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 merits of recognising lobular breast cancer as a distinct disease in the NICE Treatment Guidelines.

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

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is not currently producing guidance specifically on lobular breast cancer. Patients with invasive lobular breast cancer can access NICE-recommended targeted treatments on the same basis as other breast cancer patients, where they meet the clinical criteria in NICE’s guidance.

In 2023, NICE considered updating its breast cancer guidelines and received feedback that invasive lobular breast cancer may require separate recommendations. However, no systematic review evidence specific to this condition was identified. NICE maintains surveillance of new evidence that may affect its published guidance and decisions on whether its guidance should be updated are taken through an established prioritisation process.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure the availability of rapid paramedic treatment for people experiencing a stroke.

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

Suspected and confirmed strokes are serious emergencies and require timely intervention. The Government recognises that in past years, ambulance response times, including for Category 2 emergencies which includes strokes, have not met the high standards patients should expect. We are determined to address this challenge and have set out a clear path for improvement.

That is why we set out ambition in the Medium Term Planning Framework to further reduce Category 2 incident responses to 25 minutes on average for 2026/27. Backed by almost £450 million of capital investment committed in the Urgent and emergency care plan 2025/26, we have been expanding the capacity of same day and urgent care services alongside delivering over 500 new ambulances and reducing unacceptable ambulance handover delays, enhancing both the speed and quality of care for patients in greatest need.

We have seen improvements in Category 2 ambulance response times, with the fastest response times in five years. The latest performance figures for April 2026 show that on average, Category 2 response times were 24 minutes and 27 seconds.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the potential impact of the delayed publication of the Defence Investment Plan on small and medium defence manufacturers.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

We will publish the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) as soon as we can. We will continue to award contracts to SMEs, but must allow sufficient time to ensure that decisions in the DIP are robust and drive the necessary transformation of our Armed Forces described in the Strategic Defence Review. The DIP is underpinned by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, with £270 billion being invested in defence in this Parliament alone.

The Defence Office for Small Business Growth, established earlier this year, provides SMEs with a single point of access for advice, support and opportunities in defence, bringing together services from MOD, trade associations and investors. It supports our target to increase MOD spending with SMEs by £2.5 billion by May 2028. The work of the office is already making a difference, helping SMEs engage more effectively and laying strong foundations for future growth.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential economic impact of the M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme.

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

The M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) scheme is currently under review as part of the Major Road Network and Large Local Majors programme. A decision on the future of the scheme will be announced by early summer. Until such time, it would not be appropriate to comment on specific schemes.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has her Department made of the potential merits of increasing financial support for parents who home educate.

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

Parents have a right to home educate and those parents who choose to do so must provide an efficient, suitable full-time education if the child is of compulsory school age. Through the Children Not in School measures of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, the department will help local authorities to identify all children not in school in their areas, including those not receiving a suitable education or at risk of harm, and to act where this is the case.

When a parent chooses to home educate their child, they take on full responsibility for their education, including associated costs. Therefore, we have not assessed the merits of providing financial support to parents. The measures, when implemented, will introduce a new requirement for local authorities to provide support, in the form of advice and information, to home-educating families in their areas who are registered with them and who request it.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the implications for its policies of parents home educating their children.

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

Parents have a right to home educate and those parents who choose to do so must provide an efficient, suitable full-time education if the child is of compulsory school age. Through the Children Not in School measures of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, the department will help local authorities to identify all children not in school in their areas, including those not receiving a suitable education or at risk of harm, and to act where this is the case.

When a parent chooses to home educate their child, they take on full responsibility for their education, including associated costs. Therefore, we have not assessed the merits of providing financial support to parents. The measures, when implemented, will introduce a new requirement for local authorities to provide support, in the form of advice and information, to home-educating families in their areas who are registered with them and who request it.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the implications for its policies of reported threats against Trading Standards officers made by criminal gangs.

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

Serious and organised crime has a direct and damaging impact on local communities, undermining legitimate businesses, fuelling wider criminality, and eroding public confidence in the safety and vitality of our high streets.

This Government will not tolerate threats against Trading Standards officers.

On 19 May, the Government announced a £30 million crackdown targeting cash intensive business such as barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts and sweet shops operating on our high streets, over three years. As part of this investment:

o Trading Standards will be backed with £6 million in new funding to bolster the response to sham businesses in at-risk local authorities. New officer training will be rolled out to identify suspicious businesses, strengthen business compliance and boost enforcement.

o A new cross government High Street Organised Crime Unit has been established to bring together government departments, policing partners and Trading Standards, to identify what more is needed – from stronger powers to better co-ordination – to stop this criminal activity from happening in the first place. The Unit is reviewing the full range of challenges that local responders face, including Trading Standards, with a view to strengthening the operational and strategic response.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of kinaesthetic learning.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

We support teachers to use evidence-based approaches and their professional judgement to choose the teaching methods that will best support their pupils to learn and progress, including active and hands-on approaches where appropriate.

