Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential for appointing a specialist allergy nurse and dietitian in each Integrated Care System area.

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

No assessment has been made of the potential merits of appointing a specialist allergy nurse and dietician in each integrated care system, in which integrated care boards make local decisions about how best to meet the needs of their populations, including for those with allergies.

Work is ongoing across Government, the National Health Service, voluntary organisations, and patient representative groups to consider how allergy care and support could be improved. The Expert Advisory Group for Allergy, which was established in 2023, met again in early December and continues to bring all key stakeholders together to inform policymaking and identify priorities in relation to the care of people with allergies.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention met the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation (NARF) and NHS England in December to discuss how allergy care and support could be improved, and to discuss the NARF’s calls for an allergy tsar who could act as a champion for people with allergies. The Department and NHS England are proactively considering the case for appointing a national lead for all allergy services.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what data they have collected on the scale of exercise-based social prescribing.

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

Social prescribing is a whole population and universal approach that can work particularly well for those managing conditions, which a non-clinical intervention can support.

We do not collect data on the scale of exercise-based social prescribing.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of airspace modernisation in the UK.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Airspace Modernisation Strategy sets out the overarching approach through nine elements that will modernise aircraft-based navigation and airspace management. The Strategy aligns with International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Global Air Navigation Plan to ensure interoperability with neighbouring countries.

Parts 1 and 2 of the refreshed Strategy were published in January 2023 and set out strategic objectives and delivery elements. Part 3, which focuses on the deployment of the design elements, was published in July 2024 and outlines the delivery plans over the next 2 plus 5 years, and a new iteration will be published annually in line with the CAA’s Annual Report.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish their response to the Creating a UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS) consultation, which ran from 22 October 2024 to 17 December 2024.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The consultation on the proposed UK Airspace Design Service has now closed. The Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority are carefully considering the responses received to help inform the next stages of this project. The Government will set out its plans and the next steps later in 2025.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase public awareness of peripheral arterial disease, its risk factors, and early intervention.

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

The NHS.UK website has publicly available information on the condition, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of peripheral arterial disease, in an online only format. NHS England commissions vascular arterial care from a number of specialist centres to ensure the appropriate management of peripheral arterial disease. The Vascular Disease Clinical Reference Group works closely with Getting It Right First Time, and the respective professional societies, to review patient outcomes and support commissioned providers in the delivery of high-quality care for patients. NHS England also commissioned a two-year Commissioning for Quality and Innovation scheme during 2022 to 2024, which incentivised the adoption of the Vascular Peripheral Arterial Disease Quality Improvement Framework, to support timely interventions for revascularisation.

NHS England also commissions the National Vascular Registry, which provides information on the quality and outcomes of care for adults who had major vascular procedures in National Health Service hospitals. It aims to support vascular services to provide high quality of care for these people, and shares examples of good practice as well as highlighting areas which merit further investigation in order to improve care.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to implement efficient and integrated diagnosis and care pathways for patients with peripheral arterial disease.

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

The NHS.UK website has publicly available information on the condition, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of peripheral arterial disease, in an online only format. NHS England commissions vascular arterial care from a number of specialist centres to ensure the appropriate management of peripheral arterial disease. The Vascular Disease Clinical Reference Group works closely with Getting It Right First Time, and the respective professional societies, to review patient outcomes and support commissioned providers in the delivery of high-quality care for patients. NHS England also commissioned a two-year Commissioning for Quality and Innovation scheme during 2022 to 2024, which incentivised the adoption of the Vascular Peripheral Arterial Disease Quality Improvement Framework, to support timely interventions for revascularisation.

NHS England also commissions the National Vascular Registry, which provides information on the quality and outcomes of care for adults who had major vascular procedures in National Health Service hospitals. It aims to support vascular services to provide high quality of care for these people, and shares examples of good practice as well as highlighting areas which merit further investigation in order to improve care.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to monitor library provision in primary schools.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

School libraries complement public libraries by giving pupils access to a range of books and other kinds of texts, both in and out of school. The national curriculum states that teachers are expected to encourage pupils to develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information. As well as the strong links between reading for pleasure and attainment, there are a number of other positive effects, including improved text comprehension and grammar, increased general knowledge, and character development.

It is for individual schools to decide how best to provide and maintain a library service for their pupils, including whether to employ a qualified librarian. Headteachers have autonomy to decide how best to spend the core schools funding that is allocated to them by the department. The Autumn Budget 2024 announced an additional £2.3 billion for schools for the 2025/26 financial year, compared to 2024/25, bringing the total core schools budget to almost £63.9 billion in 2025/26.

Given this autonomy, the department does not collect information on the number of school libraries or school librarians. ​​

​The government’s reading framework offers non-statutory guidance for teachers and school leaders, including helpful guidance for schools on how to organise their school library, book corner or book stock to make reading accessible and attractive to readers.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of library coverage in primary schools.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

School libraries complement public libraries by giving pupils access to a range of books and other kinds of texts, both in and out of school. The national curriculum states that teachers are expected to encourage pupils to develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information. As well as the strong links between reading for pleasure and attainment, there are a number of other positive effects, including improved text comprehension and grammar, increased general knowledge, and character development.

It is for individual schools to decide how best to provide and maintain a library service for their pupils, including whether to employ a qualified librarian. Headteachers have autonomy to decide how best to spend the core schools funding that is allocated to them by the department. The Autumn Budget 2024 announced an additional £2.3 billion for schools for the 2025/26 financial year, compared to 2024/25, bringing the total core schools budget to almost £63.9 billion in 2025/26.

Given this autonomy, the department does not collect information on the number of school libraries or school librarians. ​​

​The government’s reading framework offers non-statutory guidance for teachers and school leaders, including helpful guidance for schools on how to organise their school library, book corner or book stock to make reading accessible and attractive to readers.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage reading in schools.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

​​​​High and rising school standards, with excellent foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life.

​We know that reading for pleasure is hugely important and brings a range of benefits. There are a number of strong links with attainment. For example, the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study report found a 34 point difference in reading performance between pupils in England who “very much” liked reading and pupils who “do not” like reading. Additionally, the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment study found that enjoyment of reading links to pupils’ reading engagement, and that reading engagement was strongly positively correlated with reading performance. There is also a strong evidence base linking reading for pleasure with other positive effects, such as expanding pupils’ knowledge about the world and about language, as well as their understanding of subject-specific academic and technical vocabulary.

​Furthermore, pupils who read regularly report heightened levels of social and emotional wellbeing. For many, reading is a form of relaxation, a place to escape everyday challenges, or a source of entertainment. Reading allows readers to adopt new perspectives, develop empathy and become more socially conscious.

​In recognition of this, the department has implemented a range of measures to support reading for pleasure. The English Hubs programme supports the teaching of phonics, early language development and reading for pleasure with a further £23 million committed for the 2024/25 academic year to support this work. Furthermore, the government’s reading framework provides guidance on improving the teaching of reading, to ensure that every child is not only able to read proficiently, but also develops a genuine love of reading.

​The current national curriculum states that teachers are expected to encourage pupils to develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information.

​The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, which will look closely at the key challenges to attainment for young people, in line with the government’s ambition for a curriculum that delivers excellent foundations in reading, writing and mathematics.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to work with healthcare professionals, including chiropractors, to address workplace-related musculoskeletal issues.

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

Improving health and work outcomes for the 543,000 workers in Great Britain who reported a work-related musculoskeletal disorder in 2023/24 forms a key part of the Government's missions to build a National Health Service fit for the future and kickstart economic growth.

Healthcare professionals play a vital prevention and early intervention role in supporting people to self-manage their musculoskeletal condition and enabling them to get in and get on in work.

The Occupational Health Workforce Expansion Funding Scheme, launched July 2023, funded registered health professionals to undertake occupational health training and qualifications. To date, over 200 doctors and nurses have commenced training.

The 2025 Healthcare Professionals’ Consensus Statement for action on health and work, published 20 January 2025, commits to work over the next five years to support healthcare professionals, including allied health professionals, to engage more proactively with, and to promote good work as a health outcome across, the health and care sector. This will support patients, including those with musculoskeletal conditions, to return and remain in good work.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many specialist allergy nurses there are in England; and how those numbers are distributed across each (1) NHS England region, and (2) Integrated Care System area.

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

The Department does not hold the information requested.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the particular role of (1) Telegram, and (2) any small, high-harm platforms, in inciting the riots in Southport between 30 July and 5 August 2024.

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

The government is clear all social media platforms have a responsibility to keep their users safe and not facilitate those seeking to sow division in our communities. This is why we are working at pace to implement the Online Safety Act.

During last summer’s unrest, the government focused on working with the platforms with the largest reach in the UK. This included referring content contributing to that disorder for platforms to assess and act on in line with their terms of service. We recognise however that the way platforms are used continues to evolve and so keep our approach under review.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment was made of the impact of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 in the development of the illustrative base fees for the extended producer responsibility for packaging.

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

The impact assessment for the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 is published here: The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024

The development of the illustrative base fees for the extended producer responsibility for packaging are for the Scheme Administrator to set each year with engagement from industry.

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