theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the time taken to implement gigabit rollout in rural areas on those areas. \p Kanishka Narayan: More than £2.4 billion of Project Gigabit contracts have already been signed to connect over one million more premises with gigabit-capable broadband. These premises fall predominantly in rural areas. As of the end of March 2025, over 1.2 million premises had been upgraded to gigabit-capable broadband through government-funded programmes.

The connections delivered by Project Gigabit benefit rural and hard to reach communities, helping households and businesses access the digital connectivity needed to transform lives and drive economic growth.

We are committed to ensuring 99% of premises receive gigabit coverage by 2032.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

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Dame Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the impact of the AWS outage on 20 October 2025 on Government Digital Services. \p Ian Murray: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is leading Government’s response to the AWS outage that took place on Monday 20 October 2025. DSIT continues to work across government and with businesses to understand the full impacts of the outage. All AWS services were restored on Monday evening and DSIT is in contact with AWS to understand how such events can be mitigated in the future.

The outage affected a number of suppliers and departments, and it will take some time to fully understand the scale of the impact. DSIT will be gathering a full picture of the impact on government in the coming weeks.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will publish the Government Cyber Action Plan this Winter, which will set out a clear approach for the Government and the Wider Public Sector to manage cyber security and resilience incidents.
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Dame Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what proportion of Government cloud services are hosted on (a) AWS, (b) Google and (c) Microsoft infrastructure. \p Ian Murray: The State of Digital Government report estimates up to 60% of the government estate is currently hosted on cloud platforms, mostly using AWS, Microsoft and Google. More granular data on the split between AWS, Google and Microsoft infrastructure is not currently held. However, the Government Digital Service in DSIT is developing a cloud consumption dashboard to provide government with greater visibility of cloud usage and costs across the public sector.
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Laura Kyrke-Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to publish a strategy to advance the use of alternatives to animal testing. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal.

The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year.
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Laura Kyrke-Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to encourage collaboration between (a) industry, (b) researchers, (c) civil society and (d) the public on the most effective non-animal approaches to scientific research. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal.

The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year which will outline how we will encourage collaboration between stakeholders, including industry, researchers, animal welfare organisations and civil society.
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Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when her Department plans to publish the alternative methods to animal testing strategy. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal.

The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods by the end of this year.
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Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies on phasing out animal testing of the Federal Drug Agency's Roadmap to Reducing Animal Testing in Preclinical Safety Studies, published in April 2025. \p Kanishka Narayan: I refer the hon. Member for Newport West and Islwyn to the answer that was provided on 15 May 2025 to Question UIN 51423.
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Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with Sky UK Limited about proposed redundancies at its (a) Leeds, (b) Livingston and (c) Osterley sites. \p Ian Murray: While I engage with a number of stakeholders across the TV industry on issues relevant to the sector, employment decisions are a matter for Sky as an independent company.
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Mr Louie French:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much the Women’s Sport Taskforce (a) has cost her Department since 4 July 2025 and (b) will cost annually. \p Stephanie Peacock: There is no additional cost to the department as a result of the Women’s Sport Taskforce, however, officials within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are allocated to support the Taskforce.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to reduce discrimination faced by people diagnosed with epilepsy in the workplace. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Under the Equality Act 2010 (the Act) protection is available where a worker or job applicant’s condition fits the definition of a disability set out in section 6 of the Act.

Under the Act, a person meets the definition of disability if they have ‘a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’. The Act defines long-term in this context as having lasted, or being likely to last for at least 12 months, or likely to last for the rest of the life of the person.

Where a person meets the Act’s definition of disability, the employment provisions make it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against such employees and applicants. The Act also places a duty on employers to make reasonable adjustments to any element of a job, job application or interview process, which may place disabled people at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people.
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Adam Dance:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of recognising (a) mental health and (b) learning difficulties as separate protected characteristics to disability. \p Sir Stephen Timms: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to PQ 64372
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October to Question 82702 on Terrorism: Northern Ireland, which are the nine cases that will be able to resume. \p Hilary Benn: The provisions of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill set out the criteria for the restoration of a select number of inquests based on their progress through the coronial system at 1 May 2024. These criteria are set out at Clause 84.
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Robin Swann:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Transformation Fund. \p Hilary Benn: The Northern Ireland Office, and Ministers, regularly engage with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Transformation Fund. In particular, through its membership of the Public Sector Transformation Board whose role is to advise and make recommendations on how to use the £235m ring-fenced transformation funding.

