Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will consider the potential merits of requiring police officers to treat all young people who claim to be under 18 as such unless there is clear evidence to the contrary.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Strip search is one of the most intrusive powers available to the police. There will be times when it is necessary to use such powers, to prevent and detect crime, protect officers or the public. The Government is clear that they must be exercised fairly, respectfully and lawfully, and particularly for strip-searches on children, with regard for the child’s welfare and dignity.

We recognise concerns about where children may be treated as older than they are because of their size, build or other characteristics. We are considering measures that will aim to reduce any implied emphasis on physical appearance when officers assess age and to support a more objective, child-centred approach in practice.

We recognise that repeat strip searches of children can cause significant harm. The Home Office now collects annual data on the use of strip search in custody and under stop and search. The expansion of the Annual Data Requirement has strengthened the quality and consistency of information collected on strip searches, enabling clearer scrutiny of police practice and better-informed safeguarding assessments. Police forces are now required to provide more detailed and consistent data on searches conducted both in custody and under stop and search powers. We are considering further safeguarding measures for repeat strip searches and to improve data recording and collection so that they can be better identified, scrutinised and reviewed.

We recognise that failures to meet statutory safeguards are unacceptable. As part of our manifesto commitments, we are considering a package of measures to introduce new legal safeguards around strip searching children and young people. These reforms will strengthen safeguarding, improve accountability and oversight, and provide greater clarity and consistency in the use of these powers.

Police forces are operationally independent, and decisions on the handling of individual cases, including misconduct and complaints, are a matter for the police and the relevant oversight bodies. There is an established framework for referring the most serious matters to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and due process must be followed in each case.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will consider the potential merits of requiring police forces to refer all non-compliant strip searches of children to the IOPC.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Strip search is one of the most intrusive powers available to the police. There will be times when it is necessary to use such powers, to prevent and detect crime, protect officers or the public. The Government is clear that they must be exercised fairly, respectfully and lawfully, and particularly for strip-searches on children, with regard for the child’s welfare and dignity.

We recognise concerns about where children may be treated as older than they are because of their size, build or other characteristics. We are considering measures that will aim to reduce any implied emphasis on physical appearance when officers assess age and to support a more objective, child-centred approach in practice.

We recognise that repeat strip searches of children can cause significant harm. The Home Office now collects annual data on the use of strip search in custody and under stop and search. The expansion of the Annual Data Requirement has strengthened the quality and consistency of information collected on strip searches, enabling clearer scrutiny of police practice and better-informed safeguarding assessments. Police forces are now required to provide more detailed and consistent data on searches conducted both in custody and under stop and search powers. We are considering further safeguarding measures for repeat strip searches and to improve data recording and collection so that they can be better identified, scrutinised and reviewed.

We recognise that failures to meet statutory safeguards are unacceptable. As part of our manifesto commitments, we are considering a package of measures to introduce new legal safeguards around strip searching children and young people. These reforms will strengthen safeguarding, improve accountability and oversight, and provide greater clarity and consistency in the use of these powers.

Police forces are operationally independent, and decisions on the handling of individual cases, including misconduct and complaints, are a matter for the police and the relevant oversight bodies. There is an established framework for referring the most serious matters to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and due process must be followed in each case.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help tackle police officers citing the size, gender or build of children as justification for the use of strip search powers.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Strip search is one of the most intrusive powers available to the police. There will be times when it is necessary to use such powers, to prevent and detect crime, protect officers or the public. The Government is clear that they must be exercised fairly, respectfully and lawfully, and particularly for strip-searches on children, with regard for the child’s welfare and dignity.

We recognise concerns about where children may be treated as older than they are because of their size, build or other characteristics. We are considering measures that will aim to reduce any implied emphasis on physical appearance when officers assess age and to support a more objective, child-centred approach in practice.

We recognise that repeat strip searches of children can cause significant harm. The Home Office now collects annual data on the use of strip search in custody and under stop and search. The expansion of the Annual Data Requirement has strengthened the quality and consistency of information collected on strip searches, enabling clearer scrutiny of police practice and better-informed safeguarding assessments. Police forces are now required to provide more detailed and consistent data on searches conducted both in custody and under stop and search powers. We are considering further safeguarding measures for repeat strip searches and to improve data recording and collection so that they can be better identified, scrutinised and reviewed.

