First elected: 12th December 2019
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
These initiatives were driven by Bell Ribeiro-Addy, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Bell Ribeiro-Addy has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
Bell Ribeiro-Addy has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Offensive Weapons Bill 2023-24
Sponsor - Helen Hayes (Lab)
Tax Reform Commission Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Liz Saville Roberts (PC)
National Eye Health Strategy Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Marsha De Cordova (Lab)
Elected Representatives (Prohibition of Deception) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Liz Saville Roberts (PC)
Bullying and respect at work Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Rachael Maskell (LAB)
Bereavement Leave and Pay (Stillborn and Miscarried Babies) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Sarah Owen (Lab)
Abuse of Public-facing Workers (Offences) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Olivia Blake (Lab)
Transport (Disabled Passenger Charter) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Charlotte Nichols (Lab)
Remote Participation in House of Commons Proceedings (Motion) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Dawn Butler (Lab)
Fur Trade (Prohibition) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Taiwo Owatemi (Lab)
Business Standards Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - John McDonnell (Ind)
Equal Pay (Information and Claims) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Stella Creasy (LAB)
Immigration (Health and Social Care Staff) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Christine Jardine (LD)
Remote Participation in House of Commons Proceedings Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Dawn Butler (Lab)
We recognise that women and girls may suffer as a result of the cost of period products.
The so-called ‘tampon tax’ has been abolished, and period underwear now receives the same zero-rate of VAT.
A scheme is in place for education settings, with free products available for all who need them, so periods are not a barrier to education. And all hospital patients can also receive free products.
No assessment of period product schemes operating in Scotland has been made.
We recognise that women and girls may suffer as a result of the cost of period products.
The so-called ‘tampon tax’ has been abolished, and period underwear now receives the same zero-rate of VAT.
A scheme is in place for education settings, with free products available for all who need them, so periods are not a barrier to education. And all hospital patients can also receive free products.
No assessment of period product schemes operating in Scotland has been made.
No decisions regarding Crown, or ‘Directly Managed’ Branches, have been taken.
Any decisions on staffing are a matter for Post Office but we would expect any changes to be carried out in line with due process, including engagement and consultation.
One of the central aims communicated within Post Office's recently announced transformation plan was to prioritise postmasters, including increases in postmaster pay.
No decisions have yet been taken on the future of any Crown, or ‘Directly Managed’ Branches. Although staffing is an operational matter for the Post Office, we would expect any changes to be carried out in line with due process including engagement and consultation.
Post Office has committed to working with the unions to discuss the Chair’s transformation plans over the next three months. A new Consultative Council will also be introduced to work with the Post Office on how these new plans are taken forward, to provide genuine challenge and to make sure the plans remain focused on the needs of postmasters and the communication they serve.
Customers can deposit cash or cheques, withdraw money and check their balance at all the branch types listed as well as at Banking Hubs operated by the Post Office.
Customers can use the Post Office Branch Finder tool online to find out what services are available at their local branch.
No decisions regarding Crown, or ‘Directly Managed’ Branches, have been taken. The Post Office works with local communities to consider how to best meet needs for Post Office services in a local area. The Post Office will continue to deliver on the 11,500 minimum branch requirement set by Government.
The Government is committed to a preventative approach to public health. Keeping people warm and well at home and improving the quality of new and existing homes will play an essential part in enabling people to live longer, healthier lives, reducing pressures on the NHS.
There are multiple targeted schemes delivering energy efficiency measures to low-income and fuel poor households. The Warm Home Discount schemes provide a £150 rebate off bills to eligible low-income households across Great Britain.
The Government has kickstarted delivery of the Warm Homes Plan, including an initial £1.8 billion to support fuel poverty schemes over the next 3 years.
The information requested is not held by this department. The department collects aggregate data on penalty notices issued for unauthorised absence from local authorities in England, through the annual parental responsibility measures attendance census. No information is collected on characteristics of the children concerned. The available data is published here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/parental-responsibility-measures.
On improving school attendance, this government is acting decisively to tackle absence via a new approach rooted in responsibility, partnership and belonging. This includes supporting schools and recognising they have important responsibilities by creating a welcoming, engaging and inclusive environment for children, but that it is also a parent’s legal responsibility to send their children to school every day that they can.
We know that some pupils face additional barriers to attending school regularly. Our ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ guidance particularly emphasises the importance of support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities and mental ill health who often need more individual consideration due to the wider barriers they face.
The new national framework for fixed penalty notices, which has been in place since the start of this academic year, strengthens protections for parents of those with additional needs by, for absence cases other than holiday, introducing an expectation that attendance support will have been provided before a penalty notice can be used. The vast majority of penalty notices for unauthorised absence (89%) are issued for term time holidays.
