Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the (a) financial and (b) humanitarian situation in South Sudan.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
South Sudan faces a humanitarian crisis driven by conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability. Despite resumed oil exports, previously accounting for 90 per cent of government revenue, its financial situation remains fragile. The UK urges reforms in public financial management, legislation, and budget execution aligned with development priorities. While UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) supports essential services, we continue to press for improved domestic resource allocation. We remain a leading donor to the humanitarian response in South Sudan, providing £103 million of aid funding for this financial year, in addition to £137 million last year, to programmes supporting the people of South Sudan, including humanitarian assistance, peacebuilding initiatives, and girls' education. A further £24.5 million of Sudan's allocation has been assigned to support refugees and returnees who have fled the conflict into South Sudan. The UK also advocates for the full implementation of the 2018 Peace Agreement, prioritising civilian protection and unhindered humanitarian access. We have consistently delivered these messages to the Government of South Sudan, including in a joint statement with Troika and other likeminded partners on 6 August.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 69778 on Hysteroscopy: Correspondence, whether his Department holds information on the number of women who were not sent a letter in advance of an outpatient hysteroscopy appointment.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not hold information on the number of women who were not sent a letter in advance of an outpatient hysteroscopy appointment specifically.
Letters and information sent to patients are determined at a local level by individual National Health Service trusts. A range of additional information is available for patients on hysteroscopy procedures, including on the NHS.UK website, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has created a patient information resource on hysteroscopy. This is available at the following link:
https://www.rcog.org.uk/outpatient-hysteroscopy
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she has taken to help reduce (a) wealth and (b) productivity inequalities in England.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We are committed to reducing wealth and productivity inequalities across England. We are investing in local economic growth, regenerating high streets, supporting communities, and improving transport and cultural infrastructure.
We are giving local leaders the tools they need to deliver growth, boost productivity, and raise living standards in their areas by devolving power and money from central government. This includes strong new powers over housing, planning, transport, energy, employment support and a stronger role in joining up public services locally, backed up with integrated and consolidated funding.
Additionally, our reforms to housing and planning aim to increase affordable housing supply and home ownership, supporting social mobility and job creation.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
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 in helping to reduce sudden cardiac deaths in (a) children and (b) young adults.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England has published a national service specification for inherited cardiac conditions that covers patients who often present as young adults with previously undiagnosed cardiac disease or families requiring follow up due to a death from this cause. This describes the service model and guidance that should be followed to support diagnosis and treatment of patients or family members. It also includes the requirement for specialised inherited cardiac conditions services to investigate suspected cases.
NHS England is currently reviewing this service specification in line with the national service specification methods review process. NHS England is working with a broad range of stakeholders as part of this review including National Health Service clinical experts, the Association of Inherited Cardiac Conditions, Cardiomyopathy UK, Heart Valve Voice, and the British Heart Foundation.
The consensus at present is to focus on the rapid identification and care of people who are likely to be at risk of sudden cardiac death, and on automated external defibrillator use in people who suffer a cardiac arrest.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the feasibility of implementing swab tests for the detection of Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathies in children with risk factors for those diseases.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No assessment has been made as this test is in development, backed by the British Heart Foundation. An early study has been undertaken, but further research is needed.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to respond to Question 61769 tabled by the hon. Member for Gorton and Denton on 23 June 2025.
Answered by Janet Daby
The response to Written Parliamentary Question 61769 was published on 23 July 2025.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has she made of the economic impact on kinship carers arising from (a) reduced employment rights compared with biological parents, (b) variations in local kinship care offers and (c) reducing access to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund.
Answered by Janet Daby
The government has launched a review of the parental leave system, which will consider whether the current support available meets the needs of working families who do not qualify for existing leave and pay entitlements, including kinship carers.
We are legislating through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to mandate local authorities to publish a local offer for children and families in kinship care arrangements. This will help kinship families better understand what support may be available to them locally. However, the content of the local offer is decided by the local authority, based on their assessment local needs, and therefore the content of local offers may vary significantly between areas.
Eligibility for access to the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) is unchanged, and the revised criteria for the ASGSF will enable as many children and families as possible to access funding.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she has taken to reduce (a) racism, (b) sexism and (c) other forms of discrimination within sports.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government’s stance is unequivocal: racism, sexism, or any other form of discrimination has absolutely no place in our society, and no place in sport and activity. We are committed to stamping it out, from the elite level to the grassroots, ensuring that sport truly is for everyone, regardless of their background or ethnicity.
The Government is working closely with the sector, particularly its Arm’s Length Bodies Sport England and UK Sport, and the national governing bodies, to tackle racism and discrimination in sport.
Implemented by Sport England and UK Sport, the UK Code for Sports Governance has been a powerful tool for improving good governance and diversity in the sector, making these a non-negotiable condition of public funding. It has directly influenced the composition and culture of sports organisations by requiring them to actively address equality, diversity, and inclusion.
It is clear, however, that more needs to be done. The Government will continue to work with the sector and relevant organisations to fight discrimination in sport.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
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 his Israeli counterparts on recent military strikes in (a) Syria and (b) Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to urge the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The Foreign Secretary spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 23 August to press for the restoration of humanitarian access in Gaza and to raise serious concerns about the impact of military operations on civilians. We continue to call on Israel to respect Syria's territorial integrity and address security threats through diplomatic means. The Government wants to see a peaceful, secure and stable Syria for the Syrian people. Diplomacy, not hostility, is the best way of achieving this. The UK will continue to pursue a positive future for Syria and the region and we are urging Israel to do the same.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will implement equal parental leave rights between (a) biological, (b) adoption and (c) kinship parents.
Answered by Justin Madders
The Government has launched a comprehensive review of the parental leave and pay system to ensure it is fairer and easier to use for all types of families.
All current and upcoming parental leave and pay entitlements are in scope of the review, including Maternity, Paternity and Adoption. It will also consider the needs of other working families who do not qualify for existing leave and pay entitlements, such as kinship carers.
The Government will conclude the review with a set of findings and a roadmap, including next steps for taking any potential reforms forward to implementation.