Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of ear wax removals in primary care settings in Melksham and Devizes constituency.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Integrated care boards (ICBs) have a statutory responsibility to commission cost-effective healthcare to meet the needs of their local population. This includes the arrangement of services for ear wax removal. When ICBs exercise their functions, including commissioning healthcare services such as ear wax removal, they have a duty to reduce inequalities between persons with respect to their ability to access health services, and to reduce inequalities between patients with respect to the outcomes achieved for them by the provision of health services.

Manual ear syringing is no longer advised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) due to the risks associated with it, such as trauma to their ear drum or infection, so general practitioners (GPs) will often recommend home treatment remedies to alleviate ear wax build-up.

However, in line with the NICE’s guidance, a person may require ear wax removal treatment if the build-up of earwax is linked with hearing loss. A GP could then consider referring the patient into audiology services, which ICBs are responsible for commissioning.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has plans to introduce a private parking code of practice.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government recognises the need for high standards in the private parking industry and is committed to delivering a Code of Practice, in accordance with The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.

Our code will contain guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.

We are currently reviewing all options and will announce our plans for the code in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to prioritise (a) lung and (b) respiratory health in the NHS Long Term Plan.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The 10-Year Health Plan will deliver the three big shifts the National Health Service needs to be fit for the future: from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. All of these are relevant to improving respiratory health in all parts of the county.

More tests and scans delivered in the community, better joint working between services, and greater use of apps and wearable technology will all help people manage their long-term conditions, including respiratory conditions, closer to home. Earlier diagnosis of conditions will help people manage their conditions, prevent deterioration and improve survival rates.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what impact neighbourhood plans will have on planning decisions following reforms to the national planning process.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December 2024 is clear as to the important role that neighbourhood plans play in the planning system and includes important protections for neighbourhood plans from speculative development.

Once passed at referendum, neighbourhood plans form part of the development plan, which is the starting point in making planning decisions.

The revised NPPF is clear that where a planning application conflicts with policies in an up-to-date local plan or neighbourhood plan, the application should not usually be granted.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve bus transport for people with hidden disabilities.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government is committed to improving bus services right across the country, so they are more inclusive and enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity, including people with hidden disabilities. On 1st October 2024, the first phase of the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 came into force, meaning that newer vehicles providing local services must provide accessible audible and visible information on stops, destinations and diversions. The majority of services will need to comply by October 2026.

On 17th December, the government introduced a new Bus Services Bill that will give local leaders the freedom to take decisions to deliver their local transport priorities and ensure networks meet the needs of the communities who rely on them, including for disabled people. The Bill includes measures to make the design of bus and coach stations and stops safer and more accessible, and sets requirements for training for staff on disability-assistance and disability awareness to ensure bus drivers and staff dealing directly with the travelling public are better informed of the rights and needs of disabled passengers.

Small and medium-sized enterprises in defence procurement

Protecting children from data exploitation

Abduction of Ukrainian children

International Day for Mine Awareness

Pesticides in public spaces

Israeli Defence Force attacks on humanitarian workers

Disability hate crime

Humanitarian response to the Myanmar earthquake

Scams and fraud

Snares

Ensuring stability for Ukrainian refugees in the UK

Wellbeing benefits of outdoor education to young people

Found: Questions 1 - 22 Representations made I: Brian Mathew II: Jim Shannon III: Dan Carden IV: Lizzi Collinge

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Tracy Gilbert; Noah Law; Brian Mathew; David

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Tracy Gilbert; Noah Law; Brian Mathew; David

Found: _NC7 Steff Aquarone Claire Young Martin Wrigley Jamie Stone Brian Mathew Alison Bennett Steve Darling

Found: _NC7 Steff Aquarone Claire Young Martin Wrigley Jamie Stone Brian Mathew Alison Bennett Steve Darling

Found: _NC7 Steff Aquarone Claire Young Martin Wrigley Jamie Stone Brian Mathew .

Found: Sullivan David Burton-Sampson Catherine Fookes Jess Asato Anna Dixon Jim Shannon Helen Hayes Brian Mathew

Submit Evidence (by 16 May 2025)

Energy lies at the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Yet, the international community remains largely off track in meeting these commitments. According to the International Energy Agency, around 750 million people lack access to electricity, and more than 2 billion people lack access to clean cooking fuels, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa.