Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to ensure eggs imported into the UK will continue to meet the same food safety, traceability and hen welfare standards during the transition to cage-free systems.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal to protect the UK’s most sensitive sectors.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many newly qualified midwives have been supported into employment under the graduate guarantee to date; and how this compares to their initial objective that every newly qualified midwife will have the opportunity to join the health and social care workforce.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to taking a long-term approach to workforce planning, including strengthening the supply and retention of maternity staff as set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. This includes ensuring that newly qualified midwives are supported into employment and that workforce decisions align with both service need and long-term sustainability.

Following an £8 million investment to expand midwifery workforce capacity, more than 850 additional temporary roles have been created to support and employ more newly qualified midwives since September 2025, supporting the Government’s objective that every newly qualified nurse and midwife in England can apply to join the health workforce.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that NHS trusts are not subject to recruitment freezes where they risk compromising delivery of the graduate guarantee.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to taking a long-term approach to workforce planning, including strengthening the supply and retention of maternity staff as set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. This includes ensuring that newly qualified midwives are supported into employment and that workforce decisions align with both service need and long-term sustainability.

Following an £8 million investment to expand midwifery workforce capacity, more than 850 additional temporary roles have been created to support and employ more newly qualified midwives since September 2025, supporting the Government’s objective that every newly qualified nurse and midwife in England can apply to join the health workforce.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government when the lead for children and young people will be appointed to the National Cancer Board; what the process for this appointment will be; and whether stakeholders will be able to contribute to the appointment process.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to continuing its work with key cancer partners to deliver the commitments outlined in the National Cancer Plan. We are also committed to bringing together and coordinating the right people and partners, including charities and the third sector.

A reformed National Cancer Board will be accountable for delivery of the National Cancer Plan, and the first meeting of the board is expected in the coming months, when the full membership has been agreed. The appointment of the lead of children and young people’s cancer will follow in due course and will join the first meeting of the board. Charities and third sector organisations have been crucial to informing the development of the National Cancer Plan and we will continue to involve them throughout its implementation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure charities and the third sector are involved in the delivery and implementation of, and accountability structure for, The National Cancer Plan for England, in particular with reference to children and young people.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to continuing its work with key cancer partners to deliver the commitments outlined in the National Cancer Plan. We are also committed to bringing together and coordinating the right people and partners, including charities and the third sector.

A reformed National Cancer Board will be accountable for delivery of the National Cancer Plan, and the first meeting of the board is expected in the coming months, when the full membership has been agreed. The appointment of the lead of children and young people’s cancer will follow in due course and will join the first meeting of the board. Charities and third sector organisations have been crucial to informing the development of the National Cancer Plan and we will continue to involve them throughout its implementation.