Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made trends in the level of waiting times for diagnostic tests across the NHS; and whether delays in receiving routine blood test results reflect a wider trend in diagnostic backlogs.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Ensuring patients receive their diagnostic test results quickly is a priority for the Government. 70% of histopathology cases are expected to be completed within 10 days. For cases relating to cancer or suspected cancer, the expectation is 80% within 10 days.
The Government does not hold the data requested on integrated care systems’ turnaround times for blood tests. However, the Government is committed to improving access to pathology diagnostic services through the National Health Service’s 27 pathology networks. NHS laboratories deliver over 1.4 billion tests annually, including approximately 1.2 billion blood tests that require phlebotomy. While the Government does not currently hold national data on waiting times for access to blood sampling, capacity is being expanded. Phlebotomy services are now available through 119 community diagnostic centres, with 1.8 million tests delivered between April 2025 and the end of February 2026. More broadly, programmes are underway to improve access, resilience, and performance across pathology services, including targeted investment in digital technology and robotics, particularly within histopathology.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of trends in the level of waiting times for blood tests; and if he will publish data on current turnaround times by Integrated Care systems.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Ensuring patients receive their diagnostic test results quickly is a priority for the Government. 70% of histopathology cases are expected to be completed within 10 days. For cases relating to cancer or suspected cancer, the expectation is 80% within 10 days.
The Government does not hold the data requested on integrated care systems’ turnaround times for blood tests. However, the Government is committed to improving access to pathology diagnostic services through the National Health Service’s 27 pathology networks. NHS laboratories deliver over 1.4 billion tests annually, including approximately 1.2 billion blood tests that require phlebotomy. While the Government does not currently hold national data on waiting times for access to blood sampling, capacity is being expanded. Phlebotomy services are now available through 119 community diagnostic centres, with 1.8 million tests delivered between April 2025 and the end of February 2026. More broadly, programmes are underway to improve access, resilience, and performance across pathology services, including targeted investment in digital technology and robotics, particularly within histopathology.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the (a) average and (b) longest wait times for patients to receive blood test results; and what steps he is taking to reduce delays.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Ensuring patients receive their diagnostic test results quickly is a priority for the Government. 70% of histopathology cases are expected to be completed within 10 days. For cases relating to cancer or suspected cancer, the expectation is 80% within 10 days.
The Government does not hold the data requested on integrated care systems’ turnaround times for blood tests. However, the Government is committed to improving access to pathology diagnostic services through the National Health Service’s 27 pathology networks. NHS laboratories deliver over 1.4 billion tests annually, including approximately 1.2 billion blood tests that require phlebotomy. While the Government does not currently hold national data on waiting times for access to blood sampling, capacity is being expanded. Phlebotomy services are now available through 119 community diagnostic centres, with 1.8 million tests delivered between April 2025 and the end of February 2026. More broadly, programmes are underway to improve access, resilience, and performance across pathology services, including targeted investment in digital technology and robotics, particularly within histopathology.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of whether the corporate governance framework incentivises short-term shareholder returns over long-term value creation for the wider economy.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 enshrines in law the ‘enlightened shareholder value’ principle, in which directors must have regard in their decision-making to the long-term and to the impact of the company’s operations on the community and the environment. The UK Corporate Governance and Stewardship Codes also include principles that promote a focus on long-term value creation by business and institutional investors. The Government will shortly publish a ‘Modernising Corporate Reporting’ consultation which will give an opportunity to stakeholders to comment on UK corporate governance reporting and the wider governance framework, among other matters.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether staff transferring from NHS England to his Department will have their existing terms and conditions, including pay protections, preserved; and whether the transfer will be conducted in line with TUPE principles.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We can confirm that we will follow Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) like principles, whether TUPE or another statutory transfer mechanism, in line with the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice. This means that recognised trade unions will be formally consulted and engaged on measures related to the transfer with no changes to contractual terms and conditions made without proper consultation and engagement.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether additional guidance or support is being provided to police forces to strengthen national public order preparedness.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Following the disorder in the summer of 2024, the then Home Secretary commissioned His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services to undertake an inspection into the police response. The outcome of their inspection was published in May 2025 and said that the National Police Coordination Centre and the National Police Chiefs’ Council should have a clear, live, resourcing and mobilisation picture so that the policing response to public disorder is timely, coordinated, and proportionate.
The summer of 2025 also featured significant nationwide protest activity focused on a variety of issues, including the Israel Palestine conflict but also anti-migrant and counter anti-migrant protests. During this disorder, policing stood up a national coordination model, with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and National Police Coordination Centre fulfilling a national command and mobilisation function, despite the absence of a formal statutory role. This is the role that the Home Office intends to build on by establishing a Senior National Coordinator role for public order policing and by enhancing the National Police Coordination Centre.
