theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_40
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_40

Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which private companies were given advance sight of the Strategic Defence Review before 5.04pm on 2 June 2025. \p Luke Pollard: For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_41
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_41

Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 56305 on the Strategic Defence Review, if he will provide the names of the (a) industry, (b) media, (c) trade associations and (d) think tanks who were offered access to the Strategic Defence Review before 5pm on 2 June 2025. \p Luke Pollard: For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_42
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_42

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any (a) people and (b) companies received unredacted hard copies of the Strategic Defence Review before 3.00pm on 2 June 2025. \p Luke Pollard: For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_43
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_43

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any (a) people or (b) companies who received unredacted hard copies of the Strategic Defence Review on 02 June 2025 were required to sign non-disclosure agreements prior to receipt. \p Luke Pollard: For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_44
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_44

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria were used to determine which (a) peple and (b) companies were granted access to unredacted hard copies of the Strategic Defence Review on 2 June 2025. \p Luke Pollard: For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_45
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_45

Chris Ward:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on providing payments to LGBTQ+ veterans under the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme. \p Al Carns: The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) launched in December of 2024, and as of 9 June 2025, 44 applicants have received payment. We have been prioritising payment to the elderly and those with serious health conditions to ensure they receive support as quickly as possible, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the scheme going live to these prioritised groups. Some cases are more complex and require additional time due to the unique and individual circumstances involved. We envisage the scheme speeding up once the most complex cases are delt with.

The Scheme continues to make progress with applications, with process capacity expected to increase in the coming months. The FRS is continually looking for opportunities to automate processes where possible, to streamline processing and to work as efficiently as possible processing applications, taking account of the complexity and need for careful consideration.

Payments made by the FRS are not compensation payments and do not seek to compensate for any pecuniary losses or attempt to place personnel in a financial position they could have been in, had the ban not existed.

There is no predetermined target for the number of claims that will be assessed at each sitting of the Independent Panel for the FRS. The volume of claims reviewed at each sitting will vary depending on the length and complexity of individual cases, so it is not possible to confirm in advance how many cases will be considered in any given meeting. The Department expects to increase the frequency of Independent Panel sittings, with the aim of holding up to two sittings per week.

No formal assessment has been made of trends in waiting times for the assessment of claims under the Scheme. However, the Department is currently working on how we can simplify the process to update applicants. Applicants can contact the Restorative Action Team at the following email address: xxx@xxx.xx

The Department will continue to keep resourcing under close review to ensure the FRS is fully supported. This includes assessing whether additional staff are required to manage demand and maintain the timely assessment of claims. The Department continues to monitor the overall progress of claims and remains committed to ensuring the scheme is delivered as efficiently and fairly as possible.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_46
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_46

Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the last time was that a member of the Israel Defense Forces was trained by the UK armed forces. \p Luke Pollard: As part of routine Defence engagement with Israel, the UK is currently training a limited number of Israel Defense Forces personnel on UK-based training courses.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_47
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_47

Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of sponsoring a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum to the Canary Girls munitions factory workers in the (a) First and (b) Second World War. \p Al Carns: The Government recognises the hard work of the Munitions workers and is extremely grateful for their input and sacrifices made during both world wars often working in harsh conditions, to ensure that our soldiers were well equipped during the war effort.

The role of munitions workers, largely carried out by women during the First and Second World Wars, was critical to victory. It is important that their effort and sacrifice, often undertaken in dangerous conditions, is remembered.

This is not an issue for which the Ministry of Defence is responsible, and in the past was addressed by the former Ministry for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_48
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_48

Dave Doogan:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many spouses of deceased armed forces personnel have been contacted for repayment after accidental overpayments of their spousal armed forces pension. \p Al Carns: In line with most pension schemes, it is often unavoidable that an overpayment may occur following the death of a pension recipient. This is due to the timing of the individual's passing and the understandable delay in the pension scheme authority receiving the notification of death. Such overpayments are common and are typically recovered either directly from the recipient's bank account or from the estate of the deceased.

Requests for repayment can be initiated by a family member, a friend of the deceased, the deceased's legal representative, or neighbour who has completed the Gov.uk 'Tell Us Once' online form.

In the last Financial Year (2024-25), 1,003 outstanding 'Late Notification of Death' cases were raised under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. However, whether the beneficiary of an estate is a spouse or other recipient is not centrally recorded and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_49
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_49

Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many payments have been issued under the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme. \p Al Carns: As of 9 June 2025, 44 Veterans had received payments through the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS). Payments made by the FRS are not compensation payments and do not seek to compensate for any pecuniary losses or attempt to place personnel in a financial position they could have been in, had the ban not existed.