Work is now underway to deliver a new curriculum and assessment system that is ambitious for every child, rich in knowledge and strong on skills. Programmes of study for each curriculum subject will be refreshed in line with the Curriculum and Assessment Review’s recommendations, and we are working towards a revised national curriculum being published in spring 2027, for first teaching in 2028. There will be opportunity to provide views on the new curriculum content when the department conducts a public consultation on the draft programmes of study later in the year.

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 implications for his policies of current statistics for stroke treatment in England.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government set an ambition to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by a quarter in the next ten years. To accelerate progress and tackle unwarranted variation across the country, we will publish a new Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework in spring.

The National Health Service is also working to increase the delivery of thrombolysis and thrombectomy rates as a key intervention to support improved patient outcomes.

NHS England is prioritising implementation of the National service model for an integrated community stroke service with delivery of specialist stroke rehabilitation at home and in care homes, as well as improving life after stroke support and six-month follow-up reviews by working closely with the voluntary sector. More information is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-service-model-for-an-integrated-community-stroke-service/

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to increase funding for stroke aftercare.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government set an ambition to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by a quarter in the next ten years. To accelerate progress and tackle unwarranted variation across the country, we will publish a new Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework in spring.

The National Health Service is also working to increase the delivery of thrombolysis and thrombectomy rates as a key intervention to support improved patient outcomes.

NHS England is prioritising implementation of the National service model for an integrated community stroke service with delivery of specialist stroke rehabilitation at home and in care homes, as well as improving life after stroke support and six-month follow-up reviews by working closely with the voluntary sector. More information is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-service-model-for-an-integrated-community-stroke-service/

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve stroke treatment.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government set an ambition to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by a quarter in the next ten years. To accelerate progress and tackle unwarranted variation across the country, we will publish a new Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework in spring.

The National Health Service is also working to increase the delivery of thrombolysis and thrombectomy rates as a key intervention to support improved patient outcomes.

NHS England is prioritising implementation of the National service model for an integrated community stroke service with delivery of specialist stroke rehabilitation at home and in care homes, as well as improving life after stroke support and six-month follow-up reviews by working closely with the voluntary sector. More information is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-service-model-for-an-integrated-community-stroke-service/

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 improve (a) detection and (b) diagnosis of specifically lobular breast cancer.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department is committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so that more patients, including those with lobular breast cancer, survive this horrible set of diseases. There are multiple NHS initiatives and funding streams across the NHS in England that support the early detection of lobular breast cancer, and many organisations across the health service are involved.

The Government recognises the crucial need for research into all forms of cancer to support earlier diagnosis, including for lobular breast cancer. In November 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) issued a highlight notice encouraging applications for new research into lobular breast cancer, to improve the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term surveillance of patients. The NIHR continues to welcome high quality funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including lobular breast cancer.

The Breast Screening Risk Adaptive Imaging for Density trial is looking into the use of supplementary imaging techniques for women within the standard breast screening programme who are found to have radiographically dense breast tissue. The different tests include magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound. The UK National Screening Committee is in contact with the researchers and is reviewing this evidence as it becomes available. It will make recommendations to ministers in light of this.

To raise awareness about early diagnosis of lobular breast cancer, the NHS in England encourages everyone to check their breast regularly for changes or thickened areas of tissue, and to consult their general practitioner straight away if they have any concerns. To increase knowledge of cancer symptoms, including lobular breast cancer, and address barriers to acting on them, the NHS runs Help Us Help You campaigns. These campaigns focus on recognising a range of symptoms, as well as encouraging body awareness, to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers, including breast cancer, at an earlier stage.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of HSE's review of the current laws on working safely with lead on traditional stained glass window making.

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

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is consulting on proposed changes to the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002, the response deadline was 7 June 2026. This will allow HSE to gather evidence to assess the impact of these proposed lead exposure levels in the working environment, including heritage workforce, before finalising reforms. The HSE’s sponsor department, the Department for Work and Pensions, will then discuss these with DCMS. During the consultation period, HSE has engaged heritage organisations, including Historic England, a DCMS arms length body to ensure the historic environment is fully considered.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support traditional stained glass window making.

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

The Government is committed to supporting heritage crafts such as stained glass window making. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is having discussions with Skills England, the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure heritage-specific occupations are considered in the Growth and Skills Levy.

DCMS is in discussions with Skills England on ways to support training pathways, such as the Level 4 Stained Glass Craftsperson apprenticeship. Additionally, stained glass painting and making has been submitted to the UK’s new living heritage inventory, which if approved will provide formal recognition and aid in safeguarding this traditional skill.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Draft Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations (2026), whether she has undertaken with Cabinet colleagues an equality and human rights impact assessment of its potential impact on disabled and neurodivergent people.

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

The Public Sector Equality Duty requires the Secretary of State to have due regard to its three aims when making a decision on whether to approve the draft Code, before laying in Parliament. We have followed the correct process for considering the Code.

The Equality Impact Assessment, which includes an assessment of the updates to the Code on the protected characteristics of disability, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-draft-code-of-practice-for-services-public-functions-and-associations-2026

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to ensure the new Draft Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations (2026) provides adequate and enforceable support for disabled and neurodivergent people.

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

The Equality and Human Rights Commissions’ (EHRC’s) updated statutory guidance - the draft Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations (the “Code”) provides guidance to service providers, associations and those exercising public functions to help them understand and comply with the Equality Act 2010. It covers all protected characteristics.

The draft Code highlights protections for disabled people in the Equality Act 2010 that expand on what was included in the 2011 Code, such as non-discrimination in relation to access to services. This will be the first time they are recognised and explained in the Code. This is an important step for disabled people’s rights. The draft Code also makes clear that the definition of mental impairment is intended to cover a wide range of impairments relating to mental functioning, including learning disabilities and conditions such as autism.

The EHRC is independent of the government and makes its own enforcement and regulation decisions. The draft Code gives further clarity on how service providers can follow the Supreme Court ruling in practice, with key explanations and worked examples.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to diversify teaching styles within traditional school settings.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Schools and teachers have the professional autonomy to decide their approach to teaching, provided they demonstrate the Teachers’ Standards.

The in-school factor which makes the biggest difference to pupil outcomes is the quality of teaching. Therefore, the department has a programme of professional development that supports teachers to hone practices shown by evidence to support children’s learning and development.

The Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF) sets out a core minimum entitlement for all trainees of what should be covered during teacher training, which contains and now includes additional statements around adaptive teaching, developing an understanding of different pupil needs, and learning how to provide opportunities for success for all pupils. The government does not prescribe the content of Initial Teacher Training courses. It remains for individual providers to design courses which deliver against the Teaching Standards and that are appropriate to the needs of trainees and for the subject, phase and age range that the trainees will be teaching.

National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) are delivered through a range of providers so that participants can choose which will best meet their needs and preferences. Content on adaptive teaching is embedded throughout the suite of leadership NPQs, and there is also a specialist NPQ in Leading Teaching.

As part of a wider 0-25 special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) professional development offer backed by over £200 million, we are developing new courses for teachers and leaders which will include content on adaptive teaching and how to support all pupils to thrive in schools and colleges.

We are also developing new evidence-led resources to support effective teaching adaptation for all children and young people in schools and colleges, including those with SEND. These adaptive teaching resources, which were committed to in the Curriculum and Assessment Review response, will support teachers to bring the curriculum to life in inclusive and practical ways.

Dumbleton Cricket Club

Protection and restoration of ancient woodland

Risk of AI chatbots to children

Touring artists mobility arrangements

GP access

World Cider Day

Spear program in Cheltenham

Cardiac risk in the young

England men's football team

Parliament Education and Engagement Outreach Service

Reducing trade and mobility barriers between the UK and EU

Mutual recognition of professional qualifications

Abolition of Healthwatch

Access to GP appointments

NHS funding for mental health services

NHS dentistry

Civil Service pensions

Enhertu for metastatic breast cancer patients

Draft Code of Practice on Services, public functions and associations

Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo

UK-EU Youth Mobility Scheme

National Emergency Briefing

Carers Week 2026

Found: Representations made I: Tonia Antoniazzi II: Matt Western III: Dame Caroline Dinenage, Natasha Irons and Cameron Thomas

Found: Q285 Cameron Thomas: Morning, Steven.

Found: Cameron Thomas: If only I could swim.

Found: Q285 Cameron Thomas: Morning, Steven.

Found: Cameron Thomas: If only I could swim.

Found: Labour; Knowsley) Jo Platt (Labour; Leigh and Atherton) Jeff Smith (Labour; Manchester Withington) Cameron Thomas

Found: Q241 Cameron Thomas: Good afternoon.

Found: present: Vicky Foxcroft Rt Hon Damian Hinds Dr Rupa Huq Natasha Irons Jo Platt Jeff Smith Cameron Thomas

Found: Q241 Cameron Thomas: Good afternoon.

Found: Q116 Cameron Thomas: I am quite sceptical about advertising.

Found: Q116 Cameron Thomas: I am quite sceptical about advertising.