Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the National Service Specification for Cleft Lip and/or Palate Services will continue to be delivered in full during the process of merging NHS England into the Department for Health and Social Care.

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

Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new executive team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead the formation of a new joint centre.

We are assessing the full range of current functions across both organisations and options for future allocation. At this stage, it is too early to say what the precise changes in personnel and organisational design will be and how this will impact on the delivery of services for cleft lip and/or palate.

The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and raising the healthiest generation of children ever, and this includes children, young people, and adults with a cleft lip and/or palate.

There are nine specialist services across England that provide lifelong care for individuals with cleft lip and/or palate and non-cleft velopharyngeal dysfunction, offering diagnosis, treatment, and multidisciplinary support from before birth into adulthood.

NHS England’s Service Specification for Cleft Lip and Palate Services, a copy of which is attached, includes optimal timelines for carrying out cleft lip and palate surgeries. National data indicates that there is national variation linked to surgery timings. Consequently, NHS England’s Specialised Surgery in Children Clinical Reference Group has been developing a collaborative programme of work with individual services, integrated care boards, and the Cleft Development Group. The Cleft Development Group is made up of active clinical staff from cleft services, Public Health Consultants, and patient representatives.

The programme of work has only just commenced and will report back progress to NHS England’s Delegated Commissioning Group in December 2025.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the National Service Specification for Cleft Lip and/or Palate Services is being delivered in full by NHS England.

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

Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new executive team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead the formation of a new joint centre.

We are assessing the full range of current functions across both organisations and options for future allocation. At this stage, it is too early to say what the precise changes in personnel and organisational design will be and how this will impact on the delivery of services for cleft lip and/or palate.

The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and raising the healthiest generation of children ever, and this includes children, young people, and adults with a cleft lip and/or palate.

There are nine specialist services across England that provide lifelong care for individuals with cleft lip and/or palate and non-cleft velopharyngeal dysfunction, offering diagnosis, treatment, and multidisciplinary support from before birth into adulthood.

NHS England’s Service Specification for Cleft Lip and Palate Services, a copy of which is attached, includes optimal timelines for carrying out cleft lip and palate surgeries. National data indicates that there is national variation linked to surgery timings. Consequently, NHS England’s Specialised Surgery in Children Clinical Reference Group has been developing a collaborative programme of work with individual services, integrated care boards, and the Cleft Development Group. The Cleft Development Group is made up of active clinical staff from cleft services, Public Health Consultants, and patient representatives.

The programme of work has only just commenced and will report back progress to NHS England’s Delegated Commissioning Group in December 2025.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish the data sets and methods that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) used to calculate the vaccine effectiveness estimates that informed the cost-effectiveness estimates on which the JCVI’s advice for a COVID-19 vaccination programme in autumn/winter 2025 was based.

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

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVI) advice on COVID-19 vaccination in 2025 and spring 2026 was published on 13 November 2024.

The advice was based on a cost-effectiveness study of COVID-19 vaccination by the University of Warwick, published in the journal Vaccine in February 2025 by Keeling et al. The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) vaccine effectiveness estimates were used by the University of Warwick in their cost-effectiveness analysis.

The data set and methodology used by UKHSA to calculate these estimates were published in the Journal of Infection in July 2024 by Kirsebom et al.

The JCVI continues to keep all United Kingdom vaccination programmes under review as new evidence emerges.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement sustainable draining systems in all new developments to reduce flood risk and enhance biodiversity.

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

The Government is committed to requiring standardised Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in new developments. These should be to designs that cope with changing climatic conditions as well as delivering wider water infrastructure benefits, offer reuse opportunities, reduce run off and help to improve water quality, amenity, and biodiversity. It is also important to ensure appropriate adoption and maintenance arrangements are in place.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Merron on 22 May (HLWS662), what are the reasons why brand advertising is not included in the scope of TV and online advertising restrictions for less healthy food or drink.

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

The Government is committed to implementing advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on television and online, as part of its ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.

