theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Mike Tapp: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 (a) the level of terrorist activity in the West Bank and (b) Iran's support for terrorism in the West Bank through weapons smuggling. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK remains concerned by the threat of terrorism in the West Bank and strongly condemns all acts of terrorism. Stability in the West Bank is crucial to ensure any ceasefire in Gaza can last. All sides should work to ensure a lowering of tension in the West Bank at this time. The UK is seriously concerned by the expansion of Israel's operations in the West Bank. We recognise Israel's security concerns, but it must show restraint and ensure its operations are commensurate to the threat posed. The UK has also been clear that Hamas cannot play a role in the future of Gaza. The UK is clear that all parties in Gaza must re-engage with negotiations to get hostages out and secure a permanent end to this conflict.

Iran's long-standing support for terrorist groups across the Middle East, including those active in the West Bank, destabilises the region and jeopardises international security. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have made clear to their Iranian counterparts that Iran must restrain these groups and cease providing them with support.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Ben Lake:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will ask the UN Secretary General to investigate (a) how many allegations of human rights abuses have been made to the Moroccan National Human Rights Council in Western Sahara and (b) whether those allegations have been investigated in each year since 2015. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide, including in Western Sahara. We consistently support the UN efforts to resolve the situation in Western Sahara, and support language in relevant UN Security Council Resolutions that encourages the parties to continue their efforts to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara, including the freedoms of expression and association. We engage regularly with the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General on Western Sahara.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Monica Harding:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on the situation in (a) Gaza and (b) the West Bank. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with all relevant counterparts, including Israeli, on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. He last held discussions with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on 21 March, and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer on 20 March. The UK made statements in the UN Security Council on Thursday 3 April, Friday 21 March and Tuesday 18 March and joined a G7 Foreign Ministers' statement on 14 March. The UK also issued a statement with E3 Foreign Ministers on Friday 21 March calling on all parties to re-engage with negotiations to ensure the ceasefire is implemented in full and becomes permanent.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Susan Murray:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Israel on its requirement for NGOs operating in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories to (a) re-register by September 2025 and (b) submit personal details of their employees. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK is deeply concerned about the potential impact of these new measures on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We have raised with the Government of Israel our concerns about a variety of measures that risk constraining the operating environment for NGOs doing vital work. The UK supports NGOs in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on a range of issues, including those providing humanitarian assistance and promoting and defending human rights.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Monica Harding:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the Prime Minister last had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on the humanitarian situation in (a) Gaza and (b) the West Bank. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Prime Minister spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this year. He welcomed the release of hostages, highlighted that it was vital to ensure humanitarian aid could flow uninterrupted into Gaza, and stressed the need to work towards a permanent and peaceful solution. We continue to make representations to the Government of Israel, including via the Foreign Secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister Sa'ar on 21 March, about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank, including the need to return urgently to a ceasefire and to restore the flow of aid in Gaza, and to ensure civilians are protected across the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Ben Lake:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Morocco on the expulsion of (a) Dolores Travieso Darias, (b) Flora Moreno Ramos and (c) Silvestre Suarez Fernandez from El Aaiun. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office have had no such discussions regarding these three individuals.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Luke Murphy:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the meeting agreed in principle between the Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Commonwealth and United Nations, the Moroccan Ambassador to the UK and representatives of British investors for Paradise Beach Golf Resort will take place. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) 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. On 11 February, I met the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Kingdom and raised PGBR with him 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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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Monica Harding: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 reports of the cessation of the notification and coordination systems for aid workers moving through Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We are deeply concerned that the deconfliction system in Gaza, designed to protect humanitarian workers from harm, is no longer functioning. Gaza remains the most dangerous place for humanitarians in the world, with over 400 killed since 7 October 2023. We are appalled by recent reports of attacks on humanitarian workers, including the UN and Palestine Red Crescent. This is why the UK and France called a Security Council meeting on 28 March on the protection of aid workers in Gaza. Humanitarian personnel must be protected and never targeted. At the UN Security Council meeting on 3 April, we urged Israel to urgently restore effective deconfliction, to allow aid workers them to operate without coming under attack, and conduct thorough investigations into all incidents involving aid workers and medical personnel and ensure accountability for those responsible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Jim Shannon: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 Pakistan's record on implementing human rights commitments under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences on (a) freedom of religion, (b) blasphemy laws and (c) the treatment of religious minorities. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Promoting human rights is a core part of the UK's diplomatic engagement in Pakistan. I raised issues including the rights of religious minorities and blasphemy accusations when I met Pakistan's Minister for the Interior, Talal Chaudhry, on 31 March. Under the UK's Developing Countries Trading Scheme (which replaced the Generalised Scheme of Preferences in 2023), Pakistan benefits from duty free exports on the condition that it ratifies and effectively implements specified international conventions on human rights and environmental degradation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Claire Hanna:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to compensate victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Government reiterates its sympathy for UK victims of Qaddafi-sponsored terrorism, and indeed all victims of the Troubles. The UK's position with regards to victims of Libyan-sponsored Irish Republican Army (IRA) terrorism is that it is the responsibility of the Libyan Government to provide compensation. We will continue to call for Libyan authorities to address the Libyan State's historic responsibility for the Qaddafi regime's support for the IRA.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Dr Rupa Huq:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help promote freedom of religion or belief in community engagement initiatives in Morocco. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK champions Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all. It is our firm opinion that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe. The recently appointed Special Envoy for FoRB, David Smith MP, will play a critical role in promoting this right for all, through and alongside our global diplomatic network, our engagement in multilateral fora, and our important bilateral work. On 25 March, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office officials met and discussed FoRB with the President of the National Human Rights Council of Morocco.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief is taking to help tackle the persecution of religious minorities in Afghanistan. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Envoy works closely with the Minister for Africa and Human Rights, and with other government departments to promote His Majesty's Government's shared priorities on freedom of religious belief for all. He also works with a range of UK and international partners through the Article 18 Alliance. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials regularly press the Taliban to respect the human rights of all Afghans. We extended the mandate of UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett to report on human rights in Afghanistan, including those of minority groups. Ministers and officials engage regularly with a range of Afghans, including religious and ethnic minorities, to ensure our policy and programming reflect the needs of the entire population.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his counterpart in Israel on whether (a) digital services, (b) cyber security and (c) Artificial Intelligence products included in a potential trade agreement have been (i) developed and (ii) deployed during military activities in Gaza and the West Bank. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Israel is an important trading and bilateral partner for the UK and remains a part of our trade negotiation programme but our Free Trade Agreement negotiations with them have not yet restarted.