We have been prioritising payments to the elderly and those with serious health conditions to ensure they receive support as quickly as possible, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the scheme going live to these prioritised groups. Some cases are more complex and require additional time due to the unique and individual circumstances involved. We envisage the scheme speeding up once the most complex cases are delt with.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_50
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_50

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which (a) people and (b) companies received unredacted hard copies of the Strategic Defence Review on 2 June 2025; and when each received it. \p Luke Pollard: For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_51
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_51

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he authorised issuing unredacted hard copies of the Strategic Defence Review to each (a) person and (b) company. \p Luke Pollard: For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_52
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_52

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when each (a) person and (b) company was notified that they would receive unredacted hard copies of the Strategic Defence Review. \p Luke Pollard: For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_53
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_53

Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the last time was that his Department provided the (a) Israeli government and (b) Israel Defense Forces with surveillance data of Gaza from Royal Air Force planes. \p Luke Pollard: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to Questions 56819 and 56820. I hope she will understand that I am unable to comment on detailed intelligence matters.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_54
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_54

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the statement by the NATO secretary-general that NATO members should commit to spending (a) 3.5 per cent of GDP on hard defence and (b) 1.5 per cent on security. \p Luke Pollard: This will form part of discussions ahead of the NATO Summit at the end of June. As these proposals are subject to agreement of all NATO Allies, including the UK, I hope the hon. Gentleman will know it would not be appropriate to comment at this time.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_55
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_55

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases where legal aid was obtained to appeal against requests for release of the costs of legal aid to be made public remain not concluded since 2019. \p Sarah Sackman: The requested information is not centrally held.

It is unclear what types of ‘appeal’ are being referred to. It has been interpreted to be a reference to appeals to the General Regulatory Chamber against decisions under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to release information relating to legal aid expenditure.

Such appeals are not within the scope of legal aid funding in accordance with Schedule 1, Part 1 of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. To the extent that legal aid for these appeals may be granted under the provision for Exceptional Case Funding they would be recorded as ‘miscellaneous’ cases on the Legal Aid Agency’s database.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_56
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_56

Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make it her policy for courts to prioritise cases involving grooming. \p Sarah Sackman: The listing of cases is a judicial function, and as such, prioritisation and scheduling decisions are the responsibility of judges. In practice, the judiciary generally lists cases to give priority to those with vulnerable parties and witnesses.

The Government continues work to deliver meaningful change for victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation. I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls to Parliament on 8 April 2025, which provided an update on the Government's work to tackle child sexual abuse and exploitation. The statement can be found here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025-04-08/debates/4FDDC9A4-1AC6-4F34-8E6B-3DF6CC2C981A/TacklingChildSexualAbuse?highlight=tackling#contribution-A9A86425-75DF-4AD4-815E-46755043F5C2.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_57
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_57

Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department plans to review its contract with The Big Word Interpreting Services Ltd for (a) service quality and (b) value for money; and how her Department monitors the performance of that contract. \p Sarah Sackman: The Ministry of Justice routinely reviews all its contracts to ensure service quality and value for money.

The contract with The Big Word for the provision of interpretation and translation services is subject to ongoing performance monitoring and governance. Service quality is assessed against a set of key performance indicators (KPIs), including interpreter attendance rates, fulfilment levels, and customer satisfaction.

Failure to meet KPIs is addressed via the application of service credits (a deduction to the invoiced amount calculated via a prescribed formula in the contract). Reasons for KPI failure are discussed with the supplier as part of routine contract management to ensure any barriers to performance are addressed, or a plan is put in place to mitigate.

Performance data is reviewed monthly, and The Big Word is required to provide regular management information and attend contract review meetings. Recent published data, available on GOV.UK, shows that The Big Word consistently meets the majority of contractual KPIs, with fulfilment rates above 95% in most categories.

The Ministry of Justice regularly and continually evaluates the service performance, identifying improvements that can be implemented within our existing contracts. The Department is also mindful of the need to ensure value for money for the taxpayer. We have recently introduced an increase to a two hour minimum face to face booking (from 1 hour), negotiated with our suppliers and implemented in October 2024 which has contributed to an improvement in service performance, with the most recent data, published on 25 March 2025, showing an increase in success rate to 96%.

