Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
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 support research for a cure for Fanconi Anaemia.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care including Fanconi Anaemia.
These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Topics for new research can be proposed to the NIHR via the following link:
https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topic
The NIHR also works closely with other Government funders, including UK Research and Innovation, which is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and which includes the Medical Research Council, to fund research into a range of conditions, including Fanconi Anaemia.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
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 support (a) women wishing to become pregnant and (b) all people diagnosed with Fanconi Anaemia.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, including Fanconi Anaemia. Where possible, the National Health Service offers reproductive options for carrier couples wishing to have a baby, including prenatal counselling prior to conception, testing in early pregnancy, and preimplantation genetic testing. The UK Rare Diseases Framework also sets out four priorities collaboratively developed with the rare disease community, which include: getting a final diagnosis faster; increasing awareness of rare diseases among healthcare professionals; better coordination of care; and improving access to specialist care, treatments, and drugs. We published the annual England action plan in February 2025, where we report on the steps we have taken to advance these priorities. The Government will be working with the devolved administrations this year to review what comes next, following the expiry of the UK Rare Diseases Framework in 2026, to support all those diagnosed with a rare diseases, including Fanconi Anaemia.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
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 improve access to treatments to manage Fanconi Anaemia.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Working under the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as Fanconi Anaemia. The UK Rare Diseases Framework sets out four priorities collaboratively developed with the rare disease community. The fourth priority of the framework is improved access to specialist care, treatment, and drugs. Action under this priority has included reviewing the medicines access pathways, namely the Early Access to Medicines Scheme, the Innovative Licensing Pathway, and the Innovative Medicines Fund, for their suitability for rare disease therapies and reforming clinical trial regulations. Information on Fanconi Anaemia is included on the NHS England GeNotes page, supporting healthcare professionals with easy access to information on the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
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.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
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:
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.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
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.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the EHRC draft code of practice for services, public functions and associations on LGBTQIA+ tourism to the UK.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is committed to ensuring the UK remains one of the safest and most welcoming destinations in the world for all visitors, including for LGBTQIA+ tourists. Inclusivity is a key part of what we offer tourists and contributes to our global appeal.
The Department has not conducted a specific assessment of the potential impact of the draft code on tourism. However, DCMS, through VisitBritain and VisitEngland, continues to support tourism businesses in this area. A new e-learning course to help the industry welcome LGBTQIA+ customers was recently launched and is being promoted through Local Visitor Economy Partnerships to their networks.
To provide clarity for the sector, interim EHRC guidance relating to the recent Supreme Court ruling has also been added to the ‘Pink Book’, VisitEngland’s guide to accommodation and attraction legislation. Furthermore, VisitEngland will review its Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Toolkit for businesses and LGBTQIA+ course once the EHRC’s updated guidance is finalised.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the draft guidance by the Equality and Human Rights Commission entitled Code of practice for services, public functions and associations, published on 20 May 2025, on (a) operational readiness and (b) combat effectiveness (i) of all service personnel and (ii) of service personnel who are trans.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Defence welcomes the Supreme Court's ruling and the clarity that it brings. The independent Equality and Human Rights Commission is now developing its updated statutory Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations and we will liaise with them through our engagement with the Office for Equalities and Opportunity as they progress this work. The application of the Supreme Court ruling in some settings is complex and that is why it is important we await the Code of Practice before applying the Equality Act on a day-to-day basis.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) the proposed requirement that trans people be excluded from (i) services and (ii) facilities that are designated single sex and (b) other proposals in the recent EHRC Draft Code of Practice to the Equality Act on the (A) financial and (B) operational readiness impacts of (1) his Department and (2) the armed forces.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 July 2025 to Question 65333 to the hon. Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham (Dr Caroline Johnson).
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, whether her Department has undertaken an (a) equality and (b) impact assessment on the potential impact of its proposed changes to the qualifying period for settlement on (i) British Nationals (Overseas) visa holders and (ii) their family members.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future.
We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details of the proposed scheme will be provided at that time. An assessment of equality and other impacts will be developed alongside any finalised policy.
We regularly engage with representatives of the Hong Kong diaspora in the UK on issues related to the BN(O) visa and will continue to do so.