We recognise that failures to meet statutory safeguards are unacceptable. As part of our manifesto commitments, we are considering a package of measures to introduce new legal safeguards around strip searching children and young people. These reforms will strengthen safeguarding, improve accountability and oversight, and provide greater clarity and consistency in the use of these powers.

Police forces are operationally independent, and decisions on the handling of individual cases, including misconduct and complaints, are a matter for the police and the relevant oversight bodies. There is an established framework for referring the most serious matters to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and due process must be followed in each case.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has plans to end the use of multiple strip searches of children.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Strip search is one of the most intrusive powers available to the police. There will be times when it is necessary to use such powers, to prevent and detect crime, protect officers or the public. The Government is clear that they must be exercised fairly, respectfully and lawfully, and particularly for strip-searches on children, with regard for the child’s welfare and dignity.

We recognise concerns about where children may be treated as older than they are because of their size, build or other characteristics. We are considering measures that will aim to reduce any implied emphasis on physical appearance when officers assess age and to support a more objective, child-centred approach in practice.

We recognise that repeat strip searches of children can cause significant harm. The Home Office now collects annual data on the use of strip search in custody and under stop and search. The expansion of the Annual Data Requirement has strengthened the quality and consistency of information collected on strip searches, enabling clearer scrutiny of police practice and better-informed safeguarding assessments. Police forces are now required to provide more detailed and consistent data on searches conducted both in custody and under stop and search powers. We are considering further safeguarding measures for repeat strip searches and to improve data recording and collection so that they can be better identified, scrutinised and reviewed.

We recognise that failures to meet statutory safeguards are unacceptable. As part of our manifesto commitments, we are considering a package of measures to introduce new legal safeguards around strip searching children and young people. These reforms will strengthen safeguarding, improve accountability and oversight, and provide greater clarity and consistency in the use of these powers.

Police forces are operationally independent, and decisions on the handling of individual cases, including misconduct and complaints, are a matter for the police and the relevant oversight bodies. There is an established framework for referring the most serious matters to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and due process must be followed in each case.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to ensure that Menopause Action Plans reflect the needs of women managing menopause symptoms at work.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We recognise the significant impact that menopause symptoms can have on women and how crucial effective workplace support can be.

The Office for Equality and Opportunity (OEO) has launched voluntary action plans, encouraging large employers to publish how they are supporting employees experiencing menopause, as well as the steps they are taking to address their gender pay gap.

OEO published detailed guidance to support employers in developing their action plans.

As part of this, we provided a list of evidence-informed actions that include tangible steps employers can take to support women managing menopause symptoms at work. These were developed using insight and research at the time of writing on what was effective. They include:

• Training managers to support employees experiencing menopause
• Offering employees experiencing menopause tailored occupational health advice
• Offering tailored workplace adjustments for employees experiencing menopause – whether that’s uniform or working in a cooler area
• Setting up menopause support groups and networks
• Advertising flexible working arrangements and leave policies in job adverts

The guidance also suggests ways to track progress, collect data, and monitor the effectiveness of an organisation’s chosen actions. We will work closely with business to evaluate whether these are the right actions and keep them up to date, as well as support them to monitor the impact of the actions they adopt.

Further details regarding the monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of action plans as a broader policy intervention will be provided as we progress the secondary legislation required to make action plans mandatory.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how she plans to monitor and assess the effectiveness of voluntary Menopause Action Plans before they become mandatory.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We recognise the significant impact that menopause symptoms can have on women and how crucial effective workplace support can be.

The Office for Equality and Opportunity (OEO) has launched voluntary action plans, encouraging large employers to publish how they are supporting employees experiencing menopause, as well as the steps they are taking to address their gender pay gap.

OEO published detailed guidance to support employers in developing their action plans.