The decision to exempt brand advertising from these restrictions was made following consultation, and was understood and agreed by Parliament during the passage of the Health and Care Bill.

The position of the Government has been consistent, and on 7 April we re-confirmed our view that brand advertising is not in scope of this policy, as the legislation only restricts adverts that could reasonably be considered to be for identifiable less healthy products.

Industry raised significant concerns in response to the Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA) draft implementation guidance published for consultation in February. We are aware that many brands have prepared advertising campaigns in good faith ahead of the restrictions’ current coming into force date of 1 October 2025, and remain concerned about how these adverts will be affected by the ASA’s implementation guidance.

There were several meetings between ministers in the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. These discussions culminated in setting out a resolution in our statement of 22 May. We announced that the Government will explicitly exempt ‘brand advertising’ from the advertising restrictions. This is to avoid pigeon-holing brands as less healthy, and instead encouraging brands to reformulate their products and offer healthier options.

Providing this legal clarification on the policy’s intention will provide certainty to industry and will support businesses to invest in advertising with confidence, while ensuring that we deliver on our commitment and protect children from further exposure to junk food advertising and the lifelong harms of obesity.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the reasons why "legal clarification" on brand advertising was deemed necessary in the Written Statement by Baroness Merron on 22 May (HLWS662) and not in the Written Statement by Baroness Merron on 22 April (HLWS587).

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

The Government is committed to implementing advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on television and online, as part of its ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.

The decision to exempt brand advertising from these restrictions was made following consultation, and was understood and agreed by Parliament during the passage of the Health and Care Bill.

The position of the Government has been consistent, and on 7 April we re-confirmed our view that brand advertising is not in scope of this policy, as the legislation only restricts adverts that could reasonably be considered to be for identifiable less healthy products.

Industry raised significant concerns in response to the Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA) draft implementation guidance published for consultation in February. We are aware that many brands have prepared advertising campaigns in good faith ahead of the restrictions’ current coming into force date of 1 October 2025, and remain concerned about how these adverts will be affected by the ASA’s implementation guidance.

There were several meetings between ministers in the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. These discussions culminated in setting out a resolution in our statement of 22 May. We announced that the Government will explicitly exempt ‘brand advertising’ from the advertising restrictions. This is to avoid pigeon-holing brands as less healthy, and instead encouraging brands to reformulate their products and offer healthier options.

Providing this legal clarification on the policy’s intention will provide certainty to industry and will support businesses to invest in advertising with confidence, while ensuring that we deliver on our commitment and protect children from further exposure to junk food advertising and the lifelong harms of obesity.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Merron on 22 May (HLWS662), what discussions were held between the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the decision to delay the legislation to regulate unhealthy food and drink advertisement on TV.

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

The Government is committed to implementing advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on television and online, as part of its ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.

The decision to exempt brand advertising from these restrictions was made following consultation, and was understood and agreed by Parliament during the passage of the Health and Care Bill.

The position of the Government has been consistent, and on 7 April we re-confirmed our view that brand advertising is not in scope of this policy, as the legislation only restricts adverts that could reasonably be considered to be for identifiable less healthy products.

Industry raised significant concerns in response to the Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA) draft implementation guidance published for consultation in February. We are aware that many brands have prepared advertising campaigns in good faith ahead of the restrictions’ current coming into force date of 1 October 2025, and remain concerned about how these adverts will be affected by the ASA’s implementation guidance.

There were several meetings between ministers in the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. These discussions culminated in setting out a resolution in our statement of 22 May. We announced that the Government will explicitly exempt ‘brand advertising’ from the advertising restrictions. This is to avoid pigeon-holing brands as less healthy, and instead encouraging brands to reformulate their products and offer healthier options.

Providing this legal clarification on the policy’s intention will provide certainty to industry and will support businesses to invest in advertising with confidence, while ensuring that we deliver on our commitment and protect children from further exposure to junk food advertising and the lifelong harms of obesity.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will include (1) creating alternative diagnostic pathways for people with signs and symptoms of cancer, and (2) expanding direct patient access to diagnostics, as part of the national cancer plan.