Work is on going to identify and allocate remaining funds to further transformative projects in the months ahead.
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Alex Easton:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the impact of being part of the UK on Northern Ireland. \p Hilary Benn: Northern Ireland is a much valued part of the UK and brings an enormous richness to the life of our country. Northern Ireland also benefits hugely from being part of the UK.

For example, the Northern Ireland Executive will receive a record settlement of £19.3 billion per year on average between 2026-27 and 2028-29. This is the largest in the history of devolution, and provides Northern Ireland with over 24% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK.

As part of the UK, Northern Ireland will benefit from: £1.9 billion investment in Belfast defence manufacturing; access to £20 billion UK R&D spending; £2 million funding for Queen's University Belfast's Cyber AI Hub; access to £3 billion in UK-wide funding for the advanced manufacturing sector; £310 million over four years as part of the City and Growth Deals; and at least £30 million as part of the Local Innovation Partnership Fund.
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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Celtic Sea Floating Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5 on economic regeneration in Neath Port Talbot. \p Jo Stevens: The UK Government recognises the major opportunities floating offshore wind presents for Wales and I am determined to ensure that we take full advantage of them.

Gwynt Glas (a joint venture between EDF Renewables and ESB) and Equinor have now entered into Agreements for Lease with The Crown Estate to develop two 1.5GW Floating Offshore Wind farms in the Celtic Sea through the Leasing Round 5 process, in addition to the five floating wind Test and Demonstration projects (totalling 432MW of capacity) already in development in the region. The Crown Estate has confirmed that work is underway on options to deliver a third 1.5GW lease area.

These new windfarms will be among the largest of their kind in the world and have the capacity to deliver enough power for more than four million homes. It is estimated this new industry will support over 5,000 new jobs and deliver a £1.4 billion-pound boost to the UK economy, it will also help deliver transformational change to places like Port Talbot. As part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, the UK Government has reconfirmed up to £80 million for port infrastructure investment in Port Talbot to supporting floating offshore wind and green growth in Wales.
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Michael Wheeler:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will ensure that Parliament is able to adequately scrutinise the delivery of the Child Poverty Strategy. \p Olivia Bailey: This government is committed to tackling child poverty and the Child Poverty Taskforce is developing an ambitious Child Poverty Strategy which will be published in the autumn.

The Strategy publication will set out how we intend to monitor and evaluate delivery of the Strategy from this year and in future years.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to issue guidance to schools and nurseries on the risks posed by counterfeit toys and how to avoid them in procurement or use. \p Olivia Bailey: The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework, which all early years providers are required to follow, requires providers to ensure they take all reasonable steps so staff and children in their care are not exposed to risks, and must be able to demonstrate how they are managing risks.

The department continually monitors and reviews the EYFS safeguarding requirements to make sure children are kept as safe as possible.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards alerts the department when there are concerns with products that may pose a risk to children in early years settings. We then share this information with the sector through our communication channels.
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James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of changing the guidance entitled PE and sport premium: conditions of grant 2024 to 2025, last updated on 23 April 2025, to permit capital expenditure on sports equipment. \p Georgia Gould: As revenue funding, the PE and sport premium grant funding is unable to be used towards capital expenditure. Schools access capital funding through other funding streams.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of adopting single/double summer time on children’s access to after-school (a) sports and (b) outdoor activities. \p Georgia Gould: The government believes the current daylight-saving arrangements represent the optimal use of the available daylight across the UK. Therefore, we have no plans to introduce double summertime, permanent summertime, or other such changes which would require considerable planning and action by business. Since we do not intend to make changes to the existing system, we will not be conducting an assessment of the impact on children’s access to after school sports and outdoor activities.
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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 30971 on Armed Forces: Civil Proceedings, whether the Attorney General’s list of conflicts included legacy-related matters under the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. \p Ellie Reeves: The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has an established and rigorous process for identifying and dealing with conflicts, and potential conflicts, that arise from the Law Officers’ past practice. That process sits against the backdrop of every lawyer’s professional obligation to be alert to, and actively manage, any situation that might give rise to a potential or actual conflict.

