Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress he has made on updating the Rare Diseases Framework.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Rare Diseases Framework was published following the National Conversation on Rare Diseases, which received nearly 6,300 responses. This helped identify the four priorities of the framework in tackling rare diseases: helping patients get a final diagnosis faster; increasing awareness of rare diseases among healthcare professionals; better coordination of care; and improving access to specialist care, treatment, and drugs.
The Government remains committed to improving the lives of those living with rare conditions, and will be publishing the next England Rare Diseases Action Plan for rare disease day in 2026, as in previous years. We recognise that despite the progress that has been made there remains considerable unmet need for people living with rare conditions. We are carefully considering the future of the UK Rare Disease Framework and will be announcing our intentions in due course.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 81328 on Prime Minister: Information Officers, whether the Special Adviser has provided information on financial interests in Strand Partners.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 20 October 2025, Official Report, PQ 81328.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Prime Minister plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar dated 29 November 2024.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The correspondence referred to the resignation of the Rt Hon Member for Sheffield Heeley in November 2024. The Prime Minister has addressed this matter in the House and set out that, subsequent to her appointment as Secretary of State for Transport, further information emerged and that it was right for the former Transport Secretary to resign.
The public exchange of letters is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/louise-haighs-resignation-letter-and-the-prime-ministers-response-29-november-2024
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, with reference to the Oral Statement of 15 September 2025 on Official Secrets Act, Official Report, col 1188-1189, whether the Law Officers have had discussions with representatives of the House of Commons on the potential merits of private prosecution.
Answered by Ellie Reeves - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Law Officers are aware of the possibility of a private prosecution, but have not engaged in discussions on its potential merits with any representative of the House of Commons.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's policy is on making payments to the EU for (a) participation in and (b) access to the (i) Security Action for Europe instrument and (ii) common Sanitary and Phytosanitary area.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The UK is committed to a broad and constructive relationship with the EU, and we are working together to implement the package agreed at the UK-EU Summit. We will only agree deals that provide value to the UK and UK industry and any contributions will be agreed as part of ongoing negotiations. Nothing has been agreed, and we will not give a running commentary on talks.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what matters the Prime Minister has recused himself.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
This Government has strengthened the Ministerial Code. Decisions relating to recusals are made with advice from the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department will be (a) involved in and (b) make representations to the BBC on the appointment of a Director General.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The BBC’s Royal Charter sets out that the Director General is appointed by the BBC’s Board, not the Government, and the process is led by the BBC Board’s Nominations and Governance Committee.
It will be for the BBC Board to set out its process for appointing a new DG in due course.
The Government stands ready to provide support, where it is requested and necessary.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, with reference to the Oral Statement of 15 September 2025 on Official Secrets Act, whether the Crown Prosecution Service made a request for evidence to be submitted from the Government that the (a) Chinese Government and (b) Chinese Communist Party was an enemy of the UK, in the context of prosecution under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911.
Answered by Ellie Reeves - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
While the outcome in this case is of course very disappointing, I am also confident that the National Security Act 2023, which was not in force at the time of the conduct concerned, now provides us with enhanced powers that properly reflect the modern-day threats we face.
There is now a wealth of material and evidence, including from the Attorney General, which has been provided to the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy’s inquiry into these matters and which cover the requests for evidence and responses provided.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar dated 27 October 2025.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I replied to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar on 13 November 2025 by email.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to reply to the letter of 16 October 2025 from the hon. Member for Brentwood and Onager on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We received the Hon. Member’s correspondence of 16 October 2025 and responded on 4 November 2025.