The Period Products Scheme recently opened for the 2024/25 academic year, with schools and colleges able to order free period products for their pupils and students. Beyond this, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has launched a multi-year Spending Review which will set government spending plans for a minimum of three years of the five-year forecast period. This will set spending policy in line with the government’s wider fiscal strategy and change the way public services are delivered by embedding a mission-led approach.
The Spending Review will conclude in spring 2025.
This government is committed to improving mental health support for all children and young people. This is critical to breaking down barriers to opportunity and learning.
The right support should be available to every young person that needs it, which is why the department will provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school.
The government will also be putting in place new Young Futures hubs, including access to mental health support workers, and will recruit an additional 8,500 new mental health staff to treat children and adults.
To improve children’s mental health, this government is committed to tackling child poverty and alleviating the impact of poverty on families. Child poverty has gone up by 700,000 since 2010, with over four million children now growing up in a low-income family. For too many children, living in poverty robs them of the opportunity to learn and to prosper.
The government’s Child Poverty Taskforce have already started the urgent work to publish its Child Poverty Strategy in spring 2025. The taskforce will drive forward short- and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty. Further details on the taskforce can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/child-poverty-taskforce-kicks-off-urgent-work-to-publish-strategy-in-spring.
Alongside these efforts to tackle the root causes of child poverty, the department also makes use of key national data sets to look at children and young living in economic disadvantage. For example, the department collects its own data set on children and young people’s wellbeing via the Parent, pupil and learner voice panel survey and provides representative data multiple times a year, including splits by subgroups such as for pupils eligible for free school meals. The department has previously also used data from sources such as the Programme for International Student Assessment, the Mental Health of Children and Young People in England survey, and the Health Behaviours of School Aged Children study to understand trends in children’s mental health and wellbeing over time and difference for different groups. The department will continue to use these and to explore new ways to measure the impact of its commitments to lift children out of poverty.
We have made a full assessment of the impacts that implementing packaging extended producer responsibility will have. This includes assessment of the impacts on small businesses, which can be found in Section 8 of the impact assessment: The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024.
Packaging extended producer responsibility cost obligations will only apply to large producers with a turnover over £2 million and who place more than 50 tonnes of packaging on the market. This threshold exempts around 70% of producers from paying these fees. Any large producers who supply the exempt producers with empty packaging will pay the fees associated with that packaging.
The Department has noted the recommendations made in the report, and values Marie Curie as a key stakeholder which engages with us constructively in this area. The primary way the Department supports people nearing the end of life is through special benefit rules which are known as the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL). These enable people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to certain benefits, without needing to attend a medical assessment or serve waiting periods and in most cases, receive the highest rate of benefit.
For many years, the Special Rules applied to people who have 6 months or less to live, they have now been changed so they apply to people who have 12 months or less to live. Changes to the Special Rules mean that thousands of people nearing the end of life are now able to claim fast-tracked financial support from the benefits system six months earlier than they were able to previously.
We are aware of the challenge some people face in finding shared accommodation, and we are working across government to find appropriate solutions including engaging with the newly formed Inter-Ministerial Group on tackling homelessness and rough sleeping.
The Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR) of the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) applies to those claiming Housing Benefit or Universal Credit who are under 35 years of age, living on their own, and renting privately. These individuals will be entitled to the SAR regardless of the size of property they rent.
There are exemptions from the SAR for those who would find it difficult to share accommodation. The exemptions are not designed to tackle supply challenges and therefore we are not considering an exemption for those leaving asylum accommodation. Exempt individuals can claim the higher one-bedroom LHA rate, and these include former residents of homeless hostels and victims of modern slavery.
The homeless hostel exemption was introduced in 2012 to support former rough sleepers following the increase in the SAR from age 25 to 35. The exemption supports homeless people and former rough sleepers to find suitable, stable move on accommodation after receiving appropriate care, supervision and support for at least 3 months within a hostel for homeless people.
I am proud to have social security in my title and this government is prioritising providing security for the most vulnerable, and this includes low income families though Universal Credit, the Household Support Fund and the wider benefits system as well as our manifesto commitments to develop a child poverty strategy and roll out free breakfast clubs in every primary school.
We will be setting out our plans for social security in due course and will fulfil our continued commitment to work with disabled people and families so that their views and voices are at the heart of all that we do.
General practices (GPs) and other National Health Service organisations are encouraged to support patients to use online routes where this would be convenient for them, and there is work to improve the usability of digital tools so that they are accessible to larger numbers of patients. However, a choice of access routes should remain available.
As outlined in the GP Contract, digital services should be provided in addition to other channels for accessing GPs, such as in person visits, rather than as a replacement. Practice receptions should also remain open to ensure that those without access to a telephone or online services are not disadvantaged.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) tests for haemoglobin levels rather than iron levels ahead of blood donation. If the test shows that the haemoglobin is low, the donor is deferred and information is provided on how they can increase haemoglobin levels through altering their diet, and book an appointment with their general practitioner if levels are particularly low. On average, 7% to 11% of donors are deferred because of low haemoglobin levels, but this rises to 12% of black heritage donors and to 25% of female black heritage donors. These deferrals impact on donor retention, as donors deferred for low haemoglobin are less likely to return.
