Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to reduce absenteeism in secondary schools.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Tackling absence is at the heart of the government’s mission is to break down barriers to opportunity. If children aren’t in school, it doesn’t matter how effective or well-supported teaching and learning is, they will not benefit. Thanks to the hard work of parents and teachers, there has been progress, but levels of absenteeism remain higher than they were prior to the pandemic.

The department has set out clear expectations of local authorities and schools in the ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ guidance, which was made statutory on 19 August 2024. This guidance can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bf300da44f1c4c23e5bd1b/Working_together_to_improve_school_attendance_-_August_2024.pdf

The guidance promotes a 'support first' approach and sets out clear expectations on how schools, trusts, local authorities and wider services should work together and with families to address attendance barriers and provide the right support, including where a pupil is not attending due to special educational needs.

The department has also established 31 attendance hubs that have offered their support to around 2000 other schools, including secondaries. Hubs are established and led by senior leaders in schools with strong attendance practice. The meetings led by hubs are intended to give senior leaders in other schools a forum to discuss and share effective attendance practice.

Last year, the department published an attendance toolkit, bringing together effective practice from across the hubs. The toolkit gives schools practical advice on how to diagnose and target their attendance problem and how to effectively implement great practice.

We are also strengthening our tools for faster and more effective school improvement by launching the new regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) teams. Supported by over £20 million, these teams will offer both mandatory targeted intervention for schools identified by Ofsted as needing to improve and a universal service, acting as a catalyst for a self-improving system for all schools. The RISE teams are now beginning work with the first group of schools eligible for the targeted, bespoke service, including support for attendance as necessary. Improving school attendance is a national priority for RISE teams.

This term, alongside hub lead schools and RISE advisers, the department is also delivering a programme of regional attendance conferences across England, giving secondary school leaders and senior attendance champions the chance to hear directly from hubs and other practitioners on improving attendance.

Every state school in England is now required to share their attendance data with the department. Schools can access this data through a secure, interactive dashboard, allowing them to target attendance interventions more effectively.

We are also improving support for children, working across government on plans to provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school, new Young Futures Hubs, including access to mental health support workers, and an additional 8,500 new mental health staff to treat children and adults.

The department recently announced an additional investment of £15 million to expand the work of secondary focused attendance mentors into ten new areas over the next three years. This expansion will see at least 10,800 secondary school pupils in Blackpool, Hartlepool, Hastings, West Somerset, Norwich, Portsmouth, Ipswich, Nottingham, Rochdale and Walsall supported to improve their attendance.

This pilot will also be externally evaluated to improve the existing evidence base on effective one-to-one attendance interventions. The information from this pilot will be published to help inform secondary school practice nationally.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress her Department has made on reducing waiting times of (a) Indefinite Leave to Remain applications and (b) visa applications for cases already over the time limit.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The overwhelming majority of applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain and visas are processed within service standard. Processing times are published on the UKVI website at Visa processing times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK and Visa processing times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK.

Applications that fall outside of these processing times, due to the specifics of the case, are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they can be decided at the earliest opportunity.

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 is taking to tackle unsafe living conditions in privately rented properties.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is committed to ensuring that privately rented properties are safe, decent and warm.

The Renters’ Rights Bill will apply ‘Awaab’s Law’ to the private rented sector, allowing us to set clear legal expectations about the timeframes within which landlords must take action to make homes safe where they contain significant hazards, such as damp and mould. This will ensure that all renters in England are empowered to challenge dangerous conditions.

The Bill will also allow us to apply a Decent Homes Standard - a technical standard setting out minimum decency requirements - to the private rented sector for the first time.

It provides local authorities with powers to enforce this standard, as well as strengthening their existing powers in relation to hazards. This includes introducing new financial penalties of up to £7,000 for landlords who have failed to take reasonably practicable steps to keep their properties free of serious hazards.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to promote renewable energy opportunities on the Isle of Sark.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Sark, a self-governing jurisdiction within the Crown Dependency of Bailiwick of Guernsey, is responsible for its own domestic affairs, including energy policy. The Government recognises the role of local energy initiatives in Sark and the need to improve and modernise their electricity grid. While there have been discussions between Sark and the UK Government regarding their investment needs, as Sark is outside of the UK, there is limited scope for direct support from DESNZ.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to promote energy self sufficiency on Sark.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Sark, a self-governing jurisdiction within the Crown Dependency of Bailiwick of Guernsey, is responsible for its own domestic affairs, including energy policy. The Government recognises the role of local energy initiatives in Sark and the need to improve and modernise their electricity grid. While there have been discussions between Sark and the UK Government regarding their investment needs, as Sark is outside of the UK, there is limited scope for direct support from DESNZ.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to promote the economic diversification of the Sark economy.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Sark, a self-governing jurisdiction within the Crown Dependency of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, is responsible for its own domestic affairs, including economic policy. While HM Treasury recognises the importance of the UK-Crown Dependency economic relationship to our jurisdictions, including Sark, the UK Government is not directly responsible for promoting economic diversification on Sark, and HM Treasury has not been approached to discuss this topic by the Sark Government.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to support those accused of serious offences and unable to afford private representation.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Criminal legal aid, where needed, is essential for those accused of a crime to defend themselves and to uphold their right to a fair trial.