The Government’s White Paper From Local to National: a new model for policing sets out our plans to ensure policing is more effective in responding to instances of widespread disorder and better coordinated across forces.
The use of police resources and the provision of training within police forces is a matter for Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, who are operationally independent of government.
The College of Policing is responsible for providing guidance and operational advice for frontline policing. The College of Policing produces the Public Order Public Safety authorised Professional Practice. Alongside this, the Protest Operational Advice Document is published jointly by the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of public order training and capability across police forces in England and Wales.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Following the disorder in the summer of 2024, the then Home Secretary commissioned His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services to undertake an inspection into the police response. The outcome of their inspection was published in May 2025 and said that the National Police Coordination Centre and the National Police Chiefs’ Council should have a clear, live, resourcing and mobilisation picture so that the policing response to public disorder is timely, coordinated, and proportionate.
The summer of 2025 also featured significant nationwide protest activity focused on a variety of issues, including the Israel Palestine conflict but also anti-migrant and counter anti-migrant protests. During this disorder, policing stood up a national coordination model, with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and National Police Coordination Centre fulfilling a national command and mobilisation function, despite the absence of a formal statutory role. This is the role that the Home Office intends to build on by establishing a Senior National Coordinator role for public order policing and by enhancing the National Police Coordination Centre.
The Government’s White Paper From Local to National: a new model for policing sets out our plans to ensure policing is more effective in responding to instances of widespread disorder and better coordinated across forces.
The use of police resources and the provision of training within police forces is a matter for Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, who are operationally independent of government.
The College of Policing is responsible for providing guidance and operational advice for frontline policing. The College of Policing produces the Public Order Public Safety authorised Professional Practice. Alongside this, the Protest Operational Advice Document is published jointly by the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that police forces are adequately prepared to respond to major public order incidents.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Following the disorder in the summer of 2024, the then Home Secretary commissioned His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services to undertake an inspection into the police response. The outcome of their inspection was published in May 2025 and said that the National Police Coordination Centre and the National Police Chiefs’ Council should have a clear, live, resourcing and mobilisation picture so that the policing response to public disorder is timely, coordinated, and proportionate.
The summer of 2025 also featured significant nationwide protest activity focused on a variety of issues, including the Israel Palestine conflict but also anti-migrant and counter anti-migrant protests. During this disorder, policing stood up a national coordination model, with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and National Police Coordination Centre fulfilling a national command and mobilisation function, despite the absence of a formal statutory role. This is the role that the Home Office intends to build on by establishing a Senior National Coordinator role for public order policing and by enhancing the National Police Coordination Centre.
The Government’s White Paper From Local to National: a new model for policing sets out our plans to ensure policing is more effective in responding to instances of widespread disorder and better coordinated across forces.
The use of police resources and the provision of training within police forces is a matter for Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, who are operationally independent of government.
The College of Policing is responsible for providing guidance and operational advice for frontline policing. The College of Policing produces the Public Order Public Safety authorised Professional Practice. Alongside this, the Protest Operational Advice Document is published jointly by the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
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 reducing the workforce of integrated care boards by 50 per cent on the level of patient care and NHS system performance.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England has asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners of health and care services and reduce duplication of responsibilities within their structure with the expectation of achieving a reduction in their running cost allowance.
As such, NHS England has asked ICBs to reduce their running cost allowance to a cap of £19 per head of weighted population and enable savings to be reinvested in frontline services. ICBs have been supported in developing local plans for their future structures and remain accountable for delivering their statutory functions.
As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, ICBs’ role as strategic commissioners will be to improve their population’s health, reduce health inequalities, and improve access to consistently high-quality services.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on of the Loan Charge on individuals subject to it; and whether governance mechanisms are in place for people in serious financial and personal distress.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
At Budget 2024, the Government commissioned an independent review of the loan charge to bring the matter to a close for those affected, ensure fairness for all taxpayers and ensure that appropriate support is in place for those subject to the loan charge. The review was led by Ray McCann, a former President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.
The Government accepted the review’s conclusion that the loan charge was an extraordinary piece of Government policy which necessitated an exceptional response, and is now legislating a new settlement opportunity that will assist those who have not yet settled to do so.
As a result, most individuals could see reductions of at least 50% in their outstanding loan charge liabilities, and an estimated 30% of individuals could have these liabilities written off entirely. To encourage more people to settle, the Government will write off the first £5,000 of liabilities in addition to the proposals put forward by Ray McCann.
HMRC are committed to supporting people through this process and are working hard to give them certainty on their tax positions as quickly as possible. This includes a dedicated service to guide people through the settlement process and provide extra support for those who need it. HMRC can also provide reasonable adjustments to meet an individual’s needs.