Cat Smith Portrait

Cat Smith

Labour - Lancaster and Wyre

9,253 (21.5%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 7th May 2015


Liaison Committee (Commons)
18th Oct 2023 - 30th May 2024
Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
11th May 2020 - 30th May 2024
Petitions Committee
18th Oct 2023 - 30th May 2024
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
19th Jun 2023 - 30th May 2024
Environmental Audit Committee
7th Mar 2023 - 30th May 2024
Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief Bill (Formerly known as International Freedom of Religion or Belief Bill)
17th Apr 2024 - 24th Apr 2024
Zoological Society of London (Leases) Bill
21st Feb 2024 - 28th Feb 2024
Environmental Audit Sub-Committee on Polar Research
22nd Mar 2023 - 7th Feb 2024
Ballot Secrecy Bill [HL]
1st Mar 2023 - 7th Mar 2023
Offenders (Day of Release from Detention) Bill
1st Feb 2023 - 8th Feb 2023
Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Bill
26th Oct 2022 - 2nd Nov 2022
Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill
20th Jul 2022 - 7th Sep 2022
Shadow Minister (Cabinet Office) (Young People and Voter Engagement)
27th Jun 2016 - 29th Nov 2021
Elections Bill
15th Sep 2021 - 26th Oct 2021
Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons
20th Dec 2016 - 19th Jul 2017
Junior Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
18th Sep 2015 - 27th Jun 2016
Women and Equalities Committee
6th Jul 2015 - 26th Oct 2015


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Cat Smith has voted in 55 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Cat Smith Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op))
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
(4 debate interactions)
Keir Starmer (Labour)
Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury
(2 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Cabinet Office
(2 debate contributions)
Department of Health and Social Care
(2 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Cat Smith has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
View all Cat Smith's debates

Lancaster and Wyre Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Petitions with highest Lancaster and Wyre signature proportion
Petitions with most Lancaster and Wyre signatures
Cat Smith has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Cat Smith

18th December 2024
Cat Smith signed this EDM on Thursday 19th December 2024

Reform of electoral law

Tabled by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
That this House notes with serious concern recent reports of high-profile individuals and international entities exploring avenues to influence UK political parties and elections, raising questions about the robustness of current electoral laws in preventing foreign interference; recognises the essential role of transparent and accountable political financing in preserving public …
16 signatures
(Most recent: 20 Dec 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 7
Liberal Democrat: 6
Alliance: 1
Plaid Cymru: 1
Green Party: 1
16th December 2024
Cat Smith signed this EDM as a sponsor on Thursday 19th December 2024

Christmas

Tabled by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
That this House celebrates the Christmas season; remembers the true purpose of Christmas as a time to celebrate the greatest gift of God towards those he created; is mindful of the wonderful work carried out by those who love Christ in charitable and community work throughout the year; and urges …
5 signatures
(Most recent: 19 Dec 2024)
Signatures by party:
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Labour: 2
Liberal Democrat: 1
View All Cat Smith's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Cat Smith, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Cat Smith has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Cat Smith has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

2 Bills introduced by Cat Smith


A Bill to introduce a system of proportional representation for Parliamentary elections, for elections for directly-elected mayors in England, for local authority elections in England and for police and crime commissioner elections in England and Wales.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 24th March 2023

A Bill to introduce a system of proportional representation for local authority elections in England and for parliamentary general elections; to alter the methods used for electing the Mayor of London, for electing other directly-elected mayors in England and for electing police and crime commissioners in England and Wales; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Tuesday 21st March 2023

Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Solicitor General, how many alcohol industry representatives Ministers in her Department have met since July 2024.

Details of ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Data for the period of July to September 2024 will be published in due course.

Lucy Rigby
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many alcohol industry representatives Ministers in his Department have met since July 2024.

Details of ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Data for the period of July to September 2024 will be published shortly.

Abena Oppong-Asare
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many alcohol industry representatives have Ministers in his Department met with since July 2024.

As part of the Government’s transparency agenda, the Department for Business and Trade releases quarterly data on Ministerial meetings, gifts, hospitality and travel on the transparency pages of gov.uk. The next release will be for the period July to September 2024 with a yet to be confirmed date to be set by the Cabinet Office.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many alcohol industry representatives have Ministers in his Department met with since July 2024.

I refer my hon Friend to the answer I gave on 14 October 2024 to Question UIN 6511.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many alcohol industry representatives Ministers in her Department have met since July 2024.