In September 2024, we suspended export licenses to Israel for use in military operations in the Gaza Conflict. The suspension covers all items that we assess could be used in military operations in Gaza. This does not, however, include exports to the global F-35 programme.

We continue to use our range of diplomatic tools and bilateral dialogues with Israel to discuss issues of concern, including in relation to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to (a) his Israeli counterpart and (b) international bodies on the discovery of aid workers handcuffed in a mass grave in Gaza in March 2025; and whether he plans to call for an independent investigation into these deaths. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We were outraged at the recent deaths of Palestine Red Crescent medics and other humanitarian workers. At the UN Security Council meeting on 3 April, we called for this incident to be investigated fully, transparently and for those responsible to be held to account. We continue to make representations to the Government of Israel to ensure aid workers are protected, to urgently restore deconfliction systems, and to call for full investigations and accountability for the killing of humanitarian workers, including regarding the Palestine Red Crescent Society incident.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Kate Osamor:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his American counterpart on the detention of Mahmoud Khalil. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: This individual does not work for the FCDO and has not done so for over two years. We do not comment on personal matters relating to former members of staff
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK supports (a) normalised relations and (b) peace between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Since day one, this Government has been clear that we need to see an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages cruelly detained by Hamas, better protection of civilians, significantly more aid consistently entering Gaza, and a path to long-term peace and stability. The Foreign Secretary has visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories three times since taking office and has pressed for a resolution, to secure a ceasefire and see the return of hostages.