The service is currently undergoing a re-procurement in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, and aims to ensure a competitive, high-quality, and value-for-money solution for future language service needs. As part of this re-procurement, a benchmarking exercise was conducted against other government departments to compare value for money, and a lessons learned was conducted on improvements to the quality of services.

The Department remains committed to delivering accessible justice by maintaining high standards in interpretation and translation services across the justice system.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_58
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_58

Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of reducing prison sentences for domestic abusers on reoffending rates of assault. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The Independent Sentencing Review recommends a reduction in short prison sentences.

There is a compelling case for doing so: in the most recent data, nearly 60% of those receiving a 12-month sentence reoffended within a year. It is important, however, to note that the review recommends a reduction in short sentences, not abolition. It is right that judges retain the discretion to hand them down in exceptional circumstances, which David Gauke suggested could be in situations of domestic abuse.

We have also been clear that anyone who breaches protective orders linked to violence against women and girls, such as stalking and domestic abuse protection orders, will be excluded from this presumption.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_59
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_59

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Security Investment Programme. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: A full evaluation has been undertaken of the £100 million Security Investment Programme (SIP), whose aim was to help strengthen security and reduce crime in prisons. The findings of the evaluation have been published and can be found at the following: Security Investment Programme Evaluation - GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_60
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_60

Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will publish the contractual terms under which (a) delays and (b) poor performance in Serco's delivery of its electronic monitoring contract would trigger (i) the introduction of a remedial advisor, ((ii) step-In, (iii) consequential losses and (iv) termination rights processes. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Releasing information on financial penalties would prejudice, or would likely prejudice, Serco Group Limited’s commercial interests.

To provide the number of outstanding monitoring visits in need of completion by Serco in each of the past 12 months would be of disproportionate cost.

While the backlog of outstanding visits has been significantly reduced, Serco’s overall performance remains below acceptable levels. We continue to hold them to account for that and will not hesitate to impose further financial penalties where necessary.

The performance requirements are detailed within the Key Performance Indicators in the Field and Monitoring Service contract, and these are available on Contracts Finders under Schedule 3 of the contract: Electronic Monitoring Field and Monitoring Service (FMS) - Contracts Finder. Whilst we acknowledge that performance has been unacceptable, the Ministry of Justice continues to hold Serco to account for poor performance and we are overseeing service improvements.

During the procurement of the Field and Monitoring Service contract, all suppliers were required to provide details of their safeguarding processes, and these were assessed as part of the evaluation process. The contract outlines the ongoing audit rights that allow the Ministry of Justice to review all processes. There is an annual assurance test completed by the contract management team to ensure that what suppliers have outlined is being adhered to, and the next assurance is scheduled to be carried out in July 2025.

The Field and Monitoring Service contract is already published and is available on Contracts Finder: Electronic Monitoring Field and Monitoring Service (FMS) - Contracts Finder. Specifically, please refer to the schedules referenced Core Terms and Schedule 3 (Performance).
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_61
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_61

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 46823 on Electronic Tagging: Standards, what reason was given for the 10,438 untagged cases audited by probation between January and March 2025. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The 10,438 offenders reported as untagged is misleading. It includes duplicates and errors that have not been corrected through our audit and quality assurance processes which are currently underway.

The information requested through the PQ could only be obtained at disproportionate cost due to data quality issues.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_62
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_62

Danny Beales:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate she has made of the cost to court infrastructure of implementing the Equality and Human Rights Commission's revised code of practice for services, public functions and associations. \p Sarah Sackman: No such estimates have been produced. Any financial consequences from implementing the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s revised code of practice in HM Courts and Tribunals Service will be considered as part of the agency’s annual budgeting cycle.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_63
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_63

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2025 to Question 46823, on Electronic Tagging: Standards, what estimate she has made of the number of offenders who were not tagged because the Probation Service held an incorrect address for them in the last two years. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost due to data quality issues.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_64
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_64

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to help reduce waiting times for cancer (a) screening and (b) testing in Fylde constituency. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government understands that more needs to be done to reduce waiting times for cancer patients, including those in Fylde constituency. To achieve this, we have delivered an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week during our first year in Government, as the first step to ensuring early diagnosis and faster treatment.

We will support the National Health Service to transform diagnostic services by spending £1.65 billion on additional capacity, including new surgical hubs and diagnostic scanners, to support the delivery of over 30,000 more procedures and 1.25 million diagnostic tests, as they come online.