As part of this, we provided a list of evidence-informed actions that include tangible steps employers can take to support women managing menopause symptoms at work. These were developed using insight and research at the time of writing on what was effective. They include:

• Training managers to support employees experiencing menopause
• Offering employees experiencing menopause tailored occupational health advice
• Offering tailored workplace adjustments for employees experiencing menopause – whether that’s uniform or working in a cooler area
• Setting up menopause support groups and networks
• Advertising flexible working arrangements and leave policies in job adverts

The guidance also suggests ways to track progress, collect data, and monitor the effectiveness of an organisation’s chosen actions. We will work closely with business to evaluate whether these are the right actions and keep them up to date, as well as support them to monitor the impact of the actions they adopt.

Further details regarding the monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of action plans as a broader policy intervention will be provided as we progress the secondary legislation required to make action plans mandatory.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what plans she has to evaluate the effect of mandatory Menopause Action Plans following their introduction.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We recognise the significant impact that menopause symptoms can have on women and how crucial effective workplace support can be.

The Office for Equality and Opportunity (OEO) has launched voluntary action plans, encouraging large employers to publish how they are supporting employees experiencing menopause, as well as the steps they are taking to address their gender pay gap.

OEO published detailed guidance to support employers in developing their action plans.

As part of this, we provided a list of evidence-informed actions that include tangible steps employers can take to support women managing menopause symptoms at work. These were developed using insight and research at the time of writing on what was effective. They include:

• Training managers to support employees experiencing menopause
• Offering employees experiencing menopause tailored occupational health advice
• Offering tailored workplace adjustments for employees experiencing menopause – whether that’s uniform or working in a cooler area
• Setting up menopause support groups and networks
• Advertising flexible working arrangements and leave policies in job adverts

The guidance also suggests ways to track progress, collect data, and monitor the effectiveness of an organisation’s chosen actions. We will work closely with business to evaluate whether these are the right actions and keep them up to date, as well as support them to monitor the impact of the actions they adopt.

Further details regarding the monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of action plans as a broader policy intervention will be provided as we progress the secondary legislation required to make action plans mandatory.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition on access to domestic abuse refuges for survivors with insecure immigration status; and if she will bring forward proposals to end the application of NRPF restrictions in cases involving domestic abuse.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

We understand the challenges migrant victims of domestic abuse face. This is particularly true for those who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF).

The Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession provides eligible migrant victims with three-months’ leave outside the Immigration Rules, with access to public funds. This enables victims to leave an abusive relationship safely and access accommodation and support, including refuge spaces, while they take steps to regularise their immigration status.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help tackle racially disproportionate use of force against Black children during stop and searches.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is clear that stop and search must be used fairly, lawfully and without discrimination, and that any use of force must be necessary and proportionate.

Black individuals remain 3.8 times more likely to be stopped and searched than White people. The disparity remains unacceptable. We also recognise concerns about the disproportionate impact on Black children, who were stopped and searched at a rate 2.7 times higher than White children in 2024/25. A report from the Children’s Commissioner state that 17% of all stop and searches of children result in a use of force. These figures are cause for concern.

We are strengthening transparency and accountability through improved data collection on stop and search and use of force, enabling forces to better identify and tackle disparities, and we actively support the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Police Race Action Plan to drive action at force level.

Chief constables are responsible for officer conduct and supervision, with independent scrutiny provided by HMICFRS and the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the safety of people returned to France under the one in, one out policy.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

One of the Government’s top priorities is to increase border security and dismantle Organised Crime Groups (OCG) who facilitate dangerous and irregular small boat journeys across the Channel. The aim of the UK’s arrangement with France is to stop small boat crossings, protect lives which are lost during these dangerous crossings, undermine the OCG business models and improve the UK’s border security. The arrangements operate under a bilateral treaty, which explicitly commits both countries to respecting the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Individual assessments are carried out prior to removal. These take into account any submissions raised by the individual as to why France is not safe in their particular circumstances. Individuals also have access to the courts to challenge removal.

The UK and France continue to work closely to ensure the pilot operates effectively.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the 30-month refugee status review policy on people granted asylum in the UK.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office is committed to changing the way we deliver our protection offer, where refugee status is temporary, lasting only until a refugee can safely return home.