This rigorous process for identifying and managing conflicts sits alongside the system relating to ministerial interests, overseen by the Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards. Both the Director General of the AGO and the Independent Adviser were provided with the Attorney General’s list of conflicts following his appointment.

If a Law Officer were to publicly confirm specific matters where they were conflicted, this would infer that legal advice had been requested by the Government on a specific matter, which would risk a breach of the Law Officers’ Convention.

In addition, a lawyer cannot breach a client’s confidentiality in relation to advisory work that had previously not been made public so this would limit the ability of a Law Officer to publish in full their previous caseload and conflicts schedule. In that regard, the Attorney General has been through the same process as previous Law Officers, none of whom have gone as far to proactively disclose their specific conflicts of interest for the reasons set out above.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Solicitor General, what steps her Department is taking to improve prosecution rates for grooming gang offences. \p Ellie Reeves: This Government is committed to tackling all forms of child sexual abuse and exploitation, including grooming gangs, by stamping out these abhorrent crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will always prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children whenever its legal test is met, regardless of how much time has passed since the offending took place.

Between 2021/22 and 2024/25, the CPS has seen a 25% increase in prosecutions for child sexual abuse. These efforts have been grounded in a commitment to safeguarding victims and holding offenders to account. CPS prosecutors who deal with contact child sexual abuse cases receive specialist training which emphasises a trauma-informed and suspect-focused approach to decision-making.

The CPS has a dedicated national Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit (OCSAU) with highly experienced prosecutors leading on the most complex and high-risk cases of child sexual abuse, including those involving grooming gangs. As of June 2025, OCSAU has secured 85 convictions, with a conviction rate of 82.5%. This includes convictions arising from Operation Stovewood, which is the investigation into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013. Each single prosecution represents justice for multiple victims.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much the United Kingdom Health Security Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK Health Security Agency has spent the following amounts on equipment for its staff to work from home in each financial year:
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to improve health outcomes for homeless people. \p Ashley Dalton: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 July 2025 to Question 66125.
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Gill Furniss:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that regions where (a) cancer outcomes are poorer and (b) research infrastructure is historically underfunded receive a fair share of national cancer research investment and clinical trial opportunities. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department is committed to funding health and care research via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) across England, and to ensuring that the research we support is inclusive and representative of the populations we serve.  We know that cancer survival rates are generally lower in people living in more deprived areas.

In 2024, the NIHR made equity, diversity, and inclusion a condition of funding for all domestic research awards. This means applicants must demonstrate how their research will contribute towards the NIHR’s mission to reduce health and care inequalities, with a focus on participant inclusion from diverse populations of the United Kingdom.

NIHR research infrastructure has national coverage across the whole of England. Our infrastructure schemes aim to build research capacity and capability across the country across all geographies and settings. In line with prior commitments, the Department has increased funding for research infrastructure schemes delivering cancer research outside the Greater South East, including Biomedical Research Centres, Clinical Research Facilities, and HealthTech Research Centres.

Through the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN), the NIHR supports 100% of National Health Service trusts in England to deliver research, operating across 12 regions throughout the country. From 2026/27, the RDN will adopt a new national funding model for NHS support costs and research delivery. This will be a consistent, nationally agreed funding distribution model across all regions of England and will reduce regional variations of health research delivery investment, and better enable clinical trial opportunities across all areas, including underserved areas and settings.

The NIHR also provides an online service called Be Part of Research which promotes participation in health and social care research by allowing users to search for relevant studies and register their interest. This makes it easier for people to find and take part in health and care research that is relevant to them.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department provides to the public and healthcare providers on the treatment and prevention of horsefly bites. \p Ashley Dalton: The National Health Service provides advice on insect bites, including those from horseflies, which can be found at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/
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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department provides to (a) GPs and (b) health visitors to aid the early diagnosis of neuroblastoma. \p Ashley Dalton: General practice teams are expected to follow guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Where symptoms are suggestive of neuroblastoma, appropriate referral to a specialist must be made.