In March 2025, performance across Lancashire and South Cumbria, which includes the Fylde constituency, for diagnosing patients within the 28-day standard was 80% against the 75% standard.

NHS England North West is currently the responsible commissioner for the three cancer screening programmes, namely breast, bowel and cervical, for the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board footprint, which includes the Fylde constituency.

For bowel screening, additional funding has been provided to the Lancashire programme to increase capacity and to support the local population to access colonoscopy, as required.

For breast screening, a full review of all screening sites has been carried out across the region to ensure that they meet the needs of the local population, and the provider programme team meets regularly with system partners to maximise uptake.

NHS England North West has also provided funding for an Improving Uptake Officer post. This role involves working directly with general practices and local community groups to improve uptake, as well as contacting individuals who have not attended their appointment to offer them a new appointment.

For cervical screening, insight work was carried out in 2023 across the North West to understand the reasons why individuals were not coming forward for their cervical screening and to gain views from residents on what would support more people to take up their cervical screening. Using findings from this work, a number of pilot projects are currently being implemented to understand the impact on improving uptake. These include online booking of appointments, training for cervical sample takers to improve patient experience, community champions, and alternative venues for screening.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_65
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_65

Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the membership is of the Patient Voice Panel as a part of the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce; and what meetings it has held in the last 12 months. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government is committed to including the voices of young cancer patients in the work of the taskforce and the National Cancer Plan. That’s why the Department has worked with taskforce members to assemble a Patient Experience Panel of people with lived experience of cancer. The panel is made up of a diverse group, including parents of children with cancer, young adults who were diagnosed with cancer as teenagers, and those who were diagnosed as children.

The panel has met three times so far, and will continue to feed directly into the work of the taskforce.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_66
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_66

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that people with Parkinson’s disease have access to their medication on time. \p Ashley Dalton: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on Parkinson’s disease in adults highlights the importance of patients getting Parkinson’s medicines on time, to prevent harmful effects. NICE guidance states that people with Parkinson’s disease who are admitted to hospital or care homes should be given their medicines at the appropriate times, which, in some cases, may mean allowing self-medication.

Whilst hospital providers are responsible for ensuring that patients within hospital settings, including those with Parkinson’s disease, receive their appropriate medication on time, there are tools to support both patients and staff to achieve this. Electronic prescribing systems, currently in use in 85% of hospitals in England, enable in-depth monitoring and reporting on missed or delayed dosing of medications.

Parkinson’s UK has produced resources, as part of their Get It on Time campaign, which support people with Parkinson's with medicine management in preparation for a hospital stay. These resources can also support hospital and care home staff to make sure that patients and residents get their medication on time, every time.

NHS England has also published guidance, developed in partnership with charities, including Parkinson’s UK, to help local National Health Service staff take practical steps to improve the care for patients with progressive neurological conditions in hospitals. The Right Care Toolkit for progressive neurological conditions provides advice on medicine optimisation, highlighting the importance of the timely administration of specific drugs for Parkinson’s, such as Levodopa, in both acute and community health settings.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_67
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_67

Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support professional training for GPs in the use of integrated clinical decision tools to better identify (a) vague or (b) non-specific symptoms of less survivable cancers. \p Ashley Dalton: General practitioners (GPs) are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge remains up-to-date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development.

All United Kingdom registered doctors are also expected to meet the professional standards set by the General Medical Council (GMC). In 2012, the GMC introduced revalidation, which supports doctors in regularly reflecting on how they can develop or improve their practice.

The training curricula for postgraduate trainee doctors is set by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), and has to meet the standards set by the GMC. The RCGP provides a number of resources on cancer prevention, diagnosis, and care for GPs, relevant for the primary care setting.

Improving diagnosis rates and access to treatment are key priorities for the Government for all cancer types, including rare and less common cancers.

We are improving public awareness of cancer signs and symptoms, streamlining referral routes, and increasing the availability of diagnostic capacity through the roll-out of more community diagnostic centres. We are also investing an additional £889 million in GPs to reinforce the front door of the National Health Service, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade.

We are committed to ensuring that GPs have the right training and systems to identify cancer. Use of specific clinical decision support tools are agreed at a local level.

