Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the future role of Physician Associates and Anaesthesia Associates has been within the scope of discussions (a) he and (b) his Department have had with the British Medical Association in relation to potential strike action.

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

My rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and Departmental officials regularly discuss a wide range of matters with the British Medical Association (BMA) in relation to the working conditions of doctors and specifically in relation to the current dispute with the Resident Doctors Committee. The BMA has raised the issue of the differential in starting salaries between some resident doctors and physician associates and anaesthesia associates both in discussions and publicly.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of acceptation of the recommendations of the Leng review on the number of (a) Physicians Associates and (b) Anaesthesia Associates.

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

The principal question of the Leng Review was to assess whether the roles of physician associates and anaesthesia associates, now to be known as physician assistants and physician assistants in anaesthesia, are safe and effective. The review’s findings were clear that, with changes in line with its recommendations, there remains a place for these roles to continue as supportive, complementary members of medical teams.

While decisions about recruitment are a matter for individual National Health Service employers at a local level, physician assistants and physician assistants in anaesthesia will continue to play an important role in the NHS.

Our forthcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan will look at how to get the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the best care, and we will consider the findings of the Leng Review when developing the plan.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proportion of staff in his Department did not meet the minimum office attendance target in the latest period for which data is available; and what sanctions his Department issues to staff who do not meet this target.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Office follows the cross Civil Service expectation that everyone spend at least 60% of their time at a Government building or on official business, such as visiting stakeholders, unless they have an agreed adjustment or exception. Deputy Directors monitor records of team office attendance and therefore data is not held centrally.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proportion of staff in his Department have flexible working arrangements; and how many of those work compressed hours.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

At the Northern Ireland Office, flexible working requests are submitted directly to line managers for discussion and approval. The department does not maintain data centrally on the number of staff working compressed hours.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proportion of staff in his Department have flexible working arrangements; and how many of those work compressed hours.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other Government bodies, principally the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Justice, who remain the employers. All staff assigned to the Scotland Office adhere to the policies of their parent department, including those on flexible working.

The Scotland Office has three members of staff with formal compressed hours contracts.

Found: Labour; Forest of Dean) Pam Cox (Labour; Colchester) Linsey Farnsworth (Labour; Amber Valley) Sir Ashley Fox

Found: Nokes MP Chris Evans MP In the 2024 Parliament: The Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP (Chair) Sir Ashley Fox

Found: meeting Members present: Andy Slaughter (Chair); Josh Babarinde; Pam Cox; Linsey Farnsworth; Sir Ashley Fox

Found: Sir Ashley Fox declared his interests as on the Register.