Currently there are no plans to review minimum haemoglobin levels to donate blood. Donors whose haemoglobin levels are below safe levels to donate are deferred in accordance with the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005 and the guidance issued by the Joint UK Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC) which states ‘taking a donation from a person with a haemoglobin concentration below the recommended value may make them anaemic’.
Increasing diversity in the donor base is a priority for NHSBT, so they can provide matched blood for more patients, including those with rare blood types commonly found in black, Asian, and minority ethnic women. NHSBT provides grants to community and faith groups to encourage donation, including in black, Asian, and minority ethnic communicates. The Department provided seed funding for NHSBT to increase its collection capacity, particularly in diverse areas where higher proportions of the population have rare blood types, including Brixton and Brighton.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) tests for haemoglobin levels rather than iron levels ahead of blood donation. If the test shows that the haemoglobin is low, the donor is deferred and information is provided on how they can increase haemoglobin levels through altering their diet, and book an appointment with their general practitioner if levels are particularly low. On average, 7% to 11% of donors are deferred because of low haemoglobin levels, but this rises to 12% of black heritage donors and to 25% of female black heritage donors. These deferrals impact on donor retention, as donors deferred for low haemoglobin are less likely to return.
Currently there are no plans to review minimum haemoglobin levels to donate blood. Donors whose haemoglobin levels are below safe levels to donate are deferred in accordance with the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005 and the guidance issued by the Joint UK Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC) which states ‘taking a donation from a person with a haemoglobin concentration below the recommended value may make them anaemic’.
Increasing diversity in the donor base is a priority for NHSBT, so they can provide matched blood for more patients, including those with rare blood types commonly found in black, Asian, and minority ethnic women. NHSBT provides grants to community and faith groups to encourage donation, including in black, Asian, and minority ethnic communicates. The Department provided seed funding for NHSBT to increase its collection capacity, particularly in diverse areas where higher proportions of the population have rare blood types, including Brixton and Brighton.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) tests for haemoglobin levels rather than iron levels ahead of blood donation. If the test shows that the haemoglobin is low, the donor is deferred and information is provided on how they can increase haemoglobin levels through altering their diet, and book an appointment with their general practitioner if levels are particularly low. On average, 7% to 11% of donors are deferred because of low haemoglobin levels, but this rises to 12% of black heritage donors and to 25% of female black heritage donors. These deferrals impact on donor retention, as donors deferred for low haemoglobin are less likely to return.
Currently there are no plans to review minimum haemoglobin levels to donate blood. Donors whose haemoglobin levels are below safe levels to donate are deferred in accordance with the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005 and the guidance issued by the Joint UK Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC) which states ‘taking a donation from a person with a haemoglobin concentration below the recommended value may make them anaemic’.
Increasing diversity in the donor base is a priority for NHSBT, so they can provide matched blood for more patients, including those with rare blood types commonly found in black, Asian, and minority ethnic women. NHSBT provides grants to community and faith groups to encourage donation, including in black, Asian, and minority ethnic communicates. The Department provided seed funding for NHSBT to increase its collection capacity, particularly in diverse areas where higher proportions of the population have rare blood types, including Brixton and Brighton.
The Maternity Disparities Taskforce is not currently active, having met six times on: 8 March 2022, 16 May 2022, 18 July 2022, 18 April 2023, 5 September 2023 and 31 January 2024. The duration of these meetings were approximately an hour and a half.
It is a priority for the Government to make sure all women and babies receive the high-quality care they deserve, regardless of their background or ethnicity. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety, Women’s Health and Mental Health, Baroness Merron, is considering the immediate action needed to tackle inequalities for women and babies and racism in maternity services; including what targets are needed.
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) is carrying out an evidence review for prostate cancer screening, and this includes different potential ways of screening the whole population from 40 years of age onwards, and targeted screening programmes aimed at groups of men identified as being at higher than average risk, such as those with a family history, carriers of the BRCA2 gene mutation, and based on ethnicity.
The UK NSC is aware of Prostate Cancer UK’s report, and this will be considered as part of its evidence review process, with further information available at the following link:
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) does not currently recommend screening for prostate cancer. This is because of the inaccuracy of the current best test for the condition, the prostate specific antigen test.
A UK NSC evidence review for prostate cancer screening is already underway. We welcome the study by Prostate Cancer UK, and will make sure it is fed into the UK NSC’s review of prostate screening.
The UK National Screening Committee is carrying out an evidence review of prostate cancer screening which includes looking at the evidence for targeted screening of specific high-risk groups. This will determine whether a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test-based screening programme for high-risk groups could provide more good than harm.