The recently announced National Cancer Plan, which will complement the 10-Year Health Plan and support delivery of the Government’s Health Mission, will set out further actions to improve diagnosis, including for rare and less common cancers. The plan will also provide further details on how we will ensure patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, ultimately bringing this country’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_68
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_68

Mrs Sharon Hodgson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason (a) Valproate redress and (b) interim payments are delayed. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government is carefully considering the valuable work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and the resulting Hughes Report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex area of work, involving several Government departments. We will be providing an update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report at the earliest opportunity.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_69
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_69

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May to Question 51955 on Electronic Cigarettes: Young People, what estimate he has made of the number of very high puff-count vaping devices which (a) are refillable and rechargeable and (b) contain a replaceable coil are available on the UK market. \p Ashley Dalton: The ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes came into force on Sunday 1 June. It is therefore too early to make a reliable estimate of the number of high-puff count vaping devices which are refillable, reusable, and which contain a replaceable coil.

However, we are aware of a number of high-puff count vapes that are not captured by the single-use vape ban. The Department is taking powers through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill that will enable regulation of any high puff vape that is not captured by the ban. The bill provides powers on product features that allows the Government to regulate the size of a tank or refill container, and the amount of liquid that can be included, as well as powers to standardise the size and shape of vapes, and to further restrict liquid availability. In addition, the bill contains powers that allow us to regulate the amount of nicotine in a puff, so the Government is able to restrict the nicotine not only in the tank, but also the nicotine that can be emitted in the vapour.

The Government will consider this issue further as part of its secondary legislation programme after Royal Assent of the bill.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_70
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_70

Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of implementing awareness campaigns on the (a) signs and (b) symptoms of cancer in (i) teenagers and (ii) young adults. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS England and other National Health Service organisations, nationally and locally, publish information on the signs and symptoms of many different types of cancer, including those that are most common in teenagers and young adults. Further information on cancer signs and symptoms is available at the following link:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/cancer/

NHS England runs Help Us Help You campaigns to increase knowledge of cancer symptoms and address the barriers to acting on them, to encourage people to come forward as soon as possible to see their general practitioner. The campaigns focus on a range of symptoms as well as encouraging body awareness to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers at an earlier point.

On 4 February 2025, the Department relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce to identify tangible ways to improve outcomes and experiences for young cancer patients. The work of the taskforce is ongoing, and officials are exploring opportunities for improvement across a range of areas, including detection and diagnosis, genomic testing and treatment, research and innovation, and patient experience. The taskforce will also ensure that the unique needs of children and young people, including teenagers and young adults with cancer, are carefully considered as part of the National Cancer Plan.

For these reasons, the Department has not made a formal specific assessment of the potential merits of implementing awareness campaigns on the signs and symptoms of cancer in teenagers and young adults.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_71
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_71

Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of an (a) centralised and (b) nationwide case-finding programme to identify people at high risk of (i) developing and (ii) inheriting less survivable cancers. \p Ashley Dalton: The National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) has committed to developing a National Inherited Cancer Predisposition Register (NICPR) as part of its 2024 to 2027 strategy, building on the work to establish the National Lynch Registry. The NICPR will launch on 30 June, and will look at a wider range of cancers for which there is an increased inherited risk, including for less survivable cancers. It will identify high-risk individuals who are eligible for targeted screening and surveillance, and will act as an electronic referral route into national screening programmes where these exist, for instance Lynch syndrome and bowel screening.

The NICPR is also a key commitment in the Rare Disease Action Plan for England, with NDRS in NHS England as the lead delivery partner, further highlighting its relevance to improving care for people with rare inherited cancer risk.

NHS England is also working on case-finding approaches for less survivable cancers, where the evidence suggests this is appropriate. It is currently developing a public-facing Family History Checker, which enables people and their families affected by pancreatic cancer to self-assess if they may inherit risk. Individuals identified as being at risk are referred directly to the European Registry of Hereditary Pancreatic Diseases research trial, which aims to understand inherited conditions of the pancreas. Referrals to the trial can be made by any healthcare professional across all health sectors or by individuals via self-referral, contributing to a centralised approach to case-finding.

As part of our National Cancer Plan, we have been working with members of the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce, a group of charities focusing on cancers with poor survival rates, to identify how we can improve diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes for less survivable cancers.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_72
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_72

Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 38918 on Cancer: Young People, what steps (a) his Department and (b) the National Institute for Health and Care Research has taken to (i) enrol 50 per cent of young people with cancer into clinical trials by March 2025 and (ii) publish data on this target. \p Ashley Dalton: To support the delivery of this ambition, the Department, through NHS England, has put in place new national service specifications, covering both Principal Treatment Centre and associated Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) Designated Hospital provision, and has established networks to oversee pathways of care, coordinate clinical trial access, and develop local strategies to increase clinical trial recruitment. Alongside this, NHS England has also introduced a metric to monitor trial participation within the TYA Cancer Quality Dashboard.

