Written Corrections
Ministerial Corrections
Health and Social Care
(1 day, 8 hours ago)
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Dr Caroline Johnson
The Minister talked about less-than-full-time training, which has obviously had an impact on the number of doctors we need. The Secretary of State said before the general election that if Labour was elected, it would double the number of medical school places. Is that still the Government’s intention?
Stephen Kinnock
Yes, that is the Government’s intention. Obviously, we have had some challenges in April around our hope that we could create 1,000 additional places. We have not been able to do that, unfortunately, because of the reckless decision of the BMA to go back out on strike. The absorption of huge capacity, as well as operational issues, has meant that we have not been able to do that.
[Official Report, 22 April 2026; Vol. 784, c. 133WH.]
Written correction submitted by the Minister for Care, the hon. Member for Aberafan Maesteg (Stephen Kinnock):
Stephen Kinnock
This Government have never committed to doubling medical school places. Obviously, we have had some challenges in April around our hope that we could create 1,000 additional places. We have not been able to do that, unfortunately, because of the reckless decision of the BMA to go back out on strike. The absorption of huge capacity, as well as operational issues, has meant that we have not been able to do that.
Dr Johnson
I thank the Minister for that answer, but I believe that it relates to postgraduate training places. I was asking whether it is still the intention to double the number of medical school places?
Stephen Kinnock
Sorry; I misunderstood the question. Yes, it is still our intention to double the number of medical school places.
[Official Report, 22 April 2026; Vol. 784, c. 134WH.]
Written correction submitted by the Minister for Care, the hon. Member for Aberafan Maesteg (Stephen Kinnock):
Stephen Kinnock
Sorry; I misunderstood the question. This Government have never committed to doubling medical school places.
Maternity Care
The following extract is from Health and Social Care questions on 14 April 2026.
Mike Kane
The nation should be grateful for this Secretary of State and for what he is doing for maternal services, yet at Wythenshawe hospital in my constituency, the most recent Care Quality Commission report rated maternity services inadequate for safety. What assurances can the Secretary of State give that the improvements that he has outlined will be felt by mums locally?
Wes Streeting
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to present those issues and to be honest about the challenges that have been raised in his local trust. I assure him that following an inspection by the CQC, NHS trusts take action to address the recommendations cited in the report. Already, £40 million in funding has been allocated to Wythenshawe hospital to ensure that safety issues are addressed, with work scheduled for completion by 2028.
[Official Report, 14 April 2026; Vol. 783, c. 674.]
Written correction submitted by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the right hon. Member for Ilford North (Wes Streeting):
Wes Streeting
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to present those issues and to be honest about the challenges that have been raised in his local trust. I assure him that following an inspection by the CQC, NHS trusts take action to address the recommendations cited in the report. Already, £21.25 million in funding has been allocated to Wythenshawe hospital between 2023-24 to 2025-26 to ensure that safety issues due to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete are addressed, with work scheduled for completion by 2028.
Transport
(1 day, 8 hours ago)
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Jim Shannon
First of all, I thank the Minister for those suggestions and for the direct help from Government. I know that this is not in the Minister’s remit, but I ask her to ringfence the moneys being sent to Northern Ireland in Barnett consequentials, because if they are ringfenced, they go to where they should be.
Lilian Greenwood
I note the hon. Member’s question, and I understand that support is provided to mountain rescue services within Northern Ireland, but that is a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.
[Official Report, 22 April 2026; Vol. 784, c. 167WH.]
Written correction submitted by the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Nottingham South (Lilian Greenwood):
Lilian Greenwood
I note the hon. Member’s question, and I understand that support is provided to voluntary search and rescue services within Northern Ireland, but that is a matter for the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland.
Education
(1 day, 8 hours ago)
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Josh MacAlister
The Secretary of State has made a written statement to the House this morning confirming the timing of the commencement of the higher education free speech complaints scheme and the regulatory conditions. The complaints scheme will be commenced from 1 September this year, and the regulatory powers of the Office for Students from 1 April 2027.
Harriet Cross
I thank the Minister for that update. The scheme is long overdue, but of course it does not go far enough. Let us take, for example, the case of Brodie Mitchell, who was suspended from Royal Holloway for a spat at a freshers fair. Under the new guidelines, he would not be able to complain directly to the Office for Students. Why is that?
Josh MacAlister
The OfS system in place at the moment allows for students to complain about breaches of freedom of speech. The written statement laid this morning by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is all about expanding that coverage to staff, visiting lecturers and other speakers, as well as ensuring we have a system under which the OfS can go back to institutions and hold them to account.
[Official Report, 20 April 2026; Vol. 784, c. 16.]
Written correction submitted by the Under-Secretary of State for Education, the hon. Member for Whitehaven and Workington (Josh MacAlister):
Josh MacAlister
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education system in place at the moment allows for students to complain about breaches of freedom of speech. The written statement laid this morning by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is all about introducing a new scheme for staff, visiting lecturers and other speakers, as well as ensuring we have a system under which the OfS can go back to institutions and hold them to account.
Jack Rankin
…Why can academics and visiting speakers complain under this proposal, but not students? It is called the Office for Students, or is the Minister planning to rename it “the office for everybody on campus except students”?
Josh MacAlister
As I have said, at the moment students have a route of redress through the Office for Students. The Government have been focused on pulling together an enforceable regime, and it is welcome that both Labour and Conservative Members, across the House, are supportive of action to protect freedom of speech at our universities.
[Official Report, 20 April 2026; Vol. 784, c. 17.]
Written correction submitted by the Under-Secretary of State for Education:
Josh MacAlister
As I have said, at the moment students have a route of redress through the Office of the Independent Adjudicator. The Government have been focused on pulling together an enforceable regime, and it is welcome that both Labour and Conservative Members, across the House, are supportive of action to protect freedom of speech at our universities.
Housing, Communities and Local Government
(1 day, 8 hours ago)
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Miatta Fahnbulleh
On the question of reviewing the protection of public spaces, I am the Minister responsible for green and public spaces, and I am absolutely committed to making sure that such assets are available to all our communities. We are committed to doing a review, and we are very clear that the powers that have been introduced with regard to statutory trusts will not be used until we have concluded that review.
[Official Report, 21 April 2026; Vol. 784, c. 265.]
Written correction submitted by the Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the hon. Member for Peckham (Miatta Fahnbulleh):
Miatta Fahnbulleh
On the question of reviewing the legislative protections of public recreational space, I am the Minister responsible for green and public spaces, and I am absolutely committed to making sure that such assets are available to all our communities. We are committed to doing a review, and we are very clear that the powers that have been introduced with regard to statutory trusts will not be used until we have concluded that review.