The scope of legal aid is set out under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO). For criminal proceedings at the magistrates’ court, legal aid is available, subject to the 'interests of justice' test and the financial eligibility means test. Nearly all defendants appearing before the Crown Court are eligible for legal aid, although some may be required to pay an income contribution towards their legal aid costs. If convicted, a defendant may be liable to pay any outstanding legal aid costs through capital contributions.

In December 2024, this Government announced that criminal legal aid solicitors will receive up to £92 million more a year to help address the ongoing challenges in the criminal justice system. This is in addition to the £24 million increase we announced in November 2024 for criminal solicitors, in response to the Crime Lower consultation.

This is a significant investment to reflect the valuable and tough work that is undertaken by those who work in the criminal justice system, helping them to make sure justice is served.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce congestion on the (a) A12 and (b) A127.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

1. A12

The A12 (Chelmsford to A120) widening scheme is designed to ease congestion and cope with increasing traffic demands. The Development Consent Order (DCO) was granted in January 2024 and the scheme is being considered alongside other road projects as part of Phase 2 of the Spending Review which is due to conclude in late spring 2025.

Also on the A12, Suffolk County Council is developing a Full Business Case for a scheme to improve junctions between the A12 / A14 Seven Hills and the A12 Woods Lane and provide dualling between the B1438 and the B1079. The Council plans to submit this to the Department in autumn 2025.

2. A127

Essex County Council has submitted a Strategic Outline Case proposing a package of improvements on the A127 between M25 Junction 29 and Noak Bridge, Essex. Officials in the Department are currently working with Council officials to resolve points of clarification on the business case before advice is put to Ministers.

These business cases from Suffolk and Essex County Councils will also be considered in the light of the current Spending Review.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to provide funding for local sports clubs in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

This Government recognises that grassroots sports clubs are central to communities up and down the country.

The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year.

The Government has also committed to continued funding for grassroots facilities, investing £123 million UK-wide via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme throughout 2024/25, working with our delivery partner the Football Foundation. In this year, Romford has had one funded project in Raphael Park.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to strengthen diplomatic relations with the republic of San Marino.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK has a good relationship with San Marino. On 11-12 February, our Ambassador to Italy and San Marino led a senior Embassy delegation to San Marino to launch a new UK-San Marino structured bilateral dialogue with the Sammarinese Foreign Minister and key Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials. This dialogue focussed on important areas of co-operation such as foreign and security policy and growth, and built on our existing Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Cooperation to further strengthen diplomatic relations.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken with relevant authorities to reduce light pollution in (a) Romford constituency and (b) England.

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

Defra has not had direct discussions with local authorities in Romford or elsewhere about monitoring levels of artificial light

The statutory nuisance regime requires local authorities to take reasonably practicable steps to investigate complaints of artificial light emitted from premises.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken with relevant authorities to reduce aviation noise pollution in (a) Romford constituency and (b) England.

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

The Government is committed to ensuring that noise is managed effectively to promote good health and minimise disruption to people’s quality of life.

Defra is required to produce, consult and publish Noise Action Plans for transport noise, under the terms of the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006, every five years to help manage noise. Under the Regulations airport operators are the competent authority for preparing airport Noise Action Plans.

The latest Round of Airport Noise Action Plans were published in October and November 2024 by 15 Airports including London City Airport and Stansted Airport. It is up to individual airports to determine, including through public consultation, the most effective measures to implement within an action plan.

Defra has worked with the Department for Transport which commissioned the Civil Aviation Authority to conduct a critical review of the efficiency and effectiveness of Noise Action Plans, for 10 Airports in the UK and Europe, in managing aviation noise around airports. The recommendations along with the final report are expected to be published in April 2025.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to improve (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of dyspraxia in adults.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including diagnosis and support for dyspraxia. Further information on dyspraxia assessments and treatment is available on the NHS.UK website, at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/developmental-coordination-disorder-dyspraxia-in-adults/

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking with relevant authorities to support parents who educate their children at home.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

While parents who choose to home educate assume full responsibility for their child’s education, the department believes that parents, educational providers and local authorities should work together to deliver the best educational outcomes for every child.