Health visitors are not responsible for making diagnoses, but they play a vital role in providing advice and support to families and in recognising when a child may require further clinical assessment. They remain vigilant for signs that could indicate serious health concerns, including cancers, in line with professional guidance and protocols.
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Shivani Raja:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the National Institute for Health and Care Research will report on its evaluation into the Sickle Cell Disorder Emergency Department Bypass Unit pilots. \p Ashley Dalton: The NHS England pilot (Oct 2023 - July 2025) is being independently evaluated by the Rapid Service Evaluation Team (REVAL), which is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and based at the University of Manchester. Preliminary findings are due in September 2025, with full results in December 2025.
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to introduce a cardiovascular disease strategy. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government is committed to ensuring that fewer lives are lost to the biggest killers, including cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The 10-Year Health Plan, published on 3 July, outlines our commitment to publish a Modern Service Framework in 2026 that will identify the interventions with the best evidence, and set standards for and drive innovation in CVD.
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Gill Furniss:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of expanding prehabilitation and rehabilitation services in cancer care on (a) NHS costs and (b) patient outcomes. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department and NHS England are taking a number of steps to support systems to deliver cost-effective, lifesaving prehabilitation and rehabilitation services. Local planning for prehabilitation and rehabilitation services is devolved to National Health Service trusts and Cancer Alliances in their locality.

NHS England has highlighted the positive impact of efficient prehabilitation and rehabilitation on cancer outcomes and the potential for them to lead to cost savings. The PRosPer Cancer Prehabilitation and Rehabilitation learning programme, launched in partnership between NHS England and Macmillan Cancer support, aims to support allied health professionals and the wider healthcare workforce in developing their skills in providing personalised care, prehabilitation, and rehabilitation in the cancer pathway.

The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will look at how we can improve patient outcomes and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, including prehabilitation and rehabilitation services where appropriate.
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Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to (a) help tackle high rates of Group B Strep infection and (b) improve access to (i) screening, (ii) diagnosis and (iii) treatment for Group B Strep infections in (A) Black and (B) Asian (1) women and (2) babies. \p Ashley Dalton: Practitioners are expected to take a risk-based approach to the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of group B streptococcus (GBS). Under current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, pregnant women who are known to carry GBS, or who have risk factors such as a previous baby with GBS infection or fever during labour, should be offered antibiotics during labour to help prevent early-onset infection in their baby.

People from certain ethnic groups may be predisposed to health conditions which may affect their maternity outcomes, and a study led by the UK Health Security Agency did conclude that the rate of GBS was higher in those of black or Asian ethnicity.

To improve understanding, prevention, and treatment of GBS infection, the Department is supporting a trial, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research. It aims to determine whether routine testing for GBS for all women, either in late pregnancy or on admission for labour with point of care testing, reduces early-onset neonatal sepsis compared to the current approach of risk-based screening.

Findings from the trial will be submitted to the Department and reviewed by the UK National Screening Committee to inform future decisions on national screening policy.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 63048 on Blood: Donors, whether he will provide a breakdown of the top 10 countries travelled to by the 4,493 donors deferred due to travel. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England. NHSBT has confirmed that they do not hold the requested data.
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Michael Wheeler:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to increase the recruitment and retention of school nurses; how much funding was allocated for school nursing services in the (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26 financial years; and what steps his Department is taking to help to ensure the effectiveness of school nursing services in supporting (i) early intervention, (ii) mental health, (iii) immunisation programmes and (iv) wider public health objectives. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help improve access to pancreatic specialists in children’s healthcare. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the inclusion of Oxford University Hospitals Trust in the rapid review of NHS maternity services. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Ian Sollom:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department made of the adequacy of services provided to the NHS by AJM healthcare. \p Stephen Kinnock: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the provision and commissioning of local wheelchair services. It is therefore the responsibility of ICBs to review and assess the quality of the provision of their commissioned National Health Service wheelchair services.

