing the adult social care sector. This is alongside an £86 million uplift to the Disabled Facilities Grant to support an approximate additional 7,800 adaptations to homes for those with social care needs, to reduce hospitalisations and prolong independence.

Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their population, and are responsible for how they use the available funding to fulfil their duties under the Care Act (2014).

We are launching an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission is expected to begin in April 2025.

The commission will be comprehensive and will build on the expert proposals of other reviews, including that of Sir Andrew Dilnot, into care funding and support. It will be broader and wider than ever before, asking essential questions about the shape and future of the social care sector, including what long-term and sustainable funding solutions should look like.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_247

Adam Thompson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking with the voluntary sector to introduce new ways of treating mental ill health. \p Stephen Kinnock: Ministers and Departmental officials meet regularly with voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) stakeholders in the mental health sector to discuss a range of mental health issues and current challenges.

In October 2024 we launched the 10-Year Health Plan for the National Health Service to gather views from members of the public, NHS staff, VCSEs, and other organisations on their experiences and ideas to reform the NHS and make it fit for the future. The plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed, to move healthcare from the hospital to the community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. We are working closely with VCSEs and other mental health stakeholders to ensure the unique challenges for mental health services across England are reflected in 10-Year Health Plan.