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

The National Cancer Plan will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, as well as prevention, research, and innovation. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care, including improving diagnostic performance.

We are committed to transforming diagnostic services and will support the National Health Service to increase diagnostic capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new capacity, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners.

Full roll out of non-specific symptom (NSS) pathways, designed to speed up the diagnosis of cancer, has been achieved across England. NSS pathways introduce a route to possible diagnosis for patients who display symptoms that could indicate cancer, but which do not align to specific cancers. The new non-specific pathway complements current cancer diagnostic pathways, as well as providing elements that can be applied to existing pathways.

Additionally, general practice (GP) direct access enables GPs to directly request diagnostic tests, including several imaging modalities, such as ultrasound, x-ray, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, rather than first requiring a patient be referred to a specialist in an outpatient appointment. Performing diagnostic tests at this stage ensures that patients receive test results more quickly.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government how many post implementation reviews completed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs since October 2024 entailed consultation with external stakeholders.

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

As of 10 June 2025, Defra has completed 42 post implementation reviews since October 2024. Of these, 36 involved consultation and engagement with external stakeholders. Methods included targeted stakeholder surveys, questionnaires, and interviews in addition to evidence gathered in the course of business-as-usual stakeholder engagement and wider policy consultations.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the proposed Common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area with the European Union will include provisions to restrict or ban the use of added nitrites in processed meats, in the light of scientific evidence linking nitrites to cancer.

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

As outlined in the 19 May UK-EU Summit common understanding document, an SPS Agreement will cover sanitary and phytosanitary standards and controls and also wider agrifood rules related to food labelling, organics, and key marketing standards and compositional standards- as well as pesticides. The details of the Agreement are subject to negotiation, but the Government is committed to high food standards.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will ask the Office for Budget Responsibility to examine cancer trends in the next report about fiscal risks and sustainability, with a focus on the economic implications of early intervention.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is required to prepare an analysis of the sustainability of the public finances annually, known as a Fiscal Risks and Sustainability Report (FRS), as set out in the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act (BRNAA) 2011.

The OBR is an independent body and the BRNAA requires that the OBR performs its duties objectively, transparently and impartially. As a result, the content of the FRS is determined independently by the OBR. Previous reports by the OBR have covered health-related risks. For example, the 2024 FRS included a chapter on long-term health trends [1].

The next FRS will be published on 8 July 2025 [2].

[1] Fiscal risks and sustainability report, Office for Budget Responsibility, September 2024.

[2] Fiscal risks and sustainability 2025 due 8 July, Office for Budget Responsibility, May 2025.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have received from lenders asking for higher funding limits under the Growth Guarantee Scheme, and what plans they have to extend funding limits for lenders under the Scheme.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government and the British Business Bank maintain constant dialogue with Growth Guarantee Scheme Delivery Partners to ensure the terms and capacity of the Scheme remain appropriate. With the announcement of resources to facilitate an additional £500 million of lending through the Scheme to businesses affected by turbulence in global trade, the British Business Bank are working with Delivery Partners on how best to allocate this additional capacity. Funding allocations for future years are subject to negotiation.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that inflation-linked benefits and tax credits for 2026–27 will be uprated in line with the consumer prices index rate of inflation for September.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Social Security Administration Act 1992 requires the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to review benefit and State Pension rates each year to see if they have retained their value in relation to the general level of prices or earnings. Where the relevant benefit or State Pension rates have not retained their value, legislation provides that the Secretary of State is required to, or in some instances may, up-rate their value. Following this review, benefit and State Pension rates are increased in line with statutory minimum amounts and others are increased subject to Secretary of State’s discretion.

By convention, these discretionary benefits are typically increased annually in line with the increase in prices as measured by the increase in CPI in the year to September. The outcome of Secretary of State’s statutory up-rating review will be announced in the Autumn. The Uprating Order, which seeks Parliamentary approval of her decisions, is usually laid upon return from recess in January and the new rates will enter into force from 6 April 2026.