Based on the current evidence, the guidance to general practices is not to proactively offer a PSA to men without symptoms as the high level of inaccuracy could lead to unnecessary tests that carry risks of life-changing harm, such as urinary and faecal incontinence, sexual dysfunction, as well as a smaller but serious risk of sepsis. Additionally, some prostate cancers may not produce elevated PSA levels, leading to false-negative results that provide deceptive reassurance.
All employees covered by the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook have the right to request flexible working from day one, without the need to provide a justification.
NHS England is committed to promoting and supporting flexible working opportunities in midwifery, and across the wider National Health Service workforce. They have brought together midwifery leaders from across the system to support the implementation of flexible working across maternity services. There are no plans to assess the adequacy of flexible working arrangements specifically for maternity staff at this time.
In order to bring together questions on the education and training of midwives and the flow of staff into the National Health Service midwifery workforce, a number of strands of the available data are presented below.
Data published by the Office for Students, in the Higher Education Students Early Statistics Survey (HESES), collates figures submitted by individual higher education providers to give an indication of the number of students starting in each academic year. The HESES’ data includes figures on undergraduate and postgraduate midwifery courses in England. The latest published data is for those starting courses in 2023. The following table shows the number of undergraduate and postgraduate starters on midwifery courses in England for 2019 to 2023:
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
Undergraduate starters | 2,930 | 3,460 | 3,565 | 3,305 | 3,255 |
Postgraduate starters | 55 | 100 | 135 | 190 | 195 |
Source: The Office for Students’ HESES data for 2023.
The following table shows the number of qualifiers from undergraduate midwifery courses in England, with a qualifier being defined by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) as a student who gained a qualification during the academic year in question, for the academic years 2020/21 to 2022/23:
| 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 |
Undergraduate midwifery qualifiers | 1,895 | 2,380 | 2,705 |
Source: HESA’s qualifier data 2023
Note: Data is currently only available up to the academic year 2022/23.
Additionally, there are midwives training through an apprenticeship route. The following table shows the number of starts on midwifery apprenticeships, including apprenticeships within NHS and non-NHS organisations, in each of the last five years:
Year | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
Starts | 26 | 39 | 22 | 42 | 72 |
Source: Department for Education Apprenticeships and traineeships statistics, October 2024.
Note: Data on the provisional starts for the year 2023/24 is only available between August 2023 to July 2024.
The Department does not hold data which would allow the identification of the route which joiners to the NHS registered midwifery workforce have taken to become active in the service, or what these flows will be in future years. Data published by NHS England does show the total annual number of staff who join active service across NHS trusts and other core organisations. Joiners are not the same as those recruited to the NHS, as they will include staff returning after breaks in activity. Joiners will also include experienced midwives joining from non-NHS providers. Within this data we can see the number who are joiners at Agenda for Change pay band five, which is where newly qualified or less experience staff would be placed. Data also contains the nationality of staff joining active service, and whilst self-reported nationality is not the same as place of training or previous residence, it does provide a guide to scale. The following table shows the annual number of midwives joining active service in the NHS in England, as well as those joining at band five, and those joining who reported non-United Kingdom nationalities, for each of the last five years up until June:
Year ending | June 2020 | June 2021 | June 2022 | June 2023 | June 2024 |
Annual midwives joining active service | 3,242 | 1,845 | 3,320 | 3,883 | 4,278 |
Joining at band five | 1,685 | 421 | 1,766 | 2,172 | 2,479 |
Joining any grade with a non-UK nationality | 243 | 155 | 247 | 593 | 616 |
Source: NHS England, NHS Workforce Statistics.
In order to bring together questions on the education and training of midwives and the flow of staff into the National Health Service midwifery workforce, a number of strands of the available data are presented below.
Data published by the Office for Students, in the Higher Education Students Early Statistics Survey (HESES), collates figures submitted by individual higher education providers to give an indication of the number of students starting in each academic year. The HESES’ data includes figures on undergraduate and postgraduate midwifery courses in England. The latest published data is for those starting courses in 2023. The following table shows the number of undergraduate and postgraduate starters on midwifery courses in England for 2019 to 2023:
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
Undergraduate starters | 2,930 | 3,460 | 3,565 | 3,305 | 3,255 |
Postgraduate starters | 55 | 100 | 135 | 190 | 195 |
Source: The Office for Students’ HESES data for 2023.
The following table shows the number of qualifiers from undergraduate midwifery courses in England, with a qualifier being defined by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) as a student who gained a qualification during the academic year in question, for the academic years 2020/21 to 2022/23:
| 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 |
Undergraduate midwifery qualifiers | 1,895 | 2,380 | 2,705 |
Source: HESA’s qualifier data 2023
Note: Data is currently only available up to the academic year 2022/23.
