Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what procedures Ofgem follows when evidence is submitted alleging that inaccurate records maintained by an electricity distribution network operator may have affected customers' entitlement to statutory compensation payments; and what steps it takes to establish the accuracy of such records.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem, as the independent energy regulator, is responsible for regulating electricity Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) and holding them accountable for their obligations, including the Guaranteed Standards of Performance. Ofgem collects DNO performance data through Regulatory Instructions and Guidance and Regulatory Reporting Packs, including information on delivery against these standards. Where concerns or evidence regarding the accuracy of records are raised, Ofgem can consider these as part of its regulatory oversight of DNOs and determine whether further action is appropriate.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how Ofgem ensures the accuracy of records maintained by electricity distribution network operators for the purpose of determining customers' eligibility for statutory compensation payments; and what procedures it follows when concerns are raised regarding the accuracy of those records.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem, as the independent energy regulator, is responsible for regulating electricity Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) and holding them accountable for their obligations, including the Guaranteed Standards of Performance. Ofgem collects DNO performance data through Regulatory Instructions and Guidance and Regulatory Reporting Packs, including information on delivery against these standards. Where concerns or evidence regarding the accuracy of records are raised, Ofgem can consider these as part of its regulatory oversight of DNOs and determine whether further action is appropriate.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the level of regional disparities in access to (a) brain tumour clinical trials and (b) tissue-based precision medicine arising from variations in tumour tissue preservation facilities; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure all NHS neurosurgical centres have the infrastructure required to store brain tumour tissue for future research and treatment opportunities.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Members to the answer provided on 22 September in response to Question HL2877.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what exemptions, alternative supply arrangements, and clinical provisions are being put in place to ensure that completely unfortified staple foods remain available and accessible to cancer patients, cancer survivors, and other groups who may be advised to limit their intake of folic acid-fortified foods.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Members to the answer provided on 15 September in response to Question 27169 and to the answer provided on 17 July in response to Question 17728.
The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has not published additional assessments on the issues stated since 2017 but retains folic acid on its watching brief. Individuals with medical conditions or concerns about their folic acid intake should seek advice from a healthcare professional.
The Government will evaluate the impact of the policy in the normal way. Details of this evaluation were discussed at the SACN meeting in June 2026 and are provided in SACN’s matters arising and Government updates document provided on the SACN webpage:
https://app.box.com/s/ivrivaemf7fgeo9a17xdmv167c4uvteu/file/2276350423101
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential long-term impact on the NHS dental workforce of its level of reliance on overseas-trained dentists.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Regarding Question 31161, I refer the Hon. Member to the announcement made on this issue by the Department on 18 March, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-dentists-coming-as-government-boosts-number-who-can-practise
In regard to Question 32364, I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 19 October in response to Question 31840.
No assessment has been made of the potential impact of administrative support reductions on the workload of dental academics or the adequacy of the current dental academic workforce to support existing and planned dental student numbers.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the current dental academic workforce to support existing and planned dental student numbers.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Regarding Question 31161, I refer the Hon. Member to the announcement made on this issue by the Department on 18 March, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-dentists-coming-as-government-boosts-number-who-can-practise
In regard to Question 32364, I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 19 October in response to Question 31840.
No assessment has been made of the potential impact of administrative support reductions on the workload of dental academics or the adequacy of the current dental academic workforce to support existing and planned dental student numbers.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of new dentists joining the GDC register in each of the last 10 years had trained overseas.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Regarding Question 31161, I refer the Hon. Member to the announcement made on this issue by the Department on 18 March, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-dentists-coming-as-government-boosts-number-who-can-practise
In regard to Question 32364, I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 19 October in response to Question 31840.
No assessment has been made of the potential impact of administrative support reductions on the workload of dental academics or the adequacy of the current dental academic workforce to support existing and planned dental student numbers.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of administrative support reductions on the workload of dental academics.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Regarding Question 31161, I refer the Hon. Member to the announcement made on this issue by the Department on 18 March, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-dentists-coming-as-government-boosts-number-who-can-practise
In regard to Question 32364, I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 19 October in response to Question 31840.
No assessment has been made of the potential impact of administrative support reductions on the workload of dental academics or the adequacy of the current dental academic workforce to support existing and planned dental student numbers.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to introduce targeted funding streams to support clinical academic careers in dentistry.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no plans to introduce targeted funding streams to support clinical academic careers in dentistry.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to ask police forces to publish the standards and criteria they apply when assessing anti-Muslim speech at demonstrations.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
This Government is clear that anti-Muslim hatred is completely unacceptable and has no place in our society.
The Government expects police to enforce the law where appropriate to protect communities and maintain public order and public safety. The Government is committed to upholding freedom of speech, but the freedom to express views does not extend to language, displays of writing or images that incite violence, hatred or criminal behaviour. Whether specific speech, chants, placards or slogans constitute an offence depends on the context surrounding the incident, and decisions on enforcement are a matter for the police.
The College of Policing is responsible for providing guidance to police and is operationally independent from Government. The College produces the Public Order Public Safety authorised professional practice, which covers protests and disorder, and jointly publishes the Protest Operational Advice Document with the National Police Chiefs’ Council. The Crown Prosecution Service has also published guidance on protest-related offences. All of these documents are published online.
Under the replacement system proposed by the College of Policing and National Police Chiefs' Council in their joint review of non-crime hate incidents, non-crime incidents motivated by hostility will be recorded only where there is a clear policing purpose. The new framework is being developed with policing partners and is expected to be implemented in early 2027. Until then, police forces continue to apply existing arrangements for recording and managing non-crime hate incidents.