As such, we do not currently have any plans to assess the adequacy of the provision of NHS wheelchair services provided by AJM Healthcare. NHS England is taking steps to support ICBs to commission effective, efficient, and personalised wheelchair services. This includes publishing a Wheelchair Quality Framework on 9 April 2025 which sets out quality standards and statutory requirements for ICBs, such as offering personal wheelchair budgets. The framework is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/wheelchair-quality-framework/
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Dorset Integrated Care Board on (a) funding and (b) support for people with learning disabilities in West Dorset constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government wants to better support disabled people, including those with a learning disability, to participate in society and access high quality care and support. Our 10-Year Health Plan sets out the actions we are taking to move care from hospitals to communities and prevent sickness rather than treat it. These reforms will support improved life outcomes for people with a learning disability through more holistic, personalised support. Specific action is also being taken to roll out mandatory training on learning disability for health and social care staff.

My rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has not had specific discussions with the integrated care board (ICB) as described. NHS England typically direct relationships with ICBs.

NHS Dorset has a Learning Disabilities budget of £99.18 million for 2025/2026. This budget covers the community services commissioned through their core contracts, non-contract activity, continuing healthcare commitments, support for individual patients, advocacy and support services, and some service development initiatives including the full implementation of a keyworker service.

In addition, each ICB must have an executive lead for learning disability whose role includes: supporting the board in addressing health inequalities; supporting equal access to care across all health services; and improving overall health outcomes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the 10-year dementia plan leads to a consistent standard of care and support for dementia patients across communities. \p Stephen Kinnock: Our health system has struggled to support those with complex needs, including those with dementia. Under the 10-Year Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services.

We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.

The Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia and will set national standards for dementia care and redirect National Health Service priorities to provide the best possible care and support.

Those with dementia will also benefit from more joined up care through co-created care plans, and by 2027, 95% of those with complex needs will have an agreed care plan.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_17

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much transformation funding for (a) learning disability and (b) autism services NHS England has allocated to integrated care board areas for 2025-26. \p Stephen Kinnock: As set out in NHS England’s Planning Guidance, integrated care boards (ICBs) are expected to work with local system colleagues to ensure that there is high quality and accessible community infrastructure in place for people with a learning disability and autistic people. They should also ensure that admissions to a mental health hospital are for assessment and treatment that can only be delivered in an inpatient setting.

ICBs are planning to spend £3.35 billion on Learning Disability and Autism services in 2025/26. Previous transformation funding for learning disability and autism has been transferred to core ICB funding. This is in line with the objective of giving systems greater financial flexibility to manage constrained budgets, which includes transferring a higher proportion of funding than ever before directly to local systems and minimising ringfencing, allowing local leaders maximum flexibility to plan better and more efficient services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_18

Preet Kaur Gill:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many full time equivalent NHS dentists were employed in (a) Birmingham Edgbaston constituency, (b) Birmingham and (c) the West Midlands in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2024. \p Stephen Kinnock: The following table shows how many full time equivalent (FTE) National Health Service dentists were employed in 2024 within the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB), which includes the Birmingham Edgbaston constituency, as well as regional figures for the Midlands:

Year

Number of FTE dentists employed in the Birmingham and Solihull ICB

Number of FTE dentists employed in the Midlands

2024

337

2,887

Notes:

Data is not held for full time equivalent NHS dentists employed in 2010.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_19

Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the (a) travel distances and (b) levels of public transport in (i) site planning and (ii) service design for neighbourhood health centres in rural areas; and what his timeline is for the rollout of those centres. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government aims to establish a Neighbourhood Health Centre in every community by 2035. Neighbourhood Health Centres will provide easier, more convenient access to a full range of healthcare services.

Nationwide coverage will take time, but we will start in the areas of greatest need where healthy life expectancy is lowest, including rural towns and communities with higher deprivation levels, using public capital to update and refurbish existing, under-used buildings.

We expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations. While the focus on personalised, coordinated care will be consistent, services will look different in rural communities, coastal towns, and deprived inner cities, to reflect local needs.

