Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that the Arakan Army has committed human rights violations in northwestern Myanmar; and what steps they are taking bilaterally and through international mechanisms to ensure accountability for those abuses.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK remains deeply concerned by reports of human rights violations in western Myanmar. We are aware of allegations involving armed actors in the region and continue to push for accountability for such abuses, wherever they occur.

As penholder on Myanmar at the UN Security Council, we convened six Council meetings in 2024 and three so far in 2025 to spotlight the crisis, including the first open meeting in five years focused on the Rohingya. We also co-sponsored the UN Human Rights Council resolution in April (2025) on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, condemning ongoing violations particularly against ethnic minorities.

The UK has provided £900,000 to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar since 2021 to support the collection, verification, and preservation of evidence for future prosecution, and established the Myanmar Witness programme to verify open-source evidence of human rights violations.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the introduction of genomic testing on the UK’s position as a global centre for clinic trials and investment.

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

The Life Sciences Sector Plan committed to ensuring that the NHS Genomic Medicine Service works closely with industry to align genomic testing with clinical trial requirements and improve access to precision medicine. NHS England, in collaboration with partners such as the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, is aligning the National Genomic Test Directory, which sets out the genomic tests available in the National Health Service, with clinical trial targets. A list of cancer genomic targets has been agreed with national experts and will be incorporated into routinely used next-generation sequencing panels and whole genome sequencing. This will allow these targets to be reported as part of standard care, enabling rapid patient enrolment into clinical trials. From 2025/26, NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs have begun reporting a small number of clinical trial targets, with plans to expand this coverage.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in considering legislation to regulate artificial intelligence, what powers they are considering in relation to superintelligent AI that poses a threat to national security.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

There is considerable debate and uncertainty around Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Artificial Superintelligence (ASI), but the possibility of their development must be taken seriously.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already regulated in the UK, and a range of existing rules already apply to AI systems, such as data protection, competition, equality and sectoral regulation. But it is clear that the most advanced AI systems pose distinct opportunities and risks.

The AI Security Institute (AISI) has already deepened our understanding of national security risks, but the Government remains committed to taking further steps where required to ensure that the UK is prepared for the changes that AI will bring.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the report by the Circulation Foundation and Legs Matter Act now to save limbs and lives, published in May, what assessment they have made of the current challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral arterial disease.

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

NHS England 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. The registry produces quarterly and annual reports. It aims to support vascular services to provide high quality care for these people, and shares examples of good practice as well as highlighting areas which merit further investigation in order to improve care.

NHS England commissions vascular arterial care from a number of specialist centres to ensure appropriate management of peripheral arterial disease. The service specifications recommend a "hub and spoke" model, where a central, high-volume arterial centre, or the "hub", provides round-the-clock, specialist arterial surgery and complex endovascular interventions. A multi-disciplinary team approach is used and is hosted by the hub.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are promoting a multidisciplinary approach to the management of peripheral arterial disease that involves vascular surgeons, cardiologists, radiologists and primary care providers; and how that approach will be supported across the NHS.

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

NHS England 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. The registry produces quarterly and annual reports. It aims to support vascular services to provide high quality care for these people, and shares examples of good practice as well as highlighting areas which merit further investigation in order to improve care.

NHS England commissions vascular arterial care from a number of specialist centres to ensure appropriate management of peripheral arterial disease. The service specifications recommend a "hub and spoke" model, where a central, high-volume arterial centre, or the "hub", provides round-the-clock, specialist arterial surgery and complex endovascular interventions. A multi-disciplinary team approach is used and is hosted by the hub.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how the upcoming cardiovascular disease modern service framework will ensure that patients with peripheral arterial disease have equitable access to appropriate assessment, treatment and follow-up services across the NHS.

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

To accelerate progress towards the Government’s ambition to reduce premature deaths from heart disease and stroke by 25% within a decade, we will publish a new cardiovascular disease modern service framework (CVD MSF) in 2026. The CVD MSF will support consistent, high quality, and equitable care whilst fostering innovation across the cardiovascular disease pathway.

The Department and NHS England are engaging widely throughout the development of the CVD MSF to ensure that we consider a range of conditions that impact on cardiovascular disease premature mortality, including peripheral arterial disease, and that we prioritise ambitious, evidence-led, and clinically informed approaches to prevention, treatment, and care.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of (1) children and (2) adults who are accessing mental health support via artificial intelligence platforms after being unable to access statutory mental health services.

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

No such assessment has been made. We recognise that people are facing unacceptably long waiting times to access mental health support. This is why we are transforming the current mental health system so that people can access the right support at the right time in the right place.

Building on the 10-Year Health Plan, the NHS Medium Term Planning Framework, published on 24 October 2025, sets targets for integrated care boards in 2026/27 to improve the quality of and access to mental health services. This includes expanding NHS Talking Therapies and expanding the coverage of mental health support teams in schools and colleges. This builds on the significant progress we’ve made since July 2024 to hire almost 7,000 extra mental health workers. And by spring next year, over 900,000 children and young people will have access to a Mental Health Support team in schools and colleagues.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to embed genetic testing in cancer treatment pathways, and whether additional funding will be available to NHS trusts for that testing.