The Department-funded National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funds research and research infrastructure, which supports patients and the public to participate in high-quality research, including clinical research for teenagers and young adults with cancer.

The Department does not hold data on the overall percentage of children and young people with cancer that are enrolled into clinical trials nationwide, but does collect data on general participation through NIHR funded research infrastructure. The Department reports on this data where it is appropriate to do so.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_73
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_73

Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 38918 on Cancer: Young People, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of collating England-wide data on the participation of young adults in cancer clinical trials led by the National Institute of Health Research and funded by his Department. \p Ashley Dalton: The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) does collect data on participation in clinical trials through NIHR funded research infrastructure, including the participation of young adults. The Department reports on this data where it is appropriate to do so.

This data provides insights into the volume and demographics of participants, the types of studies being conducted, and the levels of engagement across different regions and specialties. This includes information gathered via the Research Delivery Network, Biomedical Research Centres, and other NIHR-supported facilities.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_74
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_74

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 54075 on Care Homes: Fylde, how many care homes have been subject to regulatory action by the Care Quality Commission under Regulation 18 in the last three years in Fylde constituency . \p Ashley Dalton: In the last three years, the Care Quality Commission has issued Action Plan requests, previously called Requirement Notices, for breach of Regulation 18 on three care homes: Rathmore Care Home; Villarose Rest Home; and Windmill Lodge.

There are currently no regulatory actions against Regulation 18 (Staffing) for care homes in the Fylde parliamentary constituency.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_75
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_75

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve services for people living with Parkinson’s disease in South Suffolk constituency. \p Ashley Dalton: At the national level, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with Parkinson’s disease in England, including the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit. These initiatives will help to improve services for people living with Parkinson’s disease in South Suffolk.

NHS England has also established a Neurology Transformation Programme, a multi-year, clinically led programme, which has developed a new model of integrated care to support integrated care boards (ICBs) to deliver the right service, at the right time, for all neurology patients, including those with Parkinson’s. This focuses on providing access equitably across the country, with care as close to home as possible and early intervention to prevent illness and deterioration in patients with long-term neurological conditions. A toolkit is being developed to support ICBs to understand and implement this new model, which will include components on delivering acute neurology services, improving health equity in neurology, and improving community neurology services.

NHS England commissions the specialised elements of Parkinson’s care that patients may receive from 27 specialised neurology centres across England. Within specialised centres, neurological multidisciplinary teams ensure that patients can access a range of health professionals and specialised treatment and support, according to their needs. NHS England is updating the Neurosciences specialised neurology (adults) service specification, which will: set out clear deliverables for specialised centres; provide a clearer model of care incorporating up-to-date guidance and best practice; and set out new quality outcomes focusing on improving patient outcomes and experience. We are expecting the revised specification and standards to be published later in 2025.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_76
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_76

Tom Rutland:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Food Standard Agency’s official control charges on the viability of small and medium-sized abattoirs. \p Ashley Dalton: Information on the 2025/26 charge rates for official controls, inspections, conducted in meat premises is available on the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) website, at the following link:

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/charges-for-controls-in-meat-premises

As in previous years, the impact of the charges will be offset by a taxpayer-funded discount, which provides the greatest proportional support to smaller businesses. The impact of the discount on differently sized food businesses in England and Wales for 2025/26 is set out in the Cost Data Slides that the FSA has published.

The FSA is currently conducting an evaluation of the discount and will assess the impact of any changes it might propose in light of this evaluation. No decisions have yet been taken.
wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_77
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-11 conversation_77

Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Written Statement of 22 May 2025 on Childhood Obesity, HCWS652, what his distinction is between a product and a brand. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government is committed to implementing advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on television and online, as part of its ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.

Advertising restrictions for less healthy food or drink will be determined by whether a television channel or video-on-demand service is regulated by Ofcom. All Ofcom-regulated services, whether broadcast or delivered over the internet, will be subject to a 9:00pm watershed. All other internet-delivered television services will be subject to the 24-hour restriction.

We announced in a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament on 22 May that the Government will set out in legislation an explicit brand exemption from the advertising restrictions for brand advertising that does not identify a less healthy food or drink product. This will provide legal clarification on this aspect of the existing policy as it was understood and agreed by Parliament during the passage of the Health and Care Bill, following extensive consultation.