Additionally, there are midwives training through an apprenticeship route. The following table shows the number of starts on midwifery apprenticeships, including apprenticeships within NHS and non-NHS organisations, in each of the last five years:
Year | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
Starts | 26 | 39 | 22 | 42 | 72 |
Source: Department for Education Apprenticeships and traineeships statistics, October 2024.
Note: Data on the provisional starts for the year 2023/24 is only available between August 2023 to July 2024.
The Department does not hold data which would allow the identification of the route which joiners to the NHS registered midwifery workforce have taken to become active in the service, or what these flows will be in future years. Data published by NHS England does show the total annual number of staff who join active service across NHS trusts and other core organisations. Joiners are not the same as those recruited to the NHS, as they will include staff returning after breaks in activity. Joiners will also include experienced midwives joining from non-NHS providers. Within this data we can see the number who are joiners at Agenda for Change pay band five, which is where newly qualified or less experience staff would be placed. Data also contains the nationality of staff joining active service, and whilst self-reported nationality is not the same as place of training or previous residence, it does provide a guide to scale. The following table shows the annual number of midwives joining active service in the NHS in England, as well as those joining at band five, and those joining who reported non-United Kingdom nationalities, for each of the last five years up until June:
Year ending | June 2020 | June 2021 | June 2022 | June 2023 | June 2024 |
Annual midwives joining active service | 3,242 | 1,845 | 3,320 | 3,883 | 4,278 |
Joining at band five | 1,685 | 421 | 1,766 | 2,172 | 2,479 |
Joining any grade with a non-UK nationality | 243 | 155 | 247 | 593 | 616 |
Source: NHS England, NHS Workforce Statistics.
In order to bring together questions on the education and training of midwives and the flow of staff into the National Health Service midwifery workforce, a number of strands of the available data are presented below.
Data published by the Office for Students, in the Higher Education Students Early Statistics Survey (HESES), collates figures submitted by individual higher education providers to give an indication of the number of students starting in each academic year. The HESES’ data includes figures on undergraduate and postgraduate midwifery courses in England. The latest published data is for those starting courses in 2023. The following table shows the number of undergraduate and postgraduate starters on midwifery courses in England for 2019 to 2023:
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
Undergraduate starters | 2,930 | 3,460 | 3,565 | 3,305 | 3,255 |
Postgraduate starters | 55 | 100 | 135 | 190 | 195 |
Source: The Office for Students’ HESES data for 2023.
The following table shows the number of qualifiers from undergraduate midwifery courses in England, with a qualifier being defined by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) as a student who gained a qualification during the academic year in question, for the academic years 2020/21 to 2022/23:
| 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 |
Undergraduate midwifery qualifiers | 1,895 | 2,380 | 2,705 |
Source: HESA’s qualifier data 2023
Note: Data is currently only available up to the academic year 2022/23.
Additionally, there are midwives training through an apprenticeship route. The following table shows the number of starts on midwifery apprenticeships, including apprenticeships within NHS and non-NHS organisations, in each of the last five years:
Year | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
Starts | 26 | 39 | 22 | 42 | 72 |
Source: Department for Education Apprenticeships and traineeships statistics, October 2024.
Note: Data on the provisional starts for the year 2023/24 is only available between August 2023 to July 2024.
The Department does not hold data which would allow the identification of the route which joiners to the NHS registered midwifery workforce have taken to become active in the service, or what these flows will be in future years. Data published by NHS England does show the total annual number of staff who join active service across NHS trusts and other core organisations. Joiners are not the same as those recruited to the NHS, as they will include staff returning after breaks in activity. Joiners will also include experienced midwives joining from non-NHS providers. Within this data we can see the number who are joiners at Agenda for Change pay band five, which is where newly qualified or less experience staff would be placed. Data also contains the nationality of staff joining active service, and whilst self-reported nationality is not the same as place of training or previous residence, it does provide a guide to scale. The following table shows the annual number of midwives joining active service in the NHS in England, as well as those joining at band five, and those joining who reported non-United Kingdom nationalities, for each of the last five years up until June:
Year ending | June 2020 | June 2021 | June 2022 | June 2023 | June 2024 |
Annual midwives joining active service | 3,242 | 1,845 | 3,320 | 3,883 | 4,278 |
Joining at band five | 1,685 | 421 | 1,766 | 2,172 | 2,479 |
Joining any grade with a non-UK nationality | 243 | 155 | 247 | 593 | 616 |
Source: NHS England, NHS Workforce Statistics.
In order to bring together questions on the education and training of midwives and the flow of staff into the National Health Service midwifery workforce, a number of strands of the available data are presented below.
Data published by the Office for Students, in the Higher Education Students Early Statistics Survey (HESES), collates figures submitted by individual higher education providers to give an indication of the number of students starting in each academic year. The HESES’ data includes figures on undergraduate and postgraduate midwifery courses in England. The latest published data is for those starting courses in 2023. The following table shows the number of undergraduate and postgraduate starters on midwifery courses in England for 2019 to 2023:
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
Undergraduate starters | 2,930 | 3,460 | 3,565 | 3,305 | 3,255 |
Postgraduate starters | 55 | 100 | 135 | 190 | 195 |
Source: The Office for Students’ HESES data for 2023.
The following table shows the number of qualifiers from undergraduate midwifery courses in England, with a qualifier being defined by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) as a student who gained a qualification during the academic year in question, for the academic years 2020/21 to 2022/23:
| 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 |
Undergraduate midwifery qualifiers | 1,895 | 2,380 | 2,705 |
Source: HESA’s qualifier data 2023
Note: Data is currently only available up to the academic year 2022/23.
Additionally, there are midwives training through an apprenticeship route. The following table shows the number of starts on midwifery apprenticeships, including apprenticeships within NHS and non-NHS organisations, in each of the last five years:
Year | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
Starts | 26 | 39 | 22 | 42 | 72 |
Source: Department for Education Apprenticeships and traineeships statistics, October 2024.
Note: Data on the provisional starts for the year 2023/24 is only available between August 2023 to July 2024.
The Department does not hold data which would allow the identification of the route which joiners to the NHS registered midwifery workforce have taken to become active in the service, or what these flows will be in future years. Data published by NHS England does show the total annual number of staff who join active service across NHS trusts and other core organisations. Joiners are not the same as those recruited to the NHS, as they will include staff returning after breaks in activity. Joiners will also include experienced midwives joining from non-NHS providers. Within this data we can see the number who are joiners at Agenda for Change pay band five, which is where newly qualified or less experience staff would be placed. Data also contains the nationality of staff joining active service, and whilst self-reported nationality is not the same as place of training or previous residence, it does provide a guide to scale. The following table shows the annual number of midwives joining active service in the NHS in England, as well as those joining at band five, and those joining who reported non-United Kingdom nationalities, for each of the last five years up until June:
Year ending | June 2020 | June 2021 | June 2022 | June 2023 | June 2024 |
Annual midwives joining active service | 3,242 | 1,845 | 3,320 | 3,883 | 4,278 |
Joining at band five | 1,685 | 421 | 1,766 | 2,172 | 2,479 |
Joining any grade with a non-UK nationality | 243 | 155 | 247 | 593 | 616 |
Source: NHS England, NHS Workforce Statistics.
The Government is committed to creating the healthiest generation of children ever, as set out in our Child Health Action Plan. The Healthy Start scheme was introduced in 2006 to encourage a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies, and young children under four years old from very low-income households. It can be used to buy, or can be put towards the cost of, fruit, vegetables, pulses, milk, and infant formula. Healthy Start beneficiaries have access to free Healthy Start Vitamins for pregnant women and children aged under four years old.
The NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) delivers the scheme on behalf of the Department. The NHS BSA is committed to increasing uptake of the Healthy Start scheme to ensure as many children as possible have a healthy start in life.
The NHS BSA promotes the Healthy Start scheme through its digital channels and has created free tools to help stakeholders promote the scheme locally. The NHS BSA has also reached out to stakeholders to see how it can support them in promoting the scheme.
The Government is committed to a prosperous horticulture sector and values the vital work of the industry in maintaining a secure supply of fruit and vegetables.
The prevention of ill health is a clear mission for the Government, and the cornerstone of this is supporting people to live healthier lives. The Government is committed to creating the healthiest generation of children ever, as set out in our Child Health Action Plan. The Healthy Start scheme was introduced in 2006 to encourage a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies, and young children under four years old from very low-income households. It can be used to buy, or can be put towards the cost of, fruit, vegetables, pulses, milk, and infant formula. Healthy Start beneficiaries have access to free Healthy Start Vitamins for pregnant women and children aged under four years old.
The Government also encourages everyone to have a healthy balanced diet in line with the United Kingdom’s Eatwell Guide. Further action on diet and obesity under the Government’s Health Mission will be set out in due course.
No such assessment has been made. National Health Service organisations and primary care providers regularly review all their estates locally to ensure they meet the required standards for ventilation and infection, as well as the required prevention and control measures, and will invest in improvements where required. Guidance is provided to the NHS on air quality in its facilities in the Health Technical Memorandum 03-01: Specialised ventilation for healthcare premises, and the NHS Estates Technical Bulletin (NETB 2023/01A): application of HEPA filter devices for air cleaning in healthcare spaces: guidance and standards, with further information available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/specialised-ventilation-for-healthcare-buildings/
Guidance to the NHS on air quality in its facilities is also provided in the NHS Estates Technical Bulletin (NETB 2023/01B): application of ultraviolet (UVC) devices for air cleaning in occupied healthcare spaces: guidance and standards, with further information available at the following link:
NHS guidance is reviewed and updated in response to changes in clinical practice, technology, and risk assessments.