As part of the Children Not in School measures included in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the department is introducing the first ever duty on local authorities to provide support for home educating families. This support duty will ensure that parents who choose to home educate their children will receive a minimum level of support from their local authority should they request it.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill also includes measures for the introduction of statutory Children Not in School registers in every local authority in England, and an accompanying duty on parents and out-of-school education providers to provide information for these registers. The information provided will enable local authorities to identify all children who are not in school in their area, including children who are home educated, as well as any specific support needs that they might have. Collecting this information will ensure that local authorities are better able to provide appropriate support in the form of advice and information to those children and their families should they request it.

The department continues to work with local authorities to collect information from existing voluntary registers of children not in school through the department’s mandatory termly elective home education data collection. This helps further build the national picture as to what support home educating parents may need.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his New Zealand counterpart on the signed strategic agreement between the People’s Republic of China and the Cook Islands.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

My officials in Wellington and London have been in close contact with New Zealand officials to discuss the signed strategic agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Cook Islands.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 23270 on Denmark: Politics and Government, whether the territorial integrity of Greenland was discussed in these meetings.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As the Foreign Secretary and I have repeatedly and publicly made clear, Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and the future of their constitutional arrangements is a matter for the people and government of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials and I have reaffirmed this position in engagements with Danish and Greenlandic counterparts since January.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure a regular supply of Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy medication in the North East London NHS Foundation Trust area.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department monitors and manages medicine supply issues at a national level so that stocks remain available to meet regional and local demand. Information on stock levels within individual National Health Service trusts is not held centrally.

The Department is continuing to engage with all suppliers of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) to mitigate the supply issue that is affecting the whole of the United Kingdom. Through this, we have managed to secure additional volumes of PERT for 2025 for the UK. We are continuing to work with all suppliers to understand what more can be done to add further resilience to the market. The Department has also reached out to specialist importers who have sourced unlicensed stock to assist in covering the remaining gap in the market.

In the longer term, the Department has had interest from non-UK suppliers wishing to bring their products to the UK and, along with colleagues in the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, we are working with these potential suppliers, and if authorised, these products could further diversify and strengthen the market.

In December 2024, the Department issued further management advice to healthcare professionals. This directs clinicians to consider the unlicensed imports when licensed stock is unavailable and includes actions for integrated care boards to ensure local mitigation plans are put in place and implemented. The Department continues to collaborate closely with NHS England colleagues, clinicians, patient groups, and charities to ensure that these mitigation plans are supporting patients, and routinely updates advice and issues further guidance when necessary. There are no current plans to provide additional funding for unlicensed imports.

The Department will continue to meet with suppliers, clinicians, representatives from the impacted patient advocacy groups, and charities so that they are informed on the supply situation and the mitigation actions being taken.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has met with pro-democracy campaigners in Iran since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary has not visited Iran. The Islamic Republic's human rights record is unacceptable. The UK helped deliver a resolution on the human rights situation in Iran at the UN Third Committee in November 2024. In January, the Foreign Secretary raised human rights directly with his Iranian counterpart. We will continue to raise rights issues directly with the regime, including through our Ambassador in Tehran.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions his Department has had with regulators on supporting the uptake of human-specific technologies to replace the use of animals in the preclinical testing of new medicines.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government is committed to the uptake and development of alternative methods to the use of animals in science. We are engaging with regulators including the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and international medicines regulators such as the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) as to how we will take this commitment forward.

Government support for alternative methods includes human specific technologies such as organoids and organs-on-chips. The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) provides major funding for one of Europe’s largest organ-on-a-chip facilities at Queen Mary University.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had recent discussions with his international counterparts on working with international regulatory bodies to promote the uptake of human-specific technologies.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government is committed to the uptake and development of alternative methods to the use of animals in science. We are engaging with regulators including the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and international medicines regulators such as the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as to how we will take this commitment forward.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department is taking steps to support the teaching of ancient Greek in state schools.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

The study of ancient languages can teach us valuable lessons in history, politics and art that are still relevant today. It helps students understand the evolution of language and gives them the chance to study and analyse ancient texts that provide valuable insights into important questions for the twenty first century.

All schools are free to include Latin, ancient Greek and classics as part of their curriculum. The department has been working with classics organisations to ensure that schools are aware of the free support available to them to help to teach classics and ancient languages. We will be signposting this support on the department's Education Hub shortly. The Education Hub can be accessed here: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department is taking steps to support the teaching of Latin in state schools.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

The study of ancient languages can teach us valuable lessons in history, politics and art that are still relevant today. It helps students understand the evolution of language and gives them the chance to study and analyse ancient texts that provide valuable insights into important questions for the twenty first century.

