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 initial teacher training providers sending trainee teachers to conferences and work shops promoting the concept of white privilege on schools' ability to comply with sections 406 and 407 of the Education Act 1996.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

All Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses leading to QTS must incorporate the Initial Teacher Training Early Career Framework (ITTECF) in full. The ITTECF is based on the best available evidence of what makes high-quality teaching and sets out the critical core content that new teachers need to be successful as they join the teaching profession.

The framework does not require ITT courses to include content on white privilege theory and/or schools' ability to comply with sections 406 and 407 of the Education Act 1996.

ITT courses must be designed so that trainees can demonstrate that they meet all the Teachers' Standards at the appropriate level. Part two of the Teachers’ Standards sets clear standards for teachers’ personal and professional conduct, including not undermining British values and promoting mutual respect and tolerance of different views. Regular Ofsted inspection of ITT providers considers their training content and how providers prepare trainees to meet all expected professional behaviours.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, does she intend to answer question UIN113162 given that it is now more than 7 weeks overdue.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The response to Written Parliamentary Question 113162 was published on 20 April 2026.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of referrals to (a) hospital outpatient care and (b) secondary care are (i) accepted to be seen and (ii) rejected and provided with advice and guidance instead for which the latest data is available.

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

The Department does not hold data 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 patients referred urgently with suspected cancer are (a) diagnosed and (b) reassured within (i) 28, (ii) 29, (iii) 30, (iv) 31, (v) 32 and (vi) 33 days of referral for which the latest data is available.

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

The table attached shows, in the period from October to December 2025, the number of patients referred urgently with suspected cancer who were either diagnosed with cancer or had cancer ruled out within the specified period between referral and the communication of their outcome.

NHS England first published information on outcomes for patients referred urgently with suspected cancer under the Faster Diagnosis Standard in September 2025. This data covers all patients, irrespective of the number of days between referral and the communication of the outcome.

The figures provided above represent a subset of this data, focusing on specific time bands requested, and are not routinely published. Each time band is cumulative and includes all patients who received their outcome within that period. Further information on Cancer Waiting Times statistics is available on the NHS England website, at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancer-waiting-times/

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 treatment for lobular breast cancer.

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

The Department is committed to ensuring that the National Health Service diagnoses cancer earlier and treats it faster so that more patients, including those with lobular breast cancer, survive.

The National Cancer Plan strives to ensure that we are a world leader on cancer research and innovation, to help the health and care system to prevent, detect, and better treat and manage a wider range of cancers, contributing to survival rates.

The Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) are committed to continuing to support the development of fundable research proposals into lobular breast cancer and to helping drive a stronger collective understanding of the biology behind lobular breast cancer, as well as the effective treatment and management of this disease.

In order to further stimulate research in this area, and following a meeting between campaigners and my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the NIHR launched a highlight notice in late 2025, encouraging applications across its research programmes and training. The NIHR continues to welcome high quality applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including lobular breast cancer. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to the public and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

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 risks of rejecting secondary care referrals that are currently accepted.

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

It is not Government policy for referrals to secondary care to be rejected. General practitioners (GPs) are encouraged to seek specialist advice ahead of making a referral where it is clinically appropriate to do so. Patients benefit from earlier specialist input and are more likely to receive the right care in the right place, first time.

A GP’s right to refer is unchanged. If a patient needs a hospital referral, they will get one.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to respond to the Hughes report before prorogation.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed

The Government is carefully considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out recommendations for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh.

The Government has deep sympathy for all those affected and recognises the profound impact that these harms have had on individuals and their families.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has been clear that he wants to make meaningful progress during this Parliament, although a decision to provide compensation has not yet been made. We recognise how difficult and disappointing this uncertainty is for those affected, and we will ensure that the public is kept informed as soon as any decision on redress is made.

I met with the Patient Safety Commissioner, Dr Henrietta Hughes since I have been in post, and had a very productive discussion about the ongoing health initiatives led by the Department regarding sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. Details of the Government’s work to date are set out in recent letters to the Dr Hughes, which are published on her website.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answers of 1 April 2026 to Question 122780 and 25 March 2026 to Question 120988 on General Practitioners: Contracts and with reference to the oral statement of 16 April 2026 on the Women's Health Strategy, whether waiting times for patients who are offered secondary care following an Advice and Guidance (A&G) request in (a) March, (b) April, (c) May, (d) June, (e) July, (f) August, (g) September, (h) October and (i) November 2026.will be calculated from (i) the date the A&G request is received, (ii) the date the A&G request is accepted as referred and (iii) other dates on the pathway.

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

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he intends outpatient referrals to (a) hospitals and (b) secondary care providers to be managed by people other than consultants.

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

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to appoint the national specialty lead for rare cancers.

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

The Government will implement the Rare Cancers Act 2026 by ensuring that a National Specialty Lead for Rare Cancers is appointed by summer 2026. The National Specialty Lead will be based in the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Research Delivery Network and will support research delivery for rare cancers research.

Implementing the Rare Cancers Act 2026 will make it easier for clinical trials on rare cancers to be delivered in England.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answers of 1 April 2026 to Question 122780 and 25 March 2026 to Question 120988 on General Practitioners: Contracts and with reference to the oral statement of 16 April 2026 on the Women's Health Strategy, whether waiting times for patients who are offered secondary care following an Advice and Guidance (A&G) request in (a) March, (b) April, (c) May, (d) June, (e) July, (f) August, (g) September, (h) October and (i) November 2026.will be calculated from (i) the date the A&G request is received, (ii) the date the A&G request is accepted as a referral and (iii) other dates on the pathway.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - 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, on which dates the maternity and neonatal task force (a) has met and (b) is due to meet.

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

The first taskforce meeting took place on the 24 March 2026. A record of this meeting is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/national-maternity-and-neonatal-taskforce#record-of-meetings

Future records of meetings will be uploaded to GOV.UK on a rolling basis.

The second taskforce meeting took place on the 19 May 2026.

As per the Terms of Reference, the taskforce will meet every six to eight weeks. Future meeting dates will be confirmed in due course and communicated to taskforce members.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the Hughes report.

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

The Government extends its deepest sympathies to all those affected by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh, and recognises the profound, life‑changing impact these harms have had on individuals and their families. We know that for many, the consequences are ongoing and deeply felt.

We are still in the process of considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out recommendations for redress for those that have been affected. We will respond once this work is complete. However, we have introduced several initiatives, in conjunction with NHS England, to address the immediate needs of the affected cohort.

In relation to pelvic mesh, a national pause was introduced in 2018 on the use of vaginally inserted mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapse, and of mesh slings to treat stress urinary incontinence, which remains in place. In 2021, we established several mesh centres as regional, multidisciplinary specialist services to treat complications from pelvic mesh surgeries. NHS England completed an internal audit of the mesh centres across England in 2026. The audit showed the value and impact of the service delivered by the mesh centres, with almost 3000 patients now seen in the services since their introduction, equating to 700 per year.

With regard to sodium valproate, since 2018, the number of females prescribed sodium valproate aged 0-54 has almost halved. However, NHS England continues to monitor and work to lower the number of patients exposed to sodium valproate in utero, and there remains a cohort of patients with distinct and varied care needs to whom the health system must provide the best possible care. The pilot has so far seen 80 patients, representing 560 appointments and 650 clinical hours. This translates to real human impact, with patients already feeding back on the value that being seen by clinical experts and wider multi-disciplinary team services has had on their quality of life.

The Government has been clear that there must be meaningful progress during this Parliament. We recognise how difficult this uncertainty is for those affected, and we will ensure that the public is kept informed on this important work. Ongoing health initiatives led by the Department and future plans are set out in recent letters to the Patient Safety Commissioner, which are published on her website.

Found: Chair) Jess Asato (Labour; Lowestoft) Sureena Brackenridge (Labour; Wolverhampton North East) Dr Caroline Johnson

Found: Governance of English Rugby Union Sorcha Eastwood: Impact of digital platforms on UK democracy   Dr Caroline Johnson

Found: Chair) Jess Asato (Labour; Lowestoft) Sureena Brackenridge (Labour; Wolverhampton North East) Dr Caroline Johnson

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Helen Hayes (Chair); Jess Asato; Sureena Brackenridge; Dr Caroline Johnson

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Helen Hayes (Chair); Jess Asato; Sureena Brackenridge; Dr Caroline Johnson

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Helen Hayes (Chair); Jess Asato; Sureena Brackenridge; Dr Caroline Johnson

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Helen Hayes (Chair); Dr Caroline Johnson; Manuela Perteghella; Peter