Details of ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Data for the period of July to September 2024 will be published in due course.

Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
10th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding her Department has provided for (a) covered and (b) indoor (i) tennis and (ii) padel courts in each of the last five years.

The Government is committed to doing more to ensure that everyone, including older people, girls and women and those with disabilities, all have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities. Sport and physical activity is central to achieving our health and opportunity manifesto missions, with the biggest gains coming from supporting those who are inactive to move more.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Sport England’s work focuses on increasing participation in sport and to boost diversity at a grassroots level to give more and better opportunities to all.

Sport England provides long term investment to the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis in Britain, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives that will benefit everyone, including disabled people, women and girls and older people.

Sport England also works to ensure that each of their programmes impact directly on disabled people and those with a long-term health condition, with initiatives like the 'We are Undefeatable' campaign and partnerships with disability organisations.

Decisions with regards to future departmental budgets will be made as part of the upcoming spending review process.

Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
10th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help increase access to (a) affordable and (b) covered or indoor community tennis courts.

The Government is committed to doing more to ensure that everyone, including older people, girls and women and those with disabilities, all have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities. Sport and physical activity is central to achieving our health and opportunity manifesto missions, with the biggest gains coming from supporting those who are inactive to move more.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Sport England’s work focuses on increasing participation in sport and to boost diversity at a grassroots level to give more and better opportunities to all.

Sport England provides long term investment to the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis in Britain, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives that will benefit everyone, including disabled people, women and girls and older people.

Sport England also works to ensure that each of their programmes impact directly on disabled people and those with a long-term health condition, with initiatives like the 'We are Undefeatable' campaign and partnerships with disability organisations.

Decisions with regards to future departmental budgets will be made as part of the upcoming spending review process.

Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
10th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the provision of (a) indoor and (b) covered tennis facilities, in the context of her Department's target for increasing the number of people who are physically active by 2030.

The Government is committed to doing more to ensure that everyone, including older people, girls and women and those with disabilities, all have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities. Sport and physical activity is central to achieving our health and opportunity manifesto missions, with the biggest gains coming from supporting those who are inactive to move more.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Sport England’s work focuses on increasing participation in sport and to boost diversity at a grassroots level to give more and better opportunities to all.

Sport England provides long term investment to the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis in Britain, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives that will benefit everyone, including disabled people, women and girls and older people.

Sport England also works to ensure that each of their programmes impact directly on disabled people and those with a long-term health condition, with initiatives like the 'We are Undefeatable' campaign and partnerships with disability organisations.

Decisions with regards to future departmental budgets will be made as part of the upcoming spending review process.

Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
10th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the provision of accessible (a) indoor and (b) covered tennis courts in underserved communities.

The Government is committed to doing more to ensure that everyone, including older people, girls and women and those with disabilities, all have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities. Sport and physical activity is central to achieving our health and opportunity manifesto missions, with the biggest gains coming from supporting those who are inactive to move more.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Sport England’s work focuses on increasing participation in sport and to boost diversity at a grassroots level to give more and better opportunities to all.

Sport England provides long term investment to the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis in Britain, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives that will benefit everyone, including disabled people, women and girls and older people.

Sport England also works to ensure that each of their programmes impact directly on disabled people and those with a long-term health condition, with initiatives like the 'We are Undefeatable' campaign and partnerships with disability organisations.

Decisions with regards to future departmental budgets will be made as part of the upcoming spending review process.

Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
10th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of access to indoor tennis facilities on the level of participation in disability tennis.

The Government is committed to doing more to ensure that everyone, including older people, girls and women and those with disabilities, all have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities. Sport and physical activity is central to achieving our health and opportunity manifesto missions, with the biggest gains coming from supporting those who are inactive to move more.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Sport England’s work focuses on increasing participation in sport and to boost diversity at a grassroots level to give more and better opportunities to all.

Sport England provides long term investment to the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis in Britain, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives that will benefit everyone, including disabled people, women and girls and older people.

Sport England also works to ensure that each of their programmes impact directly on disabled people and those with a long-term health condition, with initiatives like the 'We are Undefeatable' campaign and partnerships with disability organisations.

Decisions with regards to future departmental budgets will be made as part of the upcoming spending review process.

Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
10th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of access to tennis facilities on the physical activity levels of (a) older people, (b) disabled people, (c) women and girls and (d) other less active groups.

