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, what steps he has taken to reduce average diagnosis times for endometriosis; and what plans he has to meet the Women’s Health Strategy targets.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is unacceptable that women can wait up to 10 years for an endometriosis diagnosis and the Government is committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care for gynaecological conditions, including endometriosis.
Tackling waiting lists is a key part of our Health Mission. We have now exceeded our pledge to deliver an extra two million operations, scans, and appointments, having now delivered over three million more appointments.
In November 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence updated its guideline on the diagnosis and management of endometriosis to make firmer recommendations on referral and investigations, which will help women receive a diagnosis and effective treatment faster. This includes updated recommendations that for women with symptoms of endometriosis, initial pharmacological treatment should take place in primary care, and that this can take place in parallel with additional investigations and referral to secondary care if needed. The guideline is available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng73
The Government’s focus is on turning the commitments in the Women's Health Strategy into tangible action, such as providing emergency hormonal contraception free of charge at pharmacies on the National Health Service from October 2025, taking urgent action to tackle gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Reform Plan, and setting out how we will eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 through the new cervical cancer plan.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is available to ensure that children with Down syndrome receive (a) inclusive and (b) appropriate education in mainstream schools in (i) Fylde constituency and (ii) Lancashire.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
Improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools is a key part of our ambition to ensure that all children and young people receive the support they need, in the most appropriate setting.
High-quality teaching is central to ensuring that all pupils, including those with Down’s Syndrome or other types of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), are given the best possible opportunity to achieve. To support all teachers, the department is implementing a range of teacher training reforms to ensure teachers have the skills to support all pupils to succeed.
On 1 September 2024, the government introduced a new mandatory leadership level qualification for special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs) in mainstream schools. The qualification will play a key role in improving outcomes for pupils with SEND, including Down’s Syndrome, by ensuring SENCOs consistently receive high-quality, evidence-based training on how best to support children with SEND.
We are also strengthening the evidence base of what works to improve inclusive practice in mainstream settings. We have commissioned evidence reviews from Newcastle University and University College London. These will help to drive inclusive practices by highlighting what the best available evidence suggests are the most effective tools, strategies and approaches for teachers and other relevant staff in mainstream settings to identify and support children and young people with different types of needs.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what military support his Department provides to protect (a) buildings owned by and (b) personnel working for civilian defence contractors.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Contractor buildings and personnel located within the Defence Estate are covered by the security arrangements of the site at which they are situated. Depending on the outputs of the site this may include the use of military support to provide the security arrangements. For those contractor buildings and personnel not based on the Defence Estate, the Minstry of Defence (MOD) do not provide military support. Defence has well established mandated security policies and processes to ensure Defence Industry security controls and measures meet with MODs risk appetite.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help support the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
As set out in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Royal Charter, the six member countries contribute to the funding of the Commission in proportion to the number of graves maintained for each nation’s Armed Forces. The United Kingdom is the largest contributor, paying 79% of the Commission’s budget via quarterly payments. For this year, that equates to a UK contribution of £59 million.
Given the scale of the UK contribution, the Secretary of State for Defence is the Chair of the CWGC. Additionally, the Defence Services Secretary represents Defence at the quarterly CWGC Commissioners’ meetings and the regular finance meetings where budgets are agreed and expenditure monitored.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) also work closely with the CWGC on selected commemorative events. Alongside this year’s landmark VE Day 80 and VJ Day 80 anniversaries, DCMS are leading Government assistance to the CWGC’s delivery of the ‘For Evermore Tour’, a programme of over 250 mobile exhibitions and events across the UK and at key global commemorative sites, to honour and share the stories of those who served in the Second World War. Questions related to that specific assistance should be addressed to DCMS.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2025 to Question 60125 on Armed Forces: Buildings, whether there is a standard process for vetting (a) tenants or (b) leaseholders of Ministry of Defence properties.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Before a lease is granted to a third party, their financial and general reliability is investigated by Ministry of Defence (MOD) Officials, via references from banks and, where possible, from a previous landlord, solicitors, or via a professional background checking service.
In addition, as part of the vetting process for civilian sublet tenancies, the following checks are completed by a third party, Let Alliance, on behalf of MOD’s contractor, Pinnacle: the undertaking of an income, credit, a Right to Rent and Sanctions check and obtaining work references.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2025 to Question 60125 on Armed Forces: Buildings, how many of those properties are in Fylde.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The information is not held in the format requested and could only be provided by retrieving and interrogating large amounts of data which could only be completed at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help maintain the number of community allotments.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We recognise the importance of community allotments and the immense contribution they make to the health, wellbeing and spirit of communities.
Local Authorities have a duty to provide allotments if there is sufficient demand for allotments.
The responsibility for the running, management, and organisation of these allotments falls entirely on the Local Authority. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government does not provide any specific guidance or regulations on how these allotments should be managed.
However, through the Government’s Green Flag Award scheme, allotments (if entered as a community garden) can be awarded for its quality standards.
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, if he will extend access to cardiovascular screening to people under 40 with a family history of heart disease.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The NHS Health Check is a core component of England’s cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention programme, which assesses the risk factors for CVD in people aged 40 to 74 years old, provides advice on how to reduce the risk of developing CVD, and refers people to behaviour support programmes, clinical assessment, and treatment where appropriate.
As part of ongoing reviews to ensure the programme remains evidence based, we are assessing the evidence for expanding eligibility to people under 40 years of age. This work will inform the ongoing policy for the NHS Health Check programme.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance she has issued to schools to deal with extreme weather warnings.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department has an Education Hub, which is a site for parents, pupils, education professionals and the media, that captures everything they need to know about the education system. On 16 June 2025, the Education Hub published an article offering guidance for schools and educational settings on hot weather and heatwaves. This guidance is available here: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2025/06/hot-weather-and-heatwaves-guidance-for-schools-and-other-education-settings/.
The department also publishes guidance on emergency planning and response for education, childcare and children’s social care settings. This includes a section on severe weather, including extreme heat, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-planning-and-response-for-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings.
The UK Health Security Agency also publishes guidance for teachers and other educational professionals about looking after children and those in early years settings before and during hot weather, covering health risks from heat and how to protect children when at school. This guidance can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/looking-after-children-and-those-in-early-years-settings-before-and-during-hot-weather-teachers-and-other-educational-professionals.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help reduce fatalities involving young drivers in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads, and we are exploring options to tackle the root causes of this.
THINK!, the Government’s flagship road safety campaign aims to change attitudes and behaviours among those at risk of injury on our roads. The primary audience for THINK! is young men aged 17-24. The campaign runs nationally across England and Wales targeting priority issues such as drink driving and speeding, as well as communicating key policy interventions.
Government treats road safety with the utmost seriousness, and we are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. My Department is developing its Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course.