Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the progress made on (a) preventing and (b) treating all types of brain tumours.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government recognises that too little is currently known about how to prevent, diagnose and manage brain tumours, and they remain one of the hardest cancers to treat and a challenging area for research.

As with many other cancers, there is currently no guaranteed way to prevent a brain tumour, as the causes of most are unknown and not directly related to lifestyle or environmental factors. However, the risk of a brain tumour can be reduced by avoiding or limiting exposure to unnecessary radiation and carcinogens like smoking. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a diet rich in antioxidants, getting adequate sleep and exercising regularly supports overall health and may help reduce some cancer risks.

The Department of Health and Social Care recognises that there are currently limited treatment options available for people who have been diagnosed with brain tumours. The forthcoming National Cancer Plan, which will complement the 10-Year Health Plan, will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for all cancer patients including those with rarer and less common cancers such as brain tumours. The Department ran a Call for Evidence to inform the development of the National Cancer Plan, including a question on priorities for cancer research. Over 11,000 responses were received, and although no assessment was separately taken on the prevention and treatment of brain tumours, all of the responses have been analysed to prioritise recommendations in the Plan.

Additionally, in September 2024, the National Institute for Health Research announced a new package of support to stimulate high quality brain tumour research applications, as part of the Government’s commitment to developing new lifesaving and life-improving research, supporting those diagnosed and living with brain tumours.

A new national Brain Tumour Research Consortium was established in December 2024 to bring together researchers from a range of different disciplines and institutions with the aim of driving scientific advancements in how to prevent, detect, manage and treat cancers in adults and children.

In addition to speeding up diagnosis and treatment, the work being undertaken by the Consortium aims to ensure that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology and to clinical trials. This will make a significant contribution to bringing the UK’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to encourage (a) allergen awareness and (b) cross-contamination training for staff in (i) hospitality and (ii) food service businesses.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) regularly runs campaigns to raise awareness of allergens for both consumers and businesses.

In March 2025, the FSA published new best practice guidance to help food businesses provide clearer written allergen information for those in hospitality, such as restaurants. This is available at the following link:

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/allergen-information-for-non-prepacked-foods-best-practice-summary

It is recommended that this is supported by a conversation with the consumer. Additional guidance includes the ‘Safer Food Better Business’ guide, along with the FSA’s ‘Food allergen labelling and information requirements technical guidance’.

The FSA is dedicated to improving the provision of information for people with allergies and working with food businesses to increase allergen training in the sector. Free training is provided on the FSA website for local authorities and food businesses, including those working in hospitality and food service. The training covers all aspects of allergen management, including mitigating and communicating the risk of allergen cross-contamination.

Under food safety regulations, businesses are expected to ensure their staff are competent in managing allergens. The FSA training has proved to be very popular, with 915,238 users since the launch of the platform in September 2020, and the FSA is currently working to improve the offering.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish the cross-Government nature strategy.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra will set out its timeline for publishing the Cross Government Nature Strategy (GCNS) in due course.

Barry Winter

Found: Gordon (Liberal Democrat; Harrogate and Knaresborough) Afzal Khan (Labour; Manchester Rusholme) Alex Sobel

Found: Gordon (Liberal Democrat; Harrogate and Knaresborough) Afzal Khan (Labour; Manchester Rusholme) Alex Sobel

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 14 October 2025 and is intended to repeal and replace various aspects of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, as well as to reform and supplement the wider approach of dealing with the legacy of the Troubles. The Joint Committee on Human Rights is scrutinising the Bill’s compatibility with human rights. The Government also laid its draft remedial order concerning Northern Ireland legacy on 14 October 2025 and the Joint Committee on Human Rights is scrutinising that remedial order separately.