The UK has always been clear that an immediate ceasefire is just the first step towards a lasting solution to this crisis. All parties must re-engage with negotiations to get hostages out, surge aid, and secure a permanent end to this conflict. Diplomacy, not more bloodshed, is how we get security for Israelis and Palestinians. We must build confidence on all sides that helps sustain the ceasefire and move towards a lasting peace. That requires a political process, and a political horizon towards a two-state solution. Only that over time will ensure the long-term peace and security of both Palestinians and Israelis.
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Andrew Gwynne: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 Israeli military action in southern Lebanon. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK is concerned that Israel is remaining in several strategic locations in Lebanon beyond the 18 February extended ceasefire deadline. We have made clear the ceasefire agreement must be implemented in full, which includes the full withdrawal of the Israeli Defense Forces from Lebanon and deployment by Lebanese Armed Forces in the south. The UK has raised the ceasefire and related issues with Israeli and Lebanese counterparts and will continue to do so.
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Sir Gavin Williamson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has of the potential impact of the increasing role of (a) Russia and (b) China in global nuclear energy exports for the UK's geopolitical interests; and whether he plans to bring forward a strategy to counter their influence in this area. \p Stephen Doughty: All investment involving critical infrastructure is subject to thorough scrutiny and needs to satisfy our robust legal, regulatory, and national security requirements.

The UK takes its national security extremely seriously. The powers we have through the National Security and Investment Act further enhance our ability to intervene if required.

The UK, as a member of nuclear fuels alliance Sapporo 5, is resolved to realise a nuclear fuel supply free from Russian influence and potential political leverage by other countries, and to expand our existing fuel cycle capabilities further to ensure a resilient fuel supply chain of benefit to our international allies.

We continue to invest in domestic fuel cycle capabilities such as our £300 million investment in high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). We are committed to working with our international partners to reduce global dependence on Russian nuclear fuel, as outlined in the Sapporo Agreement (April 2023).
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Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2025 to Question 29899 on Gaza: Energy and Water Supply, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of prioritising Gazan contractors in the rebuilding of Gaza on the economy of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Civil society will be best placed to rebuild their communities, and we must ensure they have the right support. We will be guided by our trusted partners in supporting private sector investment in Gaza's recovery and reconstruction, including considering how to work with Gazan construction agencies. We are exploring ways to support private sector recovery in Gaza and continue to provide ongoing support to monitor, protect and grow the private sector in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and improve the Palestinian trade performance.
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Jack Rankin:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the government of Pakistan on the delivery of a potential international airport in Mirpur, Pakistan. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The delivery of a potential international airport in Mirpur is an internal matter for Pakistani government authorities. Whilst the UK supports the aim of economic development in the region, it is not for the UK to influence decisions around specific infrastructure projects. This issue has not been raised by the Foreign Secretary with Pakistani counterparts.
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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Treaty of Pelindaba, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the transfer of sovereignty over Diego Garcia to Mauritius on the (a) storage, (b) deployment and (c) transit of (i) nuclear weapons and (ii) nuclear-powered vessels at the UK-US base. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Hon Member to the response given to his earlier PQ 18902, which remains the same.
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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Treaty of Pelindaba, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the transfer of sovereignty over Diego Garcia to Mauritius on restrictions on nuclear weapons at the UK-US base. \p Stephen Doughty: As with his previous PQ 44207, I refer the Hon Member to the response given to his PQ 18902, which remains the same.
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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 40738 on Cancer: Health Services, if he will publish the National Cancer Plan before the Spending Review. \p Ashley Dalton: The National Cancer Plan for England will be published in the second half of this year, following the publication of the 10-Year Health Plan and the 2025 Spending Review. We will review cancer funding as part of the forthcoming Spending Review.
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Chris Hinchliff:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all Integrated Care Systems in England commission Maternal Mental Health Services. \p Stephen Kinnock: We recognise how important it is for women with perinatal mental health problems to get the right care and support they need. Women who need support can access specialist perinatal mental health services, including mother and baby units, specialist perinatal community teams, and newly established Maternal Mental Health Services.

Maternal Mental Health Services have been set up to provide care for women with moderate to severe or complex mental health difficulties arising from birth trauma or loss in the maternity and neonatal context.