Not everyone who has been granted Core Protection will undergo a review of their protection needs. Only those who remain on Core Protection, and do not switch into the Protection Work and Study route will be subject to this review. The approach to reviewing status will also be efficient and targeted and will build on the efficiencies that have already seen record levels of initial decisions being made, including use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

We will encourage people to move to the Protection Work and Study route wherever possible meaning that those who contribute to UK society through employment or study will have greater certainty about their future in the UK. At the same time, in line with our international obligations, we will not remove anyone to their own or any other country where they have a well-founded fear of persecution or are at risk of serious harm.

We will continue to monitor the impact of this policy as it is developed and implemented.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to track the use of funding allocated to French policing operations relating to the treatment of people seeking asylum.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The United Kingdom provides funding to support the French Government and authorities with the clear purpose of preventing dangerous small boat crossings and tackling organised immigration crime. This work is explicitly focused on saving lives by stopping people from attempting perilous Channel crossings and by bearing down on the criminal gangs who profit from a business model that exploits vulnerable people.

Oversight of the funding includes regular engagement at ministerial and official level, agreed delivery plans, performance reporting and ongoing assessment of the impact of funded activity. The Home Office works closely and routinely with the French authorities to monitor delivery and to ensure that funding is used for its intended purposes, working in partnership with France to protect lives, dismantle people smuggling networks and strengthen border security.

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 administrative issues within the NHS on patients.

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

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS appointments have been missed in the last 12 months due to administrative issues.

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

Data is not held in the format requested.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS patients have waited longer for elective procedures in the last 12 months due to administrative issues.

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

Data is not held in the format requested.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will set a timeline for the phasing out of the use of CO₂ gas chambers for pigs.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 May to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell, PQ UIN 613.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether her Department has considered encouraging employers to introduce menopause-related leave as part of Menopause Action Plans.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We have published a list of recommended, evidence-informed actions to support employers in developing their action plans, including steps that employers can take to support employees managing menopause symptoms at work. These actions were developed using insight and research into what works at the time of writing, including a literature review on menopause in the workplace published by the Department for Work and Pensions.

The actions themselves are broad by necessity, and organisations may respond to them in a manner of ways. For example, as part of our recommended action to review policies to ensure they meet the needs of employees experiencing menopause, employers may choose to introduce menopause-related leave.

We will work closely with businesses to monitor and evaluate whether these are the right actions and ensure that they continue to reflect emerging evidence on actions that are effective.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has considered the merits of increasing funding for training of NHS administrative staff.

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

The responsibility for the training of National Health Service administrative staff generally sits with local NHS employers. In most cases, training arrangements for these staff, particularly non-clinical training, are determined locally by NHS employers and may vary between organisations.

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 adequacy of (a) training, (b) hiring, (c) management and (d) performance of NHS administrative staff.

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

The Department does not centrally oversee the training, recruitment, management, and performance of National Health Service administrative staff in individual organisations. These matters are primarily the responsibility of local NHS organisations, which are best placed to determine the administrative roles they require and to ensure staff are recruited, trained, and managed appropriately to support the delivery of services.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has considered the potential merits of reviewing the training framework for NHS administrative staff.

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

The Department is not currently planning a review of the training framework for National Health Service administrative staff. In most cases, training arrangements for these staff, particularly non-clinical training, are determined by local NHS employers, which are responsible for ensuring staff are appropriately supported and developed for their roles, and may vary between organisations.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered the merits of introducing a stamp duty relief on second home purchases by leaseholders impacted by cladding issues and remediation delays who are unable to sell their property.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

A refund of the higher rate of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) paid when purchasing additional property can be claimed if an old main residence is sold within three years of the purchase of the new main residence. For most people, three years is enough time to sell a previous main residence.

However, the Government recognises that there will sometimes be exceptional circumstances, for example, where issues with cladding have delayed a sale, which are not within the control of the seller and mean that a previous main residence cannot be sold within three years, and where a refund outside of the three year period may be given. Further guidance from HMRC is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/stamp-duty-land-tax-buying-an-additional-residential-property

The Remediation Bill announced at the King’s Speech will speed up remediation for people living in homes with unsafe cladding.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of the enhanced pre-donation testing process pilot on reducing the number of deferrals for low haemoglobin levels.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England. NHSBT tests donors’ haemoglobin (Hb) to ensure they are at sufficient levels to safely donate.