All schools are free to include Latin, ancient Greek and classics as part of their curriculum. The department has been working with classics organisations to ensure that schools are aware of the free support available to them to help to teach classics and ancient languages. We will be signposting this support on the department's Education Hub shortly. The Education Hub can be accessed here: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help support relevant authorities with the transportation of disabled pupils to and from school.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

I refer the hon. Member for Romford to the answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 13330.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department's China audit will consider (a) Chinese debt relief for low income countries and (b) China's belt and road initiative.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The China Audit will improve the UK's ability - both inside and outside of government - to understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities China poses. The Audit will consider the UK's economic and security interests at home and overseas, and how those interests are impacted by China. The Government is determined to pursue a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has met with officials from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary has not met with officials from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) since 4 July 2024, however the previous Minister of State for Development (Anneliese Dodds MP) met recently in February this year with the Chair, Yasmin Qureshi MP, and CEO, Anthony Smith of WFD. Senior Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) officials meet with WFD on a regular basis.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to improve (a) diagnosis and (b) support for adults with autism.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including autism assessments and support services for autistic people, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. The NICE guideline, Autism spectrum disorder in adults: diagnosis and management, aims to improve access and engagement with interventions and services, and the experience of care, for autistic adults.

On 5 April 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance to help ICBs and the National Health Service to deliver improved outcomes for children, young people, and adults referred to an autism assessment service. The guidance also sets out what support should be available before an assessment and what support should follow a recent diagnosis of autism, based on the available evidence.

The Department is launching an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission, led by Baroness Casey, will start a national conversation about what working age adults, older people, and their families expect from adult social care. While the commission carries out its work, the Department is taking immediate action to improve adult social care. The Government is making available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in 2025/26, which includes a £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant. The Department is also taking forward a range of initiatives in 2025/26, including funding more home adaptations, promoting better use of care technologies, and professionalising the adult social care workforce.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to improve (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of dyslexia in adults.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Dyslexia is a life-long condition, and there is therefore no treatment for dyslexia. Adults who wish to be assessed for dyslexia are advised to contact a local or national dyslexia association for advice. Further information on dyslexia assessments can be found on the NHS.UK website, at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dyslexia/diagnosis/

The Department for Education has invested £1.34 billion in the 2024/25 academic year in education and skills training for adults through the Adult Skills Fund (ASF). The Education and Skills Funding Agency funded ASF includes funds for learning support, which helps providers to meet the additional needs of learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, including the costs of reasonable adjustments, as set out in the Equality Act 2010.

Learning support can cover a range of needs, including an assessment for dyslexia, funding to pay for specialist equipment or helpers, and/or arranging signers or note takers. The Mayoral Strategic Authorities and the Greater London Authority have a devolved ASF, and decide how to make best use of the ASF, beyond the ASF’s statutory entitlements, to meet their local needs.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help promote tourism within the Channel Islands.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

DCMS is responsible for tourism within England, however the UK Government continues to consult and engage with the self-governing Crown Dependencies within the Channel Islands and their respective tourism boards (Visit Jersey and Visit Guernsey).

These tourism boards for the Channel Islands are accountable to their respective Governments and the UK works in collaboration with the Crown Dependencies on tourism policy issues as part of the Common Travel Area.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve mental health support for active military personnel.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to the health and wellbeing of our Armed Forces personnel. All Service personnel have access to mental health support throughout their career, including medical and non-medical services.

For Armed Forces personnel requiring dedicated mental healthcare, the Defence Medical Services (DMS) provides a responsive, flexible, accessible, and comprehensive treatment service. The majority of patients who seek mental health care are managed by their GP; however, some with more complex needs will receive treatment from specialist mental health care services.

The DMS is reshaping mental health provision to reduce waiting lists, improve timelines for patient recovery and refocus on earlier intervention. There will be a single point of access for specialist mental health networks allowing quicker access to initial assessment and earlier allocation to the right treatment pathway. DMS is increasing access to resources and online therapy to improve the care offered by GPs.

Several non-medical interventions across Defence complement medical services, including key MOD initiatives such as the Defence Senior Leaders Mental Fitness and Resilience course (SLMFR), HeadFIT and the Annual Mental Fitness Brief (AMFB). Additionally, each of the single Services provide through career mental health and stress management training.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people are using mental health facilities in Romford constituency.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The number of people accessing all mental health facilities is not available for Romford, although data is available on referrals to specific services, such as Talking Therapies and secondary mental health services, for North East London Integrated Care Board (ICB).

During December 2024, there were 5,150 referrals received for Talking Therapies for the first time in the ICB, while in the same month, there were 12,175 referrals received by secondary mental health services in the same ICB.

Site of Witness and Memory, Albania

Found: _38 Andrew Rosindell .

Found: _38 Andrew Rosindell .

Found: _38 Andrew Rosindell .

Found: Letter dated 03/03/2025 from Emma Reynolds MP to Andrew Rosindell MP and Jim Shannon MP regarding questions