As of April 2025, 41 Maternal Mental Health Services are live, with services in every integrated care system area in England due to be operational by end of the first quarter of 2025/26.
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Mark Sewards:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support families with children suffering from Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. \p Stephen Kinnock: Commissioning pathways for avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) are locally determined by integrated care boards. All eating disorder teams should work collaboratively with other children and young people’s community teams to address co-occurring conditions as needed.

NHS England recognises the importance of patient-centre care, tailored to meet the needs of children and young people with varied presentations, including ARFID, and the children and young people’s eating disorder guidance is currently being updated to reflect this. The intention is for the updated guidance to increase the focus on early identification of and intervention in eating disorders including ARFID and to highlight the importance of a truly integrated approach which takes account of the needs of the patient, their family and/or carers.
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Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to publish the New Hospital Programme review’s scoring of each hospital’s full business case. \p Karin Smyth: The review into the New Hospital Programme (NHP) did not assess schemes on the basis of full business cases, and not all schemes in the programme have reached this stage of development. Schemes were assessed based on a variety of factors, as set out in the Plan for Implementation, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcome

Schemes were banded and prioritised into upper, middle, and lower thirds, and were then stress tested to generate a delivery schedule for the programme, in compliance with the NHP’s funding envelope.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of anaesthetic training places. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England has funded 70 additional training posts in anaesthesia in 2022, 2023, and 2024. We are committed to training the staff we need, including anaesthetists, to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it.

We will ensure that the number of medical specialty training places meets the demands of the National Health Service in the future. NHS England and the Department will work with stakeholders to ensure that any growth is sustainable and focused in the service areas where the need is greatest.

To reform the NHS and make it fit for the future, we have launched a 10-Year Health Plan as part of Government’s five long-term missions. Ensuring we have the right people, in the right places, with the right skills will be central to this vision.  We will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the amount of money used for primary care expansion from Section 106 agreements. \p Karin Smyth: The Department for Health and Social Care is working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to extend our collective interactions in the planning process, from local plan making to negotiating developer contributions through updates to national guidance. This is alongside determining how developer contributions from new housing developments can be better used towards local health services and infrastructure.

Integrated care boards have been building their capacity and capability, and in some areas working with expertise in NHS Property Services (NHSPS) to support health systems to navigate the planning system, to secure and use monies and other mitigations from developers as part of Section 106 (S106) agreements. The health ask will be considered alongside other priorities that local authorities are responsible for delivering in their area.

National data on the collection and spending of S106 data is limited, with no comprehensive findings published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government since 2020, which makes assessing the trends difficult. The Department for Health and Social Care, NHS England, and NHSPS continue to work together to look at how we negotiate for S106 contributions and ensure that any secured contributions are spent in a timely manner.

Integrated care systems’ estates infrastructure strategies have also been developed to create a long-term plan for future estate requirements and investment for each local area and its needs. These strategies take the existing and future general practice and primary care estate needs into account when considering how best to deliver local services when interacting with local planning authorities on all aspects of the planning process.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of how many (a) operations and (b) procedures are being prevented from happening due to a shortage of anaesthetists. \p Karin Smyth: The Government recognises too many people have been waiting for National Health Service treatment, including for operations. The Government pledged to deliver an additional two million operations, scans and appointments, as a First Step to delivering on the commitment that 92% of patients will wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment, in line with the NHS constitutional standard, by March 2029. We have exceeded this ambition and delivered over three million additional appointments since July 2024.

There is no specific analysis of whether operations or procedures have been prevented. We recognise having the right workforce will be crucial to ensure we continue to make progress. We will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.

We will ensure the NHS has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what consultation he undertook prior to the decision to abolish NHS England. \p Karin Smyth: Through our public consultation on the 10 Year Plan, the Government has shown that we are committed to engaging with the public, patients, and clinicians.

We have heard that those within the system believe it to be broken and in need of reform. Lord Darzi’s independent investigation said that the Government inherited a broken National Health Service. The report stated that the impact of the 2012 reorganisation was ‘disastrous…a calamity without international precedent’. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has also heard from frontline NHS leaders that they are overwhelmed by micromanagement from the top.

The Government is committed to transparency, and once the necessary evaluations are finalised, we will ensure that all relevant information is made accessible to the public.
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Kirith Entwistle:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of abolishing NHS England on the ongoing programme of work on accessible health and care information. \p Karin Smyth: We understand how vital it is to ensure that the communication needs of patients and carers with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss are met by health services.

Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new executive team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to jointly lead this transformation. As we work to bring the two organisations together, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds and will work collaboratively to put plans in place to ensure continuity of care and that there are no risks to patient safety.
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Julia Lopez:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to consolidate estates following the closure of NHS England. \p Karin Smyth: Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new executive team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to jointly lead this transformation.

Whilst this transformation takes place, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds.
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Layla Moran:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of exposure to Diethylstilbestrol on children of women who took that drug while pregnant. \p Karin Smyth: The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency continuously assesses the benefit and risk balance of all medicines, at the time of initial licensing and throughout their use in clinical practice, carefully evaluating any emerging evidence on their benefits and risks.

In 1971, it was recognised that diethylstilbestrol (DES) could cause a distinct type of cancer in the daughters of women who took DES in early pregnancy. Shortly afterwards its use was contraindicated in pregnancy, pre-menopausal women, children, and young adults, and the Committee on Safety of Medicines wrote to all doctors in May 1973 to advise against the use of DES in pregnant and pre-menopausal women.

A small increased risk of breast cancer in women who received DES whilst pregnant was first identified in the 1980s and confirmed in further studies in the 1990s, when a longer follow up of women who had taken DES was available. No increased risk of other cancers has been established, including endometrial cancer or ovarian cancer.

Since 1992, the National Cancer Institute at the US National Institutes of Health has been conducting the DES Follow-up Study of more than 21,000 mothers, daughters, and sons exposed in the womb during the mother’s pregnancy, to better understand the long-term health effects of exposure to DES. The findings of this follow up have been published in scientific literature.

Daughters of individuals exposed to DES are at increased risk of clear cell cancer of the cervix and vagina. The current advice from the UK Health Security Agency, formerly Public Health England, is that routine cervical screening is appropriate for those who believed they were exposed to DES in utero. Further information on the UK Health Security Agency’s advice is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cervical-screening-programme-and-colposcopy-management/5-screening-and-management-of-immunosuppressed-individuals

Participation in the National Breast Screening Programme is also recommended. Pregnant women who know that they were exposed in utero to DES should inform their obstetrician and be aware of the increased risks of ectopic pregnancy and preterm labour.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support and expand Urgent Community Response teams. \p Stephen Kinnock: Increasing access to urgent community response (UCR) services is a requirement within the 2025/26 NHS Operational Planning guidance, with integrated care board plans showing increases in capacity across the country. UCR also features as a key service within the ‘urgent neighbourhood services’ component of the published Neighbourhood Health guidance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will have discussions with Cabinet colleagues on how to support individuals who develop temporomandibular disorder as a result of orthodontic treatment. \p Stephen Kinnock: Information is not held centrally on the number of people with temporomandibular disorder linked to orthodontic treatment.

More widely, the Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on reviewing the eligibility of unpaid carers for (a) legal aid and (b) advocacy; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing funding for respite breaks for unpaid carers. \p Stephen Kinnock: To be eligible for legal aid, which includes advice, assistance, and advocacy, where applicable, generally an applicant’s legal matter must be in scope for legal aid, and they must pass both a merits and a means test. The merits test, for civil legal aid, and the interests of justice test, for criminal legal aid, assess the merits of the case, including the likelihood of success, and the benefit to the applicant. The means test assesses an applicant’s financial eligibility. Unpaid carers that meet the eligibility criteria are eligible for legal aid.

On the potential merits of increasing funding for respite breaks for unpaid carers, local authorities have duties to support people caring for their family and friends. The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of sustainable, high-quality care and support services, including support for carers.

The Better Care Fund includes funding that can be used for carer support, including short breaks and respite services. Local areas determine how the money is best used to support carers, depending on local need and with reference to their statutory responsibilities.

Ministers regularly engage with colleagues in other Government departments on a range of issues.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if will make it his policy that unpaid carers are the central focus of the Independent Commission into Adult Social Care. \p Stephen Kinnock: We are launching an independent commission chaired by Baroness Louise Casey into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service.