Tax Credits ended 5 April 2025.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the British Business Bank regarding the expansion of the Growth Guarantee Scheme.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Growth Guarantee Scheme plays a vital role in helping more businesses access affordable finance for growth and investment, which is why the Government provided resources to facilitate an additional £500 million of lending through the Scheme to businesses affected by turbulence in global trade. DBT and HMT officials work closely with British Business Bank counterparts to ensure the Scheme’s terms and parameters remain effective and impactful.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the closure of sandeel fisheries in the English North Sea is permanent.

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

In March 2024, and following a public consultation, the UK and Scottish Governments closed English waters of the North Sea and all Scottish waters to sandeel fishing. The closure will shield sandeel as an essential food source for commercially valuable fish, threatened seabird populations and for marine mammals. The EU has raised a dispute that the UK’s decision to prohibit fishing for sandeel within UK waters is not compliant with the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). The Permanent Court of Arbitration found the UK was successful in three of four claims including Scotland successfully defending the permanent closure of fishing for sandeel in Scottish waters. The Arbitration Tribunal determined there was a procedural error in the decision-making process to close English waters to sandeel fishing, in that, the UK did not have sufficient due regard to the EU and the principle of proportionality, as required by the TCA. The Government is presently bringing the UK into compliance with the tribunal’s ruling.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the ruling of the Arbitration Tribunal in The EU v The UK [Permanent Court of Arbitration Case 2024-45], on what date they submitted the measures they have taken to comply with the ruling of the tribunal to the EU.

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

The UK is currently taking steps to come into compliance and will be notifying the EU of the measures the UK has taken in due course. As part of the decision-making process, it is important that the UK considers the Tribunal’s ruling and that the policy decision weighs and balances considerations in relation to the adjustment period, and also the outcomes agreed between the EU and UK on 19th May as part of the UK-EU Summit.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have conducted a comparative analysis of the approaches taken by the UK and Scottish Governments on the closure of sandeel fisheries in their respective territorial waters.

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

The Government is presently considering its response to the Tribunal’s ruling and I cannot therefore comment in detail on the work we are doing to bring the UK into compliance.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the eligibility for the respiratory syncytial virus vaccination to include people aged over 80, clinical risk groups, and immunocompromised populations.

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

During the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) meeting of 5 February 2025, the Department confirmed that any extension to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme, including to those aged 80 years old and above as well as other groups, would require an impact and cost effectiveness analysis.

Based on the burden data and the real-world studies, the JCVI considered that extending the programme required more evidence on the duration of protection, and how this might impact cost effectiveness.

The JCVI met again on 4 June 2025 and RSV was one of the agenda items discussed. Minutes of the JCVI’s meetings are usually published within six weeks, and are publicly available on the GOV.UK website, in an online only format.

The committee keeps all vaccine programmes under review and will continue to update its advice as new evidence emerges. The Department will consider any future JCVI advice on who should be offered an RSV immunisation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Food Standards Agency’s position on the use of added nitrites in processed meats; and whether they intend to review current UK food additive regulations in line with evolving EU standards

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

The Government supports the stance of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which is the regulator for food safety in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The FSA considers that the existing levels of these approved food additives provide sufficient protection for consumers. The FSA is aware of the changes made by the European Union, but has no plans to alter the maximum levels currently in legislation, because they remain important preservatives in a range of foods. As with all food additives, they have undergone safety assessments before authorisation and have been subject to various reviews both at a national and international level.

The Government advises consumers to reduce overall meat consumption, both red meat and cured meats, as part of a healthy balanced diet.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the report published on 21 May by the Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit, Saving Babies' Lives Progress Report 2025, what assessment they have made of the proposed future commitments to reduce the rates of (1) stillbirth, (2) neonatal death, and (3) preterm birth, by 2035.

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

The Government is determined to make sure all women, babies, and families receive safe, personalised, and compassionate care, regardless of background, location, or ethnicity.