The Government is committed to doing more to ensure that everyone, including older people, girls and women and those with disabilities, all have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities. Sport and physical activity is central to achieving our health and opportunity manifesto missions, with the biggest gains coming from supporting those who are inactive to move more.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Sport England’s work focuses on increasing participation in sport and to boost diversity at a grassroots level to give more and better opportunities to all.

Sport England provides long term investment to the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis in Britain, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives that will benefit everyone, including disabled people, women and girls and older people.

Sport England also works to ensure that each of their programmes impact directly on disabled people and those with a long-term health condition, with initiatives like the 'We are Undefeatable' campaign and partnerships with disability organisations.

Decisions with regards to future departmental budgets will be made as part of the upcoming spending review process.

Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether Ministers in her Department have met with representatives of the alcohol industry since July 2024.

Details of Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Data for the period of July to September 2024 will be published in due course.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
31st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to provide additional funding to Social Work England for the provision of additional fitness to practice final hearings.

The department has provided additional funding of £7.1 million to Social Work England to clear the backlog of legacy cases inherited from the previous regulator. The department continues to look at ways to provide additional support to reduce cases currently at final hearing stage.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
29th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to mitigate the impact of delays to fitness to practice final hearings on (a) the public and (b) social workers.

To mitigate the impact of delays to fitness to practice final hearings on the public and social workers, the department and Social Work England have made changes to legislation for operational efficiencies. In addition, the department has provided additional funds of £7.1 million to Social Work England to clear the backlog of legacy cases inherited from the previous regulator.

The department and Social Work England continue to work together to reduce delays to fitness to hearings through increasing the number of hearings held wherever possible.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
10th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps to increase pay in the further education sector.

The government does not set or recommend pay in further education (FE), and the FE sector does not have a Pay Review Body (PRB). Colleges are not bound by the national pay and conditions framework for school teachers and are free to implement their own pay arrangements.

The department will continue with its plans to invest in FE teachers, as part of approximately £600 million funding across the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years, including targeted retention incentive payments of up to £6,000 for eligible early career FE teachers.

This government will consider the important contribution of non-PRB workforces, including FE, and will consider workforce sufficiency and what this might mean for FE funding in future years, as part of the Spending Review.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
19th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a right to buy for tenant farmers.

This Government recognises the importance of tenant farmers in contributing to a resilient and thriving farming sector. The Government has not made an assessment on the potential merits of introducing a right to buy for tenant farmers but is committed to ensuring agricultural tenancies are fair and collaborative.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure the welfare of reindeer used at seasonal events in winter 2024-25.

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the 2006 Act), owners and keepers of animals, including reindeer, must take reasonable steps to provide for the health and welfare of animals under their care.

Under schedule 7 of the Licensing of Activities Involving Animals (LAIA) Regulations, local authorities are responsible for licensing the use of animals for certain commercial purposes, including the keeping or training of animals for exhibition.

Under the conditions of this schedule, keepers must make provision for the welfare of the animals being exhibited, including providing suitable temporary accommodation for the reindeer, ensuring they are handled by appropriately trained persons, and using suitable handling methods.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to ban the import of dogs with cropped ears.

Ear cropping has rightly been banned in the UK for over 15 years. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it is an offence in England and Wales to carry out a non-exempted mutilation e.g., where a surgical procedure is not carried out for medical purposes, such as the cropping of a dog’s ears. While the practice is illegal in the UK, we recognise that the current legislative framework can be abused by traders who import these dogs from abroad.

As outlined in our manifesto, the Government is committed to ending puppy smuggling. We will clamp down on unscrupulous traders who prioritise profit over welfare. We are considering the most effective ways to deliver this and will be setting out next steps in due course.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to launch a consultation on which activities should be banned from being (a) advertised and (b) offered for sale under the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.

The Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 provides a framework for the introduction of a future bans on the advertising and offering for sale, in England and Northern Ireland, of low-welfare animal activities abroad. Future decisions on the next steps will be evidence-based and subject to Parliamentary scrutiny.

The Government will introduce the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation. We are considering the most effective ways to deliver these commitments and will be setting out next steps in due course.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many alcohol industry representatives Ministers in his Department have met since July 2024.

Details of ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Data for the period of July to September 2024 will be published in due course.

Mike Kane
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an estimate of the average economic benefit of buying a bicycle to (a) an individual and (b) society.