We have no plans to instruct the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to review its guideline on managing the long-term effects of COVID-19. The NICE develops its guidance independently and keeps its published guidelines under active surveillance so that it is able to update its recommendations in light of any significant new evidence. Decisions on updates to existing guidance are made by the NICE’s Prioritisation Board, in line with NICE’s published common prioritisation framework. The NICE does not currently have plans to update its guideline on managing the long-term effects of COVID-19.
The most recent data from the Office for National Statistics estimated that for the 4-week period ending 5 March 2023, 4.41% of healthcare workers and 5.33% of social care workers had self-reported long COVID symptoms of any duration.
There are currently approximately 65 locally funded early support hubs in England offering early access mental health interventions to thousands of children and young people aged 11 to 25 years old, including those from low-income families.
The Department is running a £8 million Shared Outcomes Fund project throughout 2024/25 to boost and evaluate the impact of 24 of these existing early support hubs, including two in London.
In addition, we will roll out Young Futures hubs in every community. This national network is expected to bring local services together, deliver support for teenagers at risk of being drawn into crime or facing mental health challenges and, where appropriate, deliver universal youth provision. They will provide open access mental health support for children and young people in every community.
We will be working closely with colleagues across the Government to design Young Futures hubs, as well as engaging widely with young people and stakeholders to shape their service offer.
The Government does not believe the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) will bring us closer to a world without nuclear weapons. The UK will not sign, ratify or engage with the Treaty and will not send Observers to the Third Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW. The Government firmly believes that the best way to achieve our collective goal of a world without nuclear weapons is through gradual multilateral disarmament negotiated using a step-by-step approach, under the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
In the first year after the Taliban takeover, the UK provided £17 million to support partners in Afghanistan's neighbouring countries. This support assisted Afghan migrants and asylum seekers moving across borders, and refugee and host communities in those countries. We are also planning £161 million of funding to Afghanistan this financial year (2024-5), which includes both humanitarian aid and support for essential services in Afghanistan. We continue to monitor the situation closely.
Ministers are reviewing the FCDO's Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget to ensure it delivers on our priorities. We are committed to transparency and will publish ODA allocations for 2024-25. We are planning £161 million in aid this financial year (2024-25), with 50 per cent targeted for women and girls. UK funding supports several NGOs who promote human rights in Afghanistan, including those of women and minorities. We also contribute to an Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund project that supports civil society, particularly women-led organisations.
Following the agreement reached on 3 October, we will work with Mauritius to restart visits to the islands as soon as possible, including Diego Garcia, for Chagossians. In addition, Mauritius will be free to implement a programme of resettlement on the islands other than Diego Garcia.
We recognise the importance of the Chagos Archipelago to Chagossians and have worked to ensure the agreement with Mauritius reflects their interests. Under the terms of the agreement, Mauritius will be free to implement a programme of resettlement on the islands, other than Diego Garcia, and we will finance a new trust fund for Mauritius in support of Chagossians. Separate to the agreement, we will increase our support to Chagossians in the UK and will work with Mauritius to restart visits to the islands at the earliest opportunity, including Diego Garcia, for Chagossians.
HMRC is committed to tackling error and fraud whilst also ensuring the R&D tax relief claims process is straightforward for genuine claimants.
At Autumn Budget, HMRC published the Approach to Research and Development tax Reliefs for 2023 to 2024, which shows that the average time to complete a compliance check for 2023-24 is 246 days. The length of a compliance check will depend on a range of factors, including the complexity of the claim. The additional information required upfront to support claims is being used to inform HMRC’s risking of claims and compliance approach.
HMRC is committed to tackling error and fraud whilst also ensuring the R&D tax relief claims process is straightforward for genuine claimants.
At Autumn Budget, HMRC published the Approach to Research and Development tax Reliefs for 2023 to 2024, which shows that the average time to complete a compliance check for 2023-24 is 246 days. The length of a compliance check will depend on a range of factors, including the complexity of the claim. The additional information required upfront to support claims is being used to inform HMRC’s risking of claims and compliance approach.
The government will set out any changes to taxation at fiscal events. Its plans at the Budget on October 30th will support its objectives of restoring fiscal responsibility whilst protecting working people.
Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, and associated Codes of Practice, property seized as evidence may only be retained for so long as is necessary and that the officer in charge of the investigation is responsible for ensuring that the property is returned as soon as practicable.
In police custody, the custody officer is responsible for the safekeeping of any property taken from a detainee whilst the property remains at the police station.
As set out in the College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice, the detainee should be given the opportunity to check and sign the custody record to confirm that the record of items seized is correct. Forces should provide adequate storage and security for a detainee’s property.