On 21 July 2025, I wrote to Members of Parliament highlighting that the Department and NHS England have written to integrated care boards and local authorities to invite applications to participate in the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme, to establish a Neighbourhood Health Centre delivery pipeline.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_20

Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that new mental health staff are deployed in areas of greatest demand in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, the Government is recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health workers to help ease pressure on busy mental health services across the NHS, including in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency. More than 6,700 extra mental health workers have been employed since July, as per the latest data.

We are working with NHS England to deliver a refreshed workforce plan, which will revolve around the three shifts to deliver our 10-Year Health Plan: moving more care from hospitals to communities; making better use of technology in health and care; and focusing on preventing sickness, not just treating it.

Responsibility for the onward commissioning of mental health services sits with integrated care boards (ICB). It is the role of local ICB decision-makers to consider the implications of mental health services, specific to each geography and including the perspectives of healthcare professionals, patient advocacy groups, and local authorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_21

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the merits of (a) incentivising GPs nearing retirement to remain in the profession and (b) incentivising retired GPs to return to practice. \p Stephen Kinnock: We will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan to create a workforce ready to deliver a transformed service. They will be more empowered, more flexible and more fulfilled.

The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the best care for patients, when they need it.

From now on, we will ensure that staff will be better treated, have better training, more fulfilling roles, and hope for the future, so they can achieve more.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_22

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to commission an independent review of how severity is defined in NICE appraisals and its effect on access to new cancer drugs. \p Karin Smyth: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is responsible for the methods and processes that it uses in the development of its recommendations. The severity modifier was introduced in January 2022 as part of a number of changes intended to make NICE’s methods fairer, faster, and more consistent.

NICE carried out a review of the implementation of the severity modifier in September 2024 and found that it is operating as intended. This showed that the proportion of positive cancer recommendations is higher, at 84.8%, than with the end-of-life modifier it replaced, at 75%, and the proportion of positive recommendations for advanced cancer treatments is also higher, 81.1% compared to 69%.

NICE has commissioned research to gather further evidence on societal preferences that will inform future method reviews.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_23
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_23

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2025 to Question 28133 NHS Business Services Authority: Workplace Pensions, whether the Pensions regulator has required the NHS Business Services Authority to remedy the (a) errors and (b) delays in NHS pensions. \p Karin Smyth: The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) is in regular contact with The Pensions Regulator to report on the delivery of the McCloud remedy. They are following all advice, guidance, and recommendations put forward by the regulator.

The NHSBSA has taken all available steps to bring in external support to boost its statement production capacity. It has also recruited significant numbers of staff and is reprioritising existing staff to support the implementation of the McCloud remedy. The Pensions Regulator is aware of the proactive measures that the NHSBSA is taking to rectify any previous statements where necessary.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_24

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to publish (a) a consultation and (b) an impact assessment before implementing regulations affecting non-medical aesthetic practitioners. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to taking action to address longstanding concerns about the safety of the cosmetics sector and has been exploring options for further regulation in this area. In doing so, the Government recognises the contribution the cosmetics industry makes to the economy, the entrepreneurship it fosters, and the employment opportunities it provides. Ministers recognise that Government action in this space must be proportionate if it is to protect the public from harm, whilst not unnecessarily restricting the activities of legitimate businesses. Any future changes to the regulation of the sector would be subject to public consultation, impact assessments, and the parliamentary procedure.

We will set out the details of our approach in our response to the consultation on the licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England, which we will publish at the earliest opportunity.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_25

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he expects the outstanding (a) remedial pension savings statements and (b) remedial service statements to be delivered. \p Karin Smyth: We have commissioned the independent Chair of the NHS Pension Scheme Pension Board to lead an urgent and targeted review of the NHS Business Service Authority’s (NHS BSA) revised plans for the delivery of the McCloud remedy for NHS Pension Scheme members. This will provide an additional level of scrutiny and assurance of the NHS BSA’s delivery plan for the remaining statements. A further Written Ministerial Statement will confirm the new timetable once the review has reported.