Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients in the North West have waited more than 18 months for NHS treatment in each month since July 2024; and what assessment she has made of the reasons for those delays.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Hon Member can find the requested data at the link below:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/
The historic time series shows that elective waiting times increased substantially between 2010 and 2024, reaching their highest recorded level towards the end of that period.
The Hon Member can find a comprehensive assessment of the reasons for that decline in performance in the independent report published by Lord Darzi in September 2024 on the state of the National Health Service, available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-investigation-of-the-nhs-in-england
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much money has been withheld for contracts with Capita across all Departments since the company took over administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme; and if she will outline what penalties can be levied against the company for delivery failures.
Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Cabinet Office does not hold this information centrally. Individual Contracting Authorities are responsible for managing their own contracts with Capita, including any withholding of performance related payments, which are governed by specific contractual terms and subject to commercial confidentiality.
In relation to the contract for administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme, which was awarded in 2023, the Cabinet Office has withheld £9.9 million in contract payments for undelivered milestones. In addition, the contract provides for remedies in the event of delivery failure, including the withholding of milestone payments and the application of service credits and other financial penalties in line with contractual performance measures.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department can take through diplomatic channels to establish the whereabouts and welfare of British children believed to have been taken to Russia by a parent without the consent of the other parent.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The Government takes International Parental Child Abduction extremely seriously. When we are made aware of a child's abduction to Russia or any other country, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will contact the relevant authorities in that country to express our official interest in court cases and social service activities, where appropriate, and we will support the left behind parent with country specific information.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps HM Passport Office can take where it receives information that a parent who is subject to restrictions on international travel may possess or obtain a passport issued by another country.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The prevention of the use of a foreign passport where international travel restrictions apply is a matter for the relevant authorities. His Majesty’s Passport Office has no jurisdiction over the issuing or possession of passports issued by any country other than the UK.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many sick days have been taken by staff of his Department in each of the last five years; and what the cost of such absences was in each such year.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
Please see below table for the total number of sickness days taken at HM Treasury by financial year:
| 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
Total sickness days taken | 6440.5 | 6952.5 | 7184 | 7139 | 9685 |
Note that HM Treasury increased headcount during 2025-26 due to machinery of government changes, which may partially contribute to the increase in the total working days lost during the 2025-26 financial year. Annual headcount data for HM Treasury can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-service-statistics
HM Treasury does not report data on the yearly cost of sickness absence.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the National Audit Office’s report Upgrading the electricity transmission network, published on 11 September 2026, on the proposed Morgan and Morecambe Offshore Wind Farms Transmission Assets Development Consent Order, including the case for further consideration of alternative transmission arrangements.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Morgan and Morecambe Transmission Assets development consent was granted 14 September 2026. The Decision Letter, and the Examining Authority's Recommendation Report, considered the alternative cable route and the relevant National Policy Statements.
The National Audit Office’s report published on 11 September is an assessment of the electricity transmission network in Great Britain and not individual energy projects.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of 'Community Funds for Transmission Infrastructure: Guidance' to compensate communities affected by the Morgan and Morecambe Transmission Assets cabling corridor.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is committed to monitoring and evaluating the overall effectiveness of the guidance. The guidance does not intend to provide compensation for the impacts of individual projects. Rather, it sets out the Government's expectations for how communities living near to new or significantly upgraded electricity transmission infrastructure can share in the benefits that infrastructure brings.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the emerging recommendations in her Department's document entitled The Timms Review: co-chair update September 2026, updated on 11 September 2026, whether existing Personal Independence Payment claimants will be automatically transferred to any reformed benefit or whether they will be required to make a new claim or undergo a new assessment.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Timms Review shared a set of emerging recommendations on 9th September. These are not final recommendations of the Review. The steering group developed them using the evidence they have heard so far from D/deaf and disabled people, people with long-term health conditions, organisations and subject experts.
The steering group is now testing and refining these emerging recommendations through shaping recommendations workshops taking place across the UK in September and October.
The review will report to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with its final recommendations in autumn 2026.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the emerging recommendations in his Department's document entitled The Timms Review: co-chair update September 2026, updated on 11 September 2026, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of reducing award reviews on the number of people who will be entitled to claim Personal Independence Payment.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Timms Review shared a set of emerging recommendations on 9th September. These are not final recommendations of the Review. The steering group developed them using the evidence they have heard so far from D/deaf and disabled people, people with long-term health conditions, organisations and subject experts.
The steering group is now testing and refining these emerging recommendations through shaping recommendations workshops taking place across the UK in September and October.
The review will report to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with its final recommendations in autumn 2026.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the emerging recommendations in his Department's document entitled The Timms Review: co-chair update September 2026, updated on 11 September 2026, whether he has assessed who will be responsible for commissioning and delivering the proposed Personal Independence Payment advocacy service.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Timms Review shared a set of emerging recommendations on 9th September. These are not final recommendations of the Review. The steering group developed them using the evidence they have heard so far from D/deaf and disabled people, people with long-term health conditions, organisations and subject experts.
The steering group is now testing and refining these emerging recommendations through shaping recommendations workshops taking place across the UK in September and October.
The review will report to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with its final recommendations in autumn 2026.