The commission is independent. We expect it will engage unpaid carers as part of a national conversation on what adult social care should achieve for people. This will produce recommendations that address major challenges and drive meaningful reform to better meet the needs of everyone, including unpaid carers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Satvir Kaur:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of undiagnosed cardiovascular diseases and conditions in young people; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of undiagnosed cardiovascular diseases and conditions on young people. \p Ashley Dalton: Data on the number of undiagnosed cardiovascular diseases and conditions in young people is not held centrally as these conditions are undiagnosed. The National Health Service, however, offers screening to young persons, those aged under 35 years old, where a family member has suffered from a sudden cardiac death. The charity Cardiac Risk in the Young offers subsidised cardiac screening to all young people aged between 14 and 35 years old and may hold data on the number of young people requesting screening outside of the NHS.

NHS England published in 2017 a national service specification for Inherited Cardiac Conditions (ICC), which defines the standards of care expected from organisations funded by NHS England. This specification covers young adults with previously undiagnosed cardiac disease. The aim of the ICC services is to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of patients with ICCs.

NHS England is currently reviewing this service specification, working with a broad range of stakeholders as part of the review, including NHS clinical experts, the Association of Inherited Cardiac Conditions, Cardiomyopathy UK, Heart Valve Voice, and the British Heart Foundation. NHS England does not have a national audit programme for ICCs, and therefore no treatment data is held centrally.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of (a) commissioning funding of integrated care boards and (b) other funding provided to hospice services. \p Stephen Kinnock: Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. ICBs are responsible for commissioning palliative and end of life care services to meet the needs of their local populations. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance which outlines areas for consideration when commissioning.

Additionally, although not statutory, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published guidance on the service delivery of end of life care. There is an expectation that commissioners and service providers take the guidelines into account when making decisions about how to best meet the needs of their local communities.

Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing National Health Services. The amount of funding each charitable hospice receives varies both within and between ICB areas. This will vary depending on demand in that ICB area but will also be dependent on the totality and type of palliative and end of life care provision from both NHS and non-NHS services, including charitable hospices, within each ICB area.

NHS England has a legal duty to annually assess the performance of each ICB in respect of each financial year and to publish a summary of its findings. This assessment must assess how well the ICB has discharged its functions.

We are, at a national level, also supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. The Government has released the first £25 million tranche of the £100 million of capital funding, with Hospice UK kindly allocating and distributing the money to hospices throughout England. An additional £75 million will be allocated in the coming weeks for use in 2025/26.

Additionally, we are providing £26 million of revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26. This is a continuation of the funding which until recently was known as the children and young people’s hospice grant. NHS England has now communicated the details of the 2025/26 funding allocation and dissemination to individual hospices.

In February, I met with key palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, with a focus on long-term sector sustainability within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan.
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Richard Burgon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of Personal Independence Payment recipients who use that payment to fund social care. \p Stephen Kinnock: A Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is intended to provide a tax-free, cash contribution to help people with a long-term health condition or disability with their additional, disability-related costs. It can be paid at one of eight rates, from between £29.20 and £187.45 a week, depending on the needs arising. It is not means-tested and can be paid in addition to any other support received. PIP can be used by the recipient according to their own needs and priorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 40741 on Health Services: Public Consultation, how many people his Department has recruited to support (a) consultation and (b) engagement on the 10-Year Health Plan. \p Karin Smyth: The Department has not recruited new staff, but has redeployed 14 people from within the organisation, to support both the 10-Year Health Plan consultation and engagement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to extend the swap to stop scheme for smoking cessation; and whether he plans to allocate ring-fenced funding for a future extension of that scheme. \p Ashley Dalton: The Swap to Stop scheme provides local services with vape starter kits to support smokers to quit, alongside behavioural support. The Swap to Stop scheme was launched in November 2023, and has provided local services with vape starter kits to the value of £3.2 million in 2023/24 and £17 million in 2024/25. This funding is ringfenced and is supplementary to the additional £70 million of ringfenced funding for Local Stop Smoking Services, along with existing funding through the Public Health Grant.

The extension of the Swap to Stop scheme for the coming year, 2025/26, was recently announced, with up to £19 million of funding available. Future settlements for this programme are being considered as part of the Spending Review.