The Department has not made an estimate of the economic value of buying a bicycle. A report by Transport for Quality of Life, titled ‘The UK cycle industry: current economic and employment benefits and its decarbonisation-driven growth potential’ published in 2023, suggests an annual economic benefit of £1,800 per cyclist.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the report entitled The cycling opportunity, published by Sustrans on 11 September 2024.

The Department welcomes the findings of this research and will consider its recommendations carefully as we develop our future plans for active travel.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many alcohol industry representatives Ministers in his Department have met since July 2024.

Details of ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Data for the period of July to September 2024 will be published in due course.

Andrew Western
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
11th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have deferred their State Pension.

It is not possible to estimate the overall number of people who have deferred their State Pension, because we do not know who has deferred until they make their claim for it.

In May 2023, there were 138,872 people who had made a deferred claim for their New State Pension and are now in receipt of extra State Pension.

Data is not available on deferred claims from those reaching State Pension age prior to 2016, as the statistics were suspended following the introduction of a new DWP computer system. The most recently published statistics showing the total number of pensioners receiving extra State Pension are from May 2021 and are available here (Extra State Pension is referred to as “increments” in this document.): DWP benefits statistics: May 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Emma Reynolds
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
23rd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to publish her Department's response to the consultation entitled Modernising support for independent living: the health and disability green paper, published in April 2024.

The consultation on the Modernising Support Green Paper closed on Monday 22 July. Over 16,000 responses have been received and we will review these responses.

The proposals in this Green Paper were developed by the previous government. We will be considering our own approach to social security in due course.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to tackle alcohol harms.

Under our Health Mission, the Government is committed to prioritising preventative public health measures to support people to live longer, healthier lives. For too long there has been an unwillingness to lead on issues like smoking, alcohol harm, and obesity. It is unacceptable that alcohol deaths are now at record high levels. The Department will continue to work across Government to understand how we can best reduce alcohol-related harms.

Andrew Gwynne
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many alcohol industry representatives Ministers in his Department have met since July 2024.

Details of ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK website. Data for the period of July to September 2024 will be published in due course.

Andrew Gwynne
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Health Mission Board has taken to tackle rates of alcohol harm.

Under our Health Mission, the Government is committed to prioritising preventative public health measures to support people to live longer, healthier lives. For too long there has been an unwillingness to lead on issues like smoking, alcohol harm, and obesity. It is unacceptable that alcohol deaths are now at record high levels. The Department will continue to work across Government to understand how we can best reduce alcohol-related harms.

Andrew Gwynne
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will meet the Alcohol Health Alliance to discuss what steps the Government can take to reduce alcohol related deaths.

Under our Health Mission, the Government is committed to prioritising preventative public health measures to support people to live longer, healthier lives. For too long there has been an unwillingness to lead on issues like smoking, alcohol harm, and obesity. It is unacceptable that alcohol deaths are now at record high levels. I can confirm that Department ministers plan to meet representatives from the Alcohol Health Alliance in the new year.

Andrew Gwynne
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to meet (a) the Alcohol Health Alliance and (b) other public health representatives to discuss rates of alcohol harm.

Under our Health Mission, the Government is committed to prioritising preventative public health measures to support people to live longer, healthier lives. For too long there has been an unwillingness to lead on issues like smoking, alcohol harm, and obesity. It is unacceptable that alcohol deaths are now at record high levels. I can confirm that Department ministers plan to meet representatives from the Alcohol Health Alliance in the new year.

Andrew Gwynne
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
18th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to announce the future funding for drug and alcohol treatment provision as part of the Drugs Strategy in time for services to avoid commencing redundancy consultations; and if he will change future treatment funding announcement cycles to give local authorities more time to (a) plan and (b) commission such services.

The Government supports investment in drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services, to ensure that those people with a substance use need get appropriate help and support. In addition to the Public Health Grant, the Department has allocated local authorities a further £267 million in 2024/25 to improve the quality and capacity of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery. This is alongside £105 million made available by the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to improve employment and housing support.

My Rt. Hon. friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced updates to the fiscal framework, and earlier this year launched the Spending Review which has now settled the 2025/26 departmental budgets. She has also made it clear that the Government will conclude a multi-year Spending Review in spring 2025. In future, we anticipate that Spending Reviews will be set every two years to cover a three-year period, including a one-year overlap with the previous Spending Review, helping build in greater certainty and stability over public finances.

Now that the Autumn Budget has been completed, the Department is working to be able to announce future funding allocations for drug and alcohol treatment and recovery systems. We will communicate with the sector about this as soon as we are able to, as we recognise the importance of this information in maintaining delivery and planning for 2025/26.