Specific processes and responsibilities for returning seized property will depend on local force policies.
If necessary, a person who wishes to claim property seized by the police may apply to a magistrate’s court under the Police (Property) Act 1897.
The Home Office does not hold information on the handling of suspects’ property or any details regarding lost property recorded by the Metropolitan Police or any other police forces. This information may be held by the police force itself or by the PCC or PCC equivalent (such as the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime in the Metropolitan Police area).
Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, and associated Codes of Practice, property seized as evidence may only be retained for so long as is necessary and that the officer in charge of the investigation is responsible for ensuring that the property is returned as soon as practicable.
In police custody, the custody officer is responsible for the safekeeping of any property taken from a detainee whilst the property remains at the police station.
As set out in the College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice, the detainee should be given the opportunity to check and sign the custody record to confirm that the record of items seized is correct. Forces should provide adequate storage and security for a detainee’s property.
Specific processes and responsibilities for returning seized property will depend on local force policies.
If necessary, a person who wishes to claim property seized by the police may apply to a magistrate’s court under the Police (Property) Act 1897.
The Home Office does not hold information on the handling of suspects’ property or any details regarding lost property recorded by the Metropolitan Police or any other police forces. This information may be held by the police force itself or by the PCC or PCC equivalent (such as the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime in the Metropolitan Police area).
Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, and associated Codes of Practice, property seized as evidence may only be retained for so long as is necessary and that the officer in charge of the investigation is responsible for ensuring that the property is returned as soon as practicable.
In police custody, the custody officer is responsible for the safekeeping of any property taken from a detainee whilst the property remains at the police station.
As set out in the College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice, the detainee should be given the opportunity to check and sign the custody record to confirm that the record of items seized is correct. Forces should provide adequate storage and security for a detainee’s property.
Specific processes and responsibilities for returning seized property will depend on local force policies.
If necessary, a person who wishes to claim property seized by the police may apply to a magistrate’s court under the Police (Property) Act 1897.
The Home Office does not hold information on the handling of suspects’ property or any details regarding lost property recorded by the Metropolitan Police or any other police forces. This information may be held by the police force itself or by the PCC or PCC equivalent (such as the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime in the Metropolitan Police area).
Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, and associated Codes of Practice, property seized as evidence may only be retained for so long as is necessary and that the officer in charge of the investigation is responsible for ensuring that the property is returned as soon as practicable.
In police custody, the custody officer is responsible for the safekeeping of any property taken from a detainee whilst the property remains at the police station.
As set out in the College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice, the detainee should be given the opportunity to check and sign the custody record to confirm that the record of items seized is correct. Forces should provide adequate storage and security for a detainee’s property.
Specific processes and responsibilities for returning seized property will depend on local force policies.
If necessary, a person who wishes to claim property seized by the police may apply to a magistrate’s court under the Police (Property) Act 1897.
The Home Office does not hold information on the handling of suspects’ property or any details regarding lost property recorded by the Metropolitan Police or any other police forces. This information may be held by the police force itself or by the PCC or PCC equivalent (such as the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime in the Metropolitan Police area).
Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, and associated Codes of Practice, property seized as evidence may only be retained for so long as is necessary and that the officer in charge of the investigation is responsible for ensuring that the property is returned as soon as practicable.
In police custody, the custody officer is responsible for the safekeeping of any property taken from a detainee whilst the property remains at the police station.
As set out in the College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice, the detainee should be given the opportunity to check and sign the custody record to confirm that the record of items seized is correct. Forces should provide adequate storage and security for a detainee’s property.
Specific processes and responsibilities for returning seized property will depend on local force policies.
If necessary, a person who wishes to claim property seized by the police may apply to a magistrate’s court under the Police (Property) Act 1897.
The Home Office does not hold information on the handling of suspects’ property or any details regarding lost property recorded by the Metropolitan Police or any other police forces. This information may be held by the police force itself or by the PCC or PCC equivalent (such as the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime in the Metropolitan Police area).
The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on initial decisions on asylum claims by nationality can be found in table Asy_D02 of the ‘asylum and resettlement detailed datasets’. The Home Office does not publish initial decisions on asylum claims by religion.
Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbooks. The latest data relates to the year ending June 2024. Data for the year ending September 2024 will be published on 28 November 2024.
All asylum and human rights claims, including those based on religious persecution, are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Our guidance for considering asylum claims is available on GOV.UK at: Assessing credibility and refugee status: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Each individual assessment is made against the background of relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information. This is based on evidence taken from a wide range of reliable sources, including reputable media outlets; local, national, and international organisations, such as human rights organisations; and information from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office. Our assessment of the situation of a given group in a given country, is set out in the relevant country policy and information note, which is available on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/country-policy-and-information-notes.