Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of availability and routine use of Doppler ultrasound and ankle-brachial index testing in primary care for patients presenting with lower-limb symptoms; and whether the Government plans to issue guidance to ensure these diagnostic tools are used as standard in the assessment of suspected peripheral arterial disease.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has published a new cardiovascular disease modern service framework (CVD MSF), which prioritises ambitious, evidence-led, and clinically informed approaches to prevention, treatment, and care, supporting consistent and equitable access across the CVD pathway. This modern service framework can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cardiovascular-disease-modern-service-framework
We welcome the report of the Vascular and Venous Disease All-Party Parliamentary Group. The Department and NHS England have engaged widely with stakeholders, such as the Stroke Association and Heart UK, to co-produce the CVD MSF and ensure we consider the role of emerging innovations across the CVD pathway.
NHS England has not undertaken a specific national assessment of the availability or routine use of ankle-brachial index testing or Doppler ultrasound in primary care for patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of peripheral arterial disease.
The National Vascular Registry collects information relating to vascular procedures and patient outcomes to support service improvement and quality assurance within vascular services. However, it does not routinely report national data on diagnostic delay, misdiagnosis, or the number of healthcare contacts prior to diagnosis.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework will include standards for the early diagnosis and referral of peripheral arterial disease in primary care, including the routine use of ankle-brachial index and Doppler testing for patients presenting with lower-limb pain.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has published a new cardiovascular disease modern service framework (CVD MSF), which prioritises ambitious, evidence-led, and clinically informed approaches to prevention, treatment, and care, supporting consistent and equitable access across the CVD pathway. This modern service framework can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cardiovascular-disease-modern-service-framework
We welcome the report of the Vascular and Venous Disease All-Party Parliamentary Group. The Department and NHS England have engaged widely with stakeholders, such as the Stroke Association and Heart UK, to co-produce the CVD MSF and ensure we consider the role of emerging innovations across the CVD pathway.
NHS England has not undertaken a specific national assessment of the availability or routine use of ankle-brachial index testing or Doppler ultrasound in primary care for patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of peripheral arterial disease.
The National Vascular Registry collects information relating to vascular procedures and patient outcomes to support service improvement and quality assurance within vascular services. However, it does not routinely report national data on diagnostic delay, misdiagnosis, or the number of healthcare contacts prior to diagnosis.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data her Department holds on the rate of misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease in England; and what the average number of clinical contacts is that patients undergo before receiving a correct diagnosis.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has published a new cardiovascular disease modern service framework (CVD MSF), which prioritises ambitious, evidence-led, and clinically informed approaches to prevention, treatment, and care, supporting consistent and equitable access across the CVD pathway. This modern service framework can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cardiovascular-disease-modern-service-framework
We welcome the report of the Vascular and Venous Disease All-Party Parliamentary Group. The Department and NHS England have engaged widely with stakeholders, such as the Stroke Association and Heart UK, to co-produce the CVD MSF and ensure we consider the role of emerging innovations across the CVD pathway.
NHS England has not undertaken a specific national assessment of the availability or routine use of ankle-brachial index testing or Doppler ultrasound in primary care for patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of peripheral arterial disease.
The National Vascular Registry collects information relating to vascular procedures and patient outcomes to support service improvement and quality assurance within vascular services. However, it does not routinely report national data on diagnostic delay, misdiagnosis, or the number of healthcare contacts prior to diagnosis.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will respond to the recommendations of the Vascular and Venous Disease All-Party Parliamentary Group's report, Making the Case for Reform in the Vascular Sector, published in March 2026.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has published a new cardiovascular disease modern service framework (CVD MSF), which prioritises ambitious, evidence-led, and clinically informed approaches to prevention, treatment, and care, supporting consistent and equitable access across the CVD pathway. This modern service framework can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cardiovascular-disease-modern-service-framework
We welcome the report of the Vascular and Venous Disease All-Party Parliamentary Group. The Department and NHS England have engaged widely with stakeholders, such as the Stroke Association and Heart UK, to co-produce the CVD MSF and ensure we consider the role of emerging innovations across the CVD pathway.
NHS England has not undertaken a specific national assessment of the availability or routine use of ankle-brachial index testing or Doppler ultrasound in primary care for patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of peripheral arterial disease.
The National Vascular Registry collects information relating to vascular procedures and patient outcomes to support service improvement and quality assurance within vascular services. However, it does not routinely report national data on diagnostic delay, misdiagnosis, or the number of healthcare contacts prior to diagnosis.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will adopt a National Foot Attack Pathway to ensure patients presenting with symptoms of peripheral arterial disease receive same-day assessment and referral to specialist vascular services.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has published a new cardiovascular disease modern service framework (CVD MSF), which prioritises ambitious, evidence-led, and clinically informed approaches to prevention, treatment, and care, supporting consistent and equitable access across the CVD pathway. This modern service framework can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cardiovascular-disease-modern-service-framework
We welcome the report of the Vascular and Venous Disease All-Party Parliamentary Group. The Department and NHS England have engaged widely with stakeholders, such as the Stroke Association and Heart UK, to co-produce the CVD MSF and ensure we consider the role of emerging innovations across the CVD pathway.
NHS England has not undertaken a specific national assessment of the availability or routine use of ankle-brachial index testing or Doppler ultrasound in primary care for patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of peripheral arterial disease.
The National Vascular Registry collects information relating to vascular procedures and patient outcomes to support service improvement and quality assurance within vascular services. However, it does not routinely report national data on diagnostic delay, misdiagnosis, or the number of healthcare contacts prior to diagnosis.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many new allegations of (a) torture and (b) mistreatment were received by his Department in relation to British nationals in 2025, broken down by country and region.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In 2025 consular officials were made aware of 34 new allegations in which the reported treatment appeared to amount to torture, and 212 new allegations where the report appeared to amount to mistreatment worldwide. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not have investigatory powers in relation to allegations of torture or mistreatment overseas, and takes all allegations at face value.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many new allegations of (a) torture and (b) mistreatment were received by his Department in relation to British nationals in 2025.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In 2025 consular officials were made aware of 34 new allegations in which the reported treatment appeared to amount to torture, and 212 new allegations where the report appeared to amount to mistreatment worldwide. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not have investigatory powers in relation to allegations of torture or mistreatment overseas, and takes all allegations at face value.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with Hong Kong officials on the use of Hong Kong’s national security legislation to prosecute individuals for commemorating the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the Minister for the Indo-Pacific said in her statement of 21 August, the convictions of Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan are a further demonstration that even peaceful acts of remembrance in Hong Kong are now treated by the authorities as threats to national security. We will continue to raise these concerns with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities, and we continue to call for the Beijing-imposed National Security Law to be repealed.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to the Hong Kong authorities on the conviction of Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan for incitement to subversion following their commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the Minister for the Indo-Pacific said in her statement of 21 August, the convictions of Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan are a further demonstration that even peaceful acts of remembrance in Hong Kong are now treated by the authorities as threats to national security. We will continue to raise these concerns with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities, and we continue to call for the Beijing-imposed National Security Law to be repealed.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for freedom of expression in Hong Kong of the conviction of Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan for incitement to subversion.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the Minister for the Indo-Pacific said in her statement of 21 August, the convictions of Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan are a further demonstration that even peaceful acts of remembrance in Hong Kong are now treated by the authorities as threats to national security. We will continue to raise these concerns with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities, and we continue to call for the Beijing-imposed National Security Law to be repealed.