NHSBT rolled out a second line of Hb testing, venous HemoCue, between April and September 2025. This is undertaken if the first line finger prick and blood drop test using copper sulphate is failed. This is a more accurate test that is not subject to environmental effects, like the weather, or operator error. If passed, a donor can donate. If failed, a donor is deferred to ensure they can replenish low iron stores to allow their Hb to improve back to safe donation thresholds.

Since roll out, low Hb deferrals fell from more than 12% to 4.1% in the six weeks prior to full roll out, up to January 2026, and levels have remained stable since, resulting in improved collections. Low Hb deferrals are higher in Black Heritage donors and have fallen from more than 24% to 15.3% for the same period. The reasons for the difference between donor groups are not fully understood but are likely to be multifactorial; NHSBT continues to assess the factors that may contribute to the differences.

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 effectiveness of the trial of the Post Donation Testing for advance haemoglobin assessments.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England. NHSBT test donors’ haemoglobin levels to ensure they are at sufficient levels to safely donate.

NHSBT is currently undertaking a feasibility assessment of post-donation testing for haemoglobin. This involves sending a sample taken after donation for laboratory testing, which is the gold standard for measuring haemoglobin levels. Donors are then advised whether they need further testing before their next donation or can donate as normal. It is hoped that this will enable more personalised donor care and improved on session experience.

Data collection began in October 2025 and is due to continue until at least July 2026. As the assessment is ongoing, the data is not yet complete, and no final assessment of its effectiveness has been made.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many blood donors with the Ro subtype completed blood donations in the last 12 months.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for collecting blood donations across England, in order to fulfil hospital requests to meet patient need.

27,984 donors with Ro subtype blood completed at least one blood donation between 1 May 2025 and 30 April 2026. This data is from NHSBT’s Monthly Collections Dashboard, and was extracted on 20 May 2026.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of blood donors deferred due to (a) low haemoglobin levels and (b) travel to and from other countries in the last 12 months; and if he will provide the ethnic and gender breakdown of donors.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for collecting blood donations across England, in order to fulfil hospital requests to meet patient need. NHSBT collects donors’ sex assigned at birth and gender identity; a donor’s sex is recorded as the ways in which blood products are donated and processed differ between those assigned male and female at birth.

Blood donor selection guidelines are in place to ensure donors can donate blood safely and includes minimum haemoglobin (Hb) levels and travel-related restrictions. Where a potential donor does not meet these guidelines, they may be turned away or ‘deferred’.

The attached tables show information on deferrals by ethnicity and sex assigned at birth.

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 effectiveness of the Care Quality Commission's regulatory oversight of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust's adult community mental health services in Lambeth.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is an independent regulator, responsible for assessing and monitoring providers in line with its statutory remit. The Department holds the CQC to account for its overall performance and delivery of its regulatory functions.

The CQC is undertaking a programme of improvement, and the Department continues to engage closely with CQC leadership to monitor progress through regular sponsorship and accountability meetings.

The CQC has maintained ongoing regulatory engagement with the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust following its 2025 inspections, using a combination of continuous monitoring, engagement with the trust and system partners, and targeted follow-up activity to ensure risks are managed and improvements are supported and sustained.

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 adequacy of Care Quality Commission processes to record, retrieve and act upon safety intelligence submitted by members of the public about NHS trust services previously rated as requires improvement.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has established systems and processes to receive, record, assess, and act on safety intelligence about providers submitted by members of the public, employees of registered providers, people using services and their family members and carers, and partner organisations.

All information of concern is reviewed and triangulated with inspection findings, provider-submitted data, and partner information. Where necessary, concerns are followed up directly with National Health Service trusts and incorporated into the CQC’s assessment of risk, informing decisions about further regulatory action.