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

The NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS), commissioned by NHS England, ensures equitable access to genomic testing for cancer patients across England through seven regional GMS geographies working with Cancer Alliances and National Health Service trusts. Genomic testing is delivered by a national network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs), guided by the National Genomic Test Directory, which includes over 200 cancer indications for a range of genomic tests, including whole genome sequencing. Seven NHS GMS Alliances are funded to embed genomic medicine into clinical pathways and raise awareness among clinicians and patients. Funding for GLHs is agreed annually in line with NHS England funding allocations, with NHS England working with GLHs to drive efficiency and maximise available resources. In 2025/26, NHS England is continuing its Cancer Genomics Improvement Programme for a second year to deliver quality improvement initiatives, education, local engagement, and to establish Cellular Pathology Genomic Centres to streamline cancer genomics pathways and accelerate genomic testing.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure users of artificial intelligence platforms can safely access mental health support and are protected from harmful content such as suicide and self-harm content.

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

We recognise the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) platforms and the potential risks they pose, particularly when people are seeking mental health support.

The National Health Service operates within a comprehensive regulatory framework for AI, underpinned by rigorous standards for safety and effectiveness. Publicly available AI applications that are not deployed by the NHS are not regulated as medical technologies and may offer incorrect or harmful information. Users are strongly advised to be careful when using these technologies.

Regardless of whether content is created by AI or humans, the Online Safety Act places robust duties on all in-scope services to prevent users encountering illegal content including content on suicide and self-harm.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with NHS trusts and pharmaceutical companies about the use of genomic testing to support cancer pathways.

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

NHS England commissions the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (NHS GMS) to provide standardised, high quality, and equitable access to genomic medicine across the National Health Service in England. NHS England and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry have established an NHS Genomic Pharmaceutical Industry Strategic Advisory Group, to provide a framework for engagement with industry partners to support the strategic aims of the NHS GMS and system partners. This is a forum to align on priorities and identify mechanisms to support agreed improvements across the end-to-end genomics pathway, including in cancer, that will enable timely patient access to treatments and opportunities to participate in clinical trials.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need for greater pricing transparency in the mobile and broadband sector where some deals are accessible only through negotiation at the end of fixed contracts.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

I refer the Rt Honourable Lady to the answer given on 27 October 2025 to Question UIN HL10944.

People need to feel empowered when interacting with the telecoms market so they can be confident that they are getting a fair and transparent deal. DSIT’s Secretary of State wrote to Ofcom’s CEO on 31st October to ask for its assessment of telecoms consumer protections and what further action should be taken.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to recognise the result of the upcoming general election in Myanmar; and whether they will raise the issue of that election at the United Nations General Assembly.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided on 3 November to Question HL11182.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether patients with a cancer diagnosis will have access to local genomic testing; and if so, what is the timeline for that access to be in place.

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

The 10-Year Health Plan committed to every cancer patient having the choice to receive a comprehensive genomic analysis and molecular profiling, where appropriate. The NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) ensures equitable access to genomic testing for cancer patients across England through seven regional GMS geographies working with Cancer Alliances and National Health Service trusts. Genomic testing is delivered by a national network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs, guided by the National Genomic Test Directory, which includes over 200 cancer indications for a range of genomic tests, including whole genome sequencing. In 2025/26, NHS England is continuing its Cancer Genomics Improvement Programme for a second year to deliver quality improvement initiatives, education, local engagement, and to establish Cellular Pathology Genomic Centres to streamline cancer genomics pathways and accelerate genomic testing.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential merits of including broader value elements, such as societal and economic benefits, in the health technology assessment of vaccines.

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

The Department works closely with the UK Health Security Agency and NHS England to design, implement, and deliver programmes offering high levels of long-term protection against preventable diseases.

When doing so, the Department takes into consideration the expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), an independent departmental expert committee. The JCVI bases its advice and recommendations on evidence of the burden of disease, of vaccine safety and efficacy, and of the impact and cost effectiveness of immunisation strategies.

Broader socio-economic factors such as productivity costs from illness, improved educational attainment from reduced school absences, and out-of-pocket expenses and opportunity costs from attending a vaccination may be highlighted by the JCVI or other colleagues across the tripartite to inform policy-making.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for a personalised approach to testing for patients.

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

The Government is committed to delivering a personalised approach to testing, including genomic testing, as part of its 10-Year Health Plan. The National Health Service will introduce a genomics population health service by 2035, including newborn genomic screening and polygenic risk scoring, both subject to evidence and funding, to enable earlier, tailored interventions. Genomic testing in the NHS in England is already delivered through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS). A national network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs deliver testing as directed by the National Genomic Test Directory, including both whole genome sequencing (WGS) and non-WGS testing. A robust and evidence-based process and policy is in place to ensure that genomic testing continues to be available for all patients for whom it would be of clinical benefit. As part of the NHS GMS testing strategy, there is increasing use of cutting edge, high throughput comprehensive sequencing technologies to ensure efficiency. These measures will transform diagnostic services and treatment across the NHS to make them increasingly individualised, while empowering patients and improving outcomes.

Found: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: A final question: is DAERA equipped to deal with this issue?