Whilst there has been good progress in reducing the rates of stillbirth and neonatal death, we know much more needs to be done. We are looking carefully at what comes beyond the National Maternity Safety Ambition to ensure that we take an evidence-based approach, ensuring any targets are backed by action, are women and baby-centered, and focused squarely on tackling inequalities. As part of this, we are currently taking into consideration the recommendations in Sands and Tommy’s Saving Babies’ Lives 2025 Report.

On 23 June we announced a National Independent Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services, which will look at areas where families have repeatedly experienced issues including accountability, leadership and culture, inequalities, listening to women, and how the system responds to failings in care, along with a new Maternity and Neonatal taskforce that will take forward the recommendations of the investigation. We also announced immediate action alongside this, including the development of a maternal care bundle which aims to reduce deaths and serious harm, and reduce inequalities in maternal mortality. The Health Mission and 10-Year Health Plan are also addressing the wider determinants of health and health inequalities.

While we know we need new action to go further, some good progress has been made. NHS England’s Three-Year Plan includes the rollout of version three of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle, which provides maternity units with guidance and interventions to reduce stillbirths, neonatal brain injury, neonatal death, and preterm birth. It also includes initiatives to reduce inequalities, such as initiatives that focus on reducing smoking in pregnancy. As of May 2025, 97% of maternity providers in England were on track to fully implement the latest version of this bundle.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the report published on 21 May by the Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit, Saving Babies' Lives Progress Report 2025, what assessment they have made of inequalities in (1) pregnancy, and (2) baby loss, by (a) ethnicity, and (b) deprivation.

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

The Government is determined to make sure all women, babies, and families receive safe, personalised, and compassionate care, regardless of background, location, or ethnicity.

Whilst there has been good progress in reducing the rates of stillbirth and neonatal death, we know much more needs to be done. We are looking carefully at what comes beyond the National Maternity Safety Ambition to ensure that we take an evidence-based approach, ensuring any targets are backed by action, are women and baby-centered, and focused squarely on tackling inequalities. As part of this, we are currently taking into consideration the recommendations in Sands and Tommy’s Saving Babies’ Lives 2025 Report.

On 23 June we announced a National Independent Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services, which will look at areas where families have repeatedly experienced issues including accountability, leadership and culture, inequalities, listening to women, and how the system responds to failings in care, along with a new Maternity and Neonatal taskforce that will take forward the recommendations of the investigation. We also announced immediate action alongside this, including the development of a maternal care bundle which aims to reduce deaths and serious harm, and reduce inequalities in maternal mortality. The Health Mission and 10-Year Health Plan are also addressing the wider determinants of health and health inequalities.

While we know we need new action to go further, some good progress has been made. NHS England’s Three-Year Plan includes the rollout of version three of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle, which provides maternity units with guidance and interventions to reduce stillbirths, neonatal brain injury, neonatal death, and preterm birth. It also includes initiatives to reduce inequalities, such as initiatives that focus on reducing smoking in pregnancy. As of May 2025, 97% of maternity providers in England were on track to fully implement the latest version of this bundle.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit, Saving Babies' Lives Progress Report 2025, published on 21 May.

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

The Government is determined to make sure all women, babies, and families receive safe, personalised, and compassionate care, regardless of background, location, or ethnicity.

Whilst there has been good progress in reducing the rates of stillbirth and neonatal death, we know much more needs to be done. We are looking carefully at what comes beyond the National Maternity Safety Ambition to ensure that we take an evidence-based approach, ensuring any targets are backed by action, are women and baby-centered, and focused squarely on tackling inequalities. As part of this, we are currently taking into consideration the recommendations in Sands and Tommy’s Saving Babies’ Lives 2025 Report.

On 23 June we announced a National Independent Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services, which will look at areas where families have repeatedly experienced issues including accountability, leadership and culture, inequalities, listening to women, and how the system responds to failings in care, along with a new Maternity and Neonatal taskforce that will take forward the recommendations of the investigation. We also announced immediate action alongside this, including the development of a maternal care bundle which aims to reduce deaths and serious harm, and reduce inequalities in maternal mortality. The Health Mission and 10-Year Health Plan are also addressing the wider determinants of health and health inequalities.