The Department holds regular accountability meetings with the CQC to assess the CQC’s performance, including clearing a backlog of information of concern cases following technical issues.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Care Quality Commission on its decision not to exercise urgent powers under section 31 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 in respect of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust following the inspections of 2025.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is an independent regulator, and decisions about enforcement action are a matter for the CQC, exercised in line with its statutory remit and published enforcement policy. The Department has been informed of the CQC’s approach in this case.

Following inspections of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust in 2025, including community mental health services and the health-based place of safety, the CQC identified regulatory breaches relating to patient safety, governance and the application of the Mental Health Act.

Regarding the community-based mental health services for adults of working age at the Lambeth Single Point of Access team, the CQC considered its enforcement options in line with its policy and determined that urgent action under section 31 was not required because immediate assurances were provided by the trust.

For the regulatory breaches, the CQC required the trust to set out an action plan for how improvements would be made, with progress monitored through ongoing regulatory oversight and engagement.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of school exclusions on (i) children’s (a) long-term educational outcomes, (b) mental health and (c) contact with the criminal justice system and (ii) Black and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children and pupils with special educational needs and disabilities; and if she will bring forward proposals to end the use of exclusions in state-funded schools.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The department regularly monitors trends in suspension and permanent exclusion rates for various pupil groups and undertakes regular reviews of the evidence concerning the long-term outcomes of pupils who have experienced a suspension or permanent exclusion. We are aware that there is an association with adverse life outcomes for pupils who have been excluded and are clear that any decision taken to exclude must be lawful, reasonable and fair.

In all cases, school leaders should consider early intervention strategies and multi-agency assessments to address the underlying causes or contributing factors towards a pupil’s disruptive behaviour before issuing an exclusion.

The department does not plan to end or ban the use of school exclusions, as it remains necessary in the most serious cases to maintain calm and safe school environments.

The Race Equality Unit will work with key stakeholder groups to interrogate the evidence on what drives disparities in school exclusions between different ethnic groups.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many completed blood donation appointments took place in past 12 months; and if he will provide the ethnic and gender breakdown of donors.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for collecting blood donations across England to fulfil hospital requests to meet patient need.

NHSBT collects donor’s sex assigned at birth and gender identity; a donors’ sex is recorded as the ways in which blood products are donated and processed differ between those assigned male and female at birth. The following table shows the total number of completed blood donations broken down by sex assigned at birth between 1 May 2025 and 30 April 2026:

Source: NHSBT Monthly Collections Dashboard

The following table shows the total number of completed blood donations between 1 May 2025 and 30 April 2026 by ethnicity:

Source: NHSBT Monthly Collections Dashboard

England men's football team

Retirement of Tracy Thirlwall

The arrest and detention of Ehsan Ali by Pakistan authorities

Communications blackout and human rights in Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Ban on industrial action by prison officers

Government response to Israel’s actions in the West Bank and Gaza

Further education

Trophy hunting imports

Bermuda and oil industry tax

Draft Code of Practice on Services, public functions and associations

Liushenyu mining disaster and workers’ safety

Higher Education pensions

Prison education insourcing

Job cuts planned at the BBC

Trans+ History Week

Interception of Global Sumud Flotilla vessels in international waters

Arsenal Football Club, Premier League champions

Five-year indefinite leave to remain pathway for Skilled Worker visa holders

Inquiry into Labour Together

National Emergency Briefing

UK-France one-in, one-out migration pilot

US sanctions on Cuba

UK digital sovereignty strategy

Statutory rights for trade union future-proofing jobs representatives

Nature restoration and flood risk

Cost of living, inequality and climate and nature

Transition of rail workers into Great British Railways

Payment of employment tribunal awards

The Iran conflict, the US naval blockade and price inflation

78 years of the Palestinian Nakba

48th anniversary of the murder of Altab Ali

Protection and restoration of ancient woodland

Hillsborough Law

Found: WRP0020 - Written Parliamentary Questions Bell Ribeiro-Addy Written Evidence

Found: Kilbride and Strathaven) (added 21 Oct 2024) 34 of 54 (63.0%) Current members Attendance Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Kohler Ben Maguire Robbie Moore Margaret Mullane Chris Murray Connor Rand Joani Reid Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Labour; Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket) Joani Reid (Independent; East Kilbride and Strathaven) Bell Ribeiro-Addy