Andrew Gwynne
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
18th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to announce (a) allocations of public health grants to local authorities and (b) the length of the funding cycle; and if he will take steps to ensure that local authorities have adequate notice of public health grants.

We will publish local authority public health grant allocations for 2025/26 in due course, with the aim of giving local authorities as much notice as possible to plan.

We will aim to confirm future multi-year allocations later in 2025, following the next phase of the Spending Review in spring.

Andrew Gwynne
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of Lancashire and South Cumbria New Hospitals Programme scheme.

The standard process confirming the total funding amount for major infrastructure projects involves the review and approval of a Full Business Case. All trusts in the programme have previously received indicative funding allocations to support planning, however these are commercially sensitive.

There are two New Hospital Programme schemes in Lancashire and South Cumbria, the scheme for the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at Royal Preston Hospital, and the scheme for the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust at Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Up to the end of the 2023/24, both trusts received £6.7 million each for their new hospital schemes.

The breakdown of how much the trusts received for their new hospital schemes is published annually as part of the Department’s Annual Reports and Accounts, with Public Dividend Capital to individual trusts included in the Financial Assistance Report under section 40 of the National Health Service Act 2006. The 2022/23 report is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-to-2023

Both schemes are at Pre-Consultation Business Case stage, and are at Royal Institute of British Architects Stage 1.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding the Lancashire and South Cumbria New Hospitals Programme scheme had received up to the end of the 2023-24 financial year.

The standard process confirming the total funding amount for major infrastructure projects involves the review and approval of a Full Business Case. All trusts in the programme have previously received indicative funding allocations to support planning, however these are commercially sensitive.

There are two New Hospital Programme schemes in Lancashire and South Cumbria, the scheme for the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at Royal Preston Hospital, and the scheme for the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust at Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Up to the end of the 2023/24, both trusts received £6.7 million each for their new hospital schemes.

The breakdown of how much the trusts received for their new hospital schemes is published annually as part of the Department’s Annual Reports and Accounts, with Public Dividend Capital to individual trusts included in the Financial Assistance Report under section 40 of the National Health Service Act 2006. The 2022/23 report is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-to-2023

Both schemes are at Pre-Consultation Business Case stage, and are at Royal Institute of British Architects Stage 1.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding had been allocated by the Treasury for the Lancashire and South Cumbria New Hospitals Programme scheme by 2 July 2024.

The standard process confirming the total funding amount for major infrastructure projects involves the review and approval of a Full Business Case. All trusts in the programme have previously received indicative funding allocations to support planning, however these are commercially sensitive.

There are two New Hospital Programme schemes in Lancashire and South Cumbria, the scheme for the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at Royal Preston Hospital, and the scheme for the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust at Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Up to the end of the 2023/24, both trusts received £6.7 million each for their new hospital schemes.

The breakdown of how much the trusts received for their new hospital schemes is published annually as part of the Department’s Annual Reports and Accounts, with Public Dividend Capital to individual trusts included in the Financial Assistance Report under section 40 of the National Health Service Act 2006. The 2022/23 report is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-to-2023

Both schemes are at Pre-Consultation Business Case stage, and are at Royal Institute of British Architects Stage 1.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the (a) business case status and (b) RIBA stage is of the Lancashire and South Cumbria New Hospitals Programme scheme.

The standard process confirming the total funding amount for major infrastructure projects involves the review and approval of a Full Business Case. All trusts in the programme have previously received indicative funding allocations to support planning, however these are commercially sensitive.

There are two New Hospital Programme schemes in Lancashire and South Cumbria, the scheme for the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at Royal Preston Hospital, and the scheme for the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust at Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Up to the end of the 2023/24, both trusts received £6.7 million each for their new hospital schemes.

The breakdown of how much the trusts received for their new hospital schemes is published annually as part of the Department’s Annual Reports and Accounts, with Public Dividend Capital to individual trusts included in the Financial Assistance Report under section 40 of the National Health Service Act 2006. The 2022/23 report is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-to-2023

Both schemes are at Pre-Consultation Business Case stage, and are at Royal Institute of British Architects Stage 1.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the availability of anti-convulsant medicines to control epilepsy.

The Department is working hard with industry to help resolve intermittent supply issues with some epilepsy medications. As a result of ongoing activity and intensive work, including directing suppliers to expedite deliveries, some issues, including with some Tegretol presentations, have been resolved. The Department continues to work closely with industry, the National Health Service, and others to help ensure patients continue to have access to an alternative treatment until their usual product is back in stock. This includes working with manufacturers of alternatives formulations to ensure they remain available and can support increased demand.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the availability at pharmacies of methylphenidate medication for people with ADHD.

The Department monitors and manages medicine supply at a national level so that stocks remain available to meet regional and local demand. Information is not collected on a local level.

The Department has been working hard with industry and NHS England to help resolve supply issues with some attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medicines, which are affecting the United Kingdom and other countries around the world. As a result of intensive work, some issues have been resolved and all strengths of lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine capsules, and guanfacine prolonged-release tablets are now available.

We are continuing to work to resolve supply issues where they remain, for methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets. We are engaging with all suppliers of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets to assess the challenges faced and their actions to address them. We are also directing suppliers to secure additional stocks, expedite deliveries where possible, and review plans to further build capacity to support continued growth in demand for the short and long-term. We anticipate intermittent regional supply disruptions to continue, and we expect supply to improve in the UK from October 2024.

In parallel, the Department has worked with specialist clinicians, including those within the National Health Service, to develop management advice for NHS clinicians to consider prescribing available alternative brands of methylphenidate prolonged release tablets or available alternative ADHD medicines. We would expect ADHD service providers and specialists to follow our guidance, which includes offering rapid response to primary care teams seeking urgent advice or opinion for the management of patients, including those known to be at a higher risk of adverse impact because of these shortages.

To aid ADHD service providers and prescribers further we have widely disseminated our communications, and continually update a list of currently available and unavailable ADHD products on the Specialist Pharmacy Service website, helping ensure that those involved in the prescribing and dispensing of ADHD medications can make informed decisions with patients.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps with representatives from the farming sector to support people with mental health issues in rural communities.

As set out in the NHS Priorities and Operational Planning Guidance for 2024/25, NHS England is continuing to expand access to mental health services, to increase the number of people accessing mental health support. Integrated care boards are responsible for providing health and care services to meet the needs of their local populations.

We plan to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult mental health services in England, to reduce delays and provide faster treatment, including in rural areas.

The Suicide prevention strategy for England: 2023 to 2028, published in September 2023, sets out an ambition to conduct and commission research and data linkage projects, including supporting the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to look at agricultural workers, to understand the unique challenges in that occupational group and respond appropriately.

In addition, through its Farming and Countryside Programme, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is working with a range of farming charities, including the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution and the Yellow Wellies charity, which have highlighted mental health challenges for farming communities.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to help ensure mental health services are accessible to patients in rural communities.

As set out in the NHS Priorities and Operational Planning Guidance for 2024/25, NHS England is continuing to expand access to mental health services, to increase the number of people accessing mental health support. Integrated care boards are responsible for providing health and care services to meet the needs of their local populations.

We plan to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult mental health services in England, to reduce delays and provide faster treatment, including in rural areas.

The Suicide prevention strategy for England: 2023 to 2028, published in September 2023, sets out an ambition to conduct and commission research and data linkage projects, including supporting the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to look at agricultural workers, to understand the unique challenges in that occupational group and respond appropriately.

In addition, through its Farming and Countryside Programme, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is working with a range of farming charities, including the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution and the Yellow Wellies charity, which have highlighted mental health challenges for farming communities.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that those proscribed puberty blockers for the treatment of gender incongruence will continue to receive them.

The emergency banning order limiting the sale or supply of puberty blockers against private or non-United Kingdom prescriptions allows a child under 18 years old, who was already on a course of treatment with Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Analogues before 3 June 2024 from a UK based private or National Health Service provider, to continue to have them supplied. Those who were already on a course of treatment prescribed by an EEA or Switzerland registered prescriber can legally switch to a UK based prescriber to continue their treatment.

This government has committed to implementing the expert recommendations of the Cass Review to ensure that young people presenting to the NHS with gender dysphoria are receiving appropriate and high-quality care. That is why NHS England and the National Institue of Health and Care Research – the research arm of the department – are working together to commission a study into the potential benefits and harms of puberty suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The study team is now in place and are finalising their application for funding which will be assessed by an independent scientific review study ahead of the commencement of wider approvals, including ethics, and set up.

Children and young people unable to access puberty blockers are strongly advised to meet with their clinician. We expect clinicians to be working with impacted patients to consider what the best care for them is going forward. Some children and young people may be concerned by these changes. If they are already under the care of a Children and Young People’s mental health provider or the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, they can contact their team for advice. If they are not, their general practice team will be able to assess whether further referrals for mental health support are required. Patients can also be signposted to the advice on getting mental health support available on the NHS.UK website. Anyone in need of urgent support can contact NHS 111 and choose the mental health option, option two. Further details are available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/

Andrew Gwynne
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of restricting puberty blockers for the treatment of gender incongruence on the (a) physical and (b) mental health of young trans people.

The emergency banning Order, restricting the sale or supply of puberty blockers, was introduced by the previous Government. The Order enables those who were already on a course of treatment with Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Analogues, before 3 June 2024 from a UK based private or National Health Service provider, to continue to have them supplied. Those who were already on a course of treatment prescribed by an EEA or Switzerland registered prescriber can legally switch to a UK based prescriber to continue their treatment.

The expert Cass Review, which is one of the most comprehensive reviews of gender identity services for children and young people to date, states that the rationale for early puberty suppressing hormones to treat gender dysphoria is unclear and the effects on cognitive and psychosexual development are unknown. This Government will always act in the interests of patient safety, which is why the Secretary of State signalled his intention to renew the Order and consult on a permanent ban (subject to the outcome of the ongoing judicial review).

We are committed to implementing the recommendations of the Cass Review to ensure that young people presenting to the NHS with gender dysphoria are receiving appropriate and high-quality care. That is why NHS England and the National Institute of Health and Care Research, the research arm of the Department, are working together to commission a study into the potential benefits and harms of puberty suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The study team is now in place and are finalising their application for funding which will be assessed by an independent scientific review study ahead of the commencement of wider approvals, including ethics, and set up.

We will continue to monitor the impacts of the Order, including on mental health. Professor Louis Appleby, Chair of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group, has examined evidence for a large rise in suicides claimed by campaigners. His paper, which was published on 19 July 2024, concluded that the data do not support the claim that there has been a large rise in suicide in young gender dysphoria patients at the Tavistock clinic.

Some children and young people may be concerned by these changes. If they are already under the care of a Children and Young People’s mental health provider or the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, they can contact their team for advice. If they are not, their general practice team will be able to assess whether further referrals for mental health support are required. Patients can also be signposted to the advice on getting mental health support available on the NHS.UK website. Anyone in need of urgent support can contact NHS 111 and choose the mental health option, option two. Further details are available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/

Professor Appleby’s paper is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-suicides-and-gender-dysphoria-at-the-tavistock-and-portman-nhs-foundation-trust/review-of-suicides-and-gender-dysphoria-at-the-tavistock-and-portman-nhs-foundation-trust-independent-report

Andrew Gwynne
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential risks of harm being caused by restrictions on puberty blockers for treatments of gender incongruence.

The emergency banning Order, restricting the sale or supply of puberty blockers, was introduced by the previous Government. The Order enables those who were already on a course of treatment with Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Analogues, before 3 June 2024 from a UK based private or National Health Service provider, to continue to have them supplied. Those who were already on a course of treatment prescribed by an EEA or Switzerland registered prescriber can legally switch to a UK based prescriber to continue their treatment.

The expert Cass Review, which is one of the most comprehensive reviews of gender identity services for children and young people to date, states that the rationale for early puberty suppressing hormones to treat gender dysphoria is unclear and the effects on cognitive and psychosexual development are unknown. This Government will always act in the interests of patient safety, which is why the Secretary of State signalled his intention to renew the Order and consult on a permanent ban (subject to the outcome of the ongoing judicial review).

We are committed to implementing the recommendations of the Cass Review to ensure that young people presenting to the NHS with gender dysphoria are receiving appropriate and high-quality care. That is why NHS England and the National Institute of Health and Care Research, the research arm of the Department, are working together to commission a study into the potential benefits and harms of puberty suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The study team is now in place and are finalising their application for funding which will be assessed by an independent scientific review study ahead of the commencement of wider approvals, including ethics, and set up.

We will continue to monitor the impacts of the Order, including on mental health. Professor Louis Appleby, Chair of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group, has examined evidence for a large rise in suicides claimed by campaigners. His paper, which was published on 19 July 2024, concluded that the data do not support the claim that there has been a large rise in suicide in young gender dysphoria patients at the Tavistock clinic.

Some children and young people may be concerned by these changes. If they are already under the care of a Children and Young People’s mental health provider or the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, they can contact their team for advice. If they are not, their general practice team will be able to assess whether further referrals for mental health support are required. Patients can also be signposted to the advice on getting mental health support available on the NHS.UK website. Anyone in need of urgent support can contact NHS 111 and choose the mental health option, option two. Further details are available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/

Professor Appleby’s paper is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-suicides-and-gender-dysphoria-at-the-tavistock-and-portman-nhs-foundation-trust/review-of-suicides-and-gender-dysphoria-at-the-tavistock-and-portman-nhs-foundation-trust-independent-report

Andrew Gwynne
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will meet with (a) young trans young people and (b) their families to discuss the prescription of puberty blockers for the treatment of gender incongruence.

The emergency banning order limiting the sale or supply of puberty blockers against private or non-United Kingdom prescriptions allows a child under 18 years old, who was already on a course of treatment with Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Analogues before 3 June 2024 from a UK based private or National Health Service provider, to continue to have them supplied. Those who were already on a course of treatment prescribed by an EEA or Switzerland registered prescriber can legally switch to a UK based prescriber to continue their treatment.

This government has committed to implementing the expert recommendations of the Cass Review to ensure that young people presenting to the NHS with gender dysphoria are receiving appropriate and high-quality care. That is why NHS England and the National Institue of Health and Care Research – the research arm of the department – are working together to commission a study into the potential benefits and harms of puberty suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The study team is now in place and are finalising their application for funding which will be assessed by an independent scientific review study ahead of the commencement of wider approvals, including ethics, and set up.

We recognise the value of engaging with representative groups and want to reset the relationship the department has with LGBT+ groups. My rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will be meeting with LGBT+ stakeholders as soon as possible to hear directly about the health and care issues that are most important to them.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his timetable is for the clinical trial being conducted on the use of puberty blockers for the treatment of gender incongruence.

The expert Cass Review, which is one of the most comprehensive reviews of gender identity services for children and young people to date, states that the rationale for early puberty suppressing hormones to treat gender dysphoria is unclear and the effects on cognitive and psychosexual development are unknown. This is why NHS England and the National Institute of Health and Care Research, the research arm of the department, are working together to commission a study into the potential benefits and harms of puberty suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The study team is now in place and are finalising their application for funding which will be assessed by an independent scientific review study ahead of the commencement of wider approvals, including ethics, and set up.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made a comparative assessment of the UK’s position on the prescription of puberty blockers for the treatment of gender incongruence with that of other European countries.

The Cass Review is one of the most comprehensive reviews of gender identity services for children and young people to date worldwide.

The Cass review included an assessment of evidence from other countries and concluded that there was a lack of evidenced-based guidelines and, therefore, limitations for adopting these for National Health Service gender services. Informed by the Cass review, we are now reforming transgender care for young people in this country, based on the best possible evidence. That means a holistic approach, with puberty suppressing hormones only considered within a much broader needs assessment, and only then in the context of a clinical trial. We are committed to implementing the recommendations of the Cass Review, as that is the care model we believe to be the best approach in the interests of patient safety.

It is simply not possible for pharmacists to check whether prescriptions issued from overseas registered prescribers have been issued in a similarly safe and effective way, and we know that some overseas providers who advertise their services do not follow this approach.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many alcohol industry representatives Ministers in his Department have met since July 2024.

Details of ministers' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Data for the period of July to September 2024 will be published in due course.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he plans to take to use the UK's position as penholder for Sudan at the UN Security C Council to press for (a) a ceasefire before peace talks in August, (b) adherence to international humanitarian law and (c) the free flow of humanitarian aid.

On 13 June, the UK successfully led a UNSC resolution calling for an immediate de-escalation in El Fasher and full, unimpeded humanitarian access, including the reopening of the Adre border crossing. It also requested that the Secretary-General provide recommendations on the protection of civilians. On 6 August, the UK called a UNSC session to urgently discuss the Famine Review Committee's findings and the need for the obstruction of aid by the warring parties to stop. The UK intervention re-iterated our support for UN efforts in Sudan, including through the recommendations set out by the UN Secretary White Note, released on 15 March 2024 under UNSC Resolution 2417. We continue to put pressure on the parties to ensure the recent move to re-open Adre is honoured in full and without excessive restrictions. The Foreign Secretary publicly welcomed the ceasefire talks co-hosted by the US, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland in August and urged the warring parties to participate.

Anneliese Dodds
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)