While we know we need new action to go further, some good progress has been made. NHS England’s Three-Year Plan includes the rollout of version three of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle, which provides maternity units with guidance and interventions to reduce stillbirths, neonatal brain injury, neonatal death, and preterm birth. It also includes initiatives to reduce inequalities, such as initiatives that focus on reducing smoking in pregnancy. As of May 2025, 97% of maternity providers in England were on track to fully implement the latest version of this bundle.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government how many fishing vessels are fitted with remote electronic monitoring cameras; what proportion of all fishing vessels this represents; and what, if any, enforcement actions have been taken since their deployment.

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

The enforcement of fisheries management measures and scientific monitoring of fish stocks are devolved policies. In England, Defra is working on a rolling programme where remote electronic monitoring is phased in across different fisheries in stages.

There is currently one vessel volunteering for the early adopter stage of the large pelagic trawler fishery. Further vessels are taking part in technical trials and scientific research projects. Defra is working to recruit volunteers for further priority fisheries and will work with those volunteers to design and test systems ahead of moving to mandatory requirements.

No enforcement actions have been taken as a result of the deployment of remote electronic monitoring on these vessels. Any infringements seen via remote electronic monitoring will however be acted upon in a proportionate way.

Found: Goudie; Baroness Hodgson of Abinger; Lord Hope of Craighead; Baroness Pitkeathley; Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Found: Goudie; Baroness Hodgson of Abinger; Lord Hope of Craighead; Baroness Pitkeathley; Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Found: Aghadrumsee; Baroness Goudie; Lord Hain; Lord McInnes of Kilwinning; Baroness O’Loan; Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Found: Aghadrumsee; Baroness Goudie; Lord Hain; Lord McInnes of Kilwinning; Baroness O’Loan; Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Found: Ireland Scrutiny Committee members also present: Lord Carlile of Berriew; Lord Empey; Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Found: Browning; Lord Crisp; Lord Elliott of Mickle Fell; Baroness Goudie; Lord Hope of Craighead; Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Found: of Mickle Fell; Baroness Goudie; Baroness Hodgson of Abinger; Lord Hope of Craighead; Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Found: Q55 Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: Eóin, you are welcome.

Found: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: What was the response?

Found: Elliott of Mickle Fell; Baroness Goudie; Lord Hope of Craighead; Baroness Pitkeathley; Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Found: Baroness Goudie; Baroness Hodgson of Abinger; Lord Hope of Craighead; Baroness Pitkeathley; Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Found: Goudie; Baroness Hodgson of Abinger; Lord Hope of Craighead; Baroness Pitkeathley; Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Healthcare Workers APPG
Tuesday 10th June 2025

Found: Llinos Medi MP Plaid Cymru Baroness Grey-Thompson Crossbench Lord Hendy KC Labour Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Ireland and the Irish in Britain APPG
Tuesday 10th June 2025

Found: MP Baroness Harris of Richmond Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill Baroness Nicholson Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

University APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour) highlighted the significance of the graduate visa route, especially

Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: The Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick 14. Virendra Sharma MP 15. The Baroness Sheehan 16.

Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: The Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick 14. Virendra Sharma MP 15. The Baroness Sheehan 16.

Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Owatemi MP (Labour) – until March 2024 Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP (Labour) – until March 2024 The Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Baroness Hayman GBE Pauline Latham OBE MP Taiwo Owatemi MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP The Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Baroness Hayman GBE Pauline Latham OBE MP Taiwo Owatemi MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP The Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to contribute

Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Johnson MP Sir Peter Bottomley MP Barbara Keeley Jason McCartney Jessica Morden Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of

Global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Overseas Development Aid: Budget – 27th October 2021 In a Question for Short Debate, Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Whitford Catherine West Barbara Keeley Jo Stevens Jason McCartney Jessica Morden Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Children's Online Safety APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Aaron Bell MP Sarah Dines MP Lord Taylor of Warwick Baroness Newlove Lord Blunkett Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick