Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that all people living with Huntington’s disease have a named professional acting as a single point of contact to coordinate their care.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as Huntington’s Disease. Better coordination of care is a priority under the UK Rare Diseases Framework. On 26 February the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published an evidence-based new quality standard for rare diseases, which includes a named healthcare professional to coordinate care. It sets out priority areas for quality improvement and NHS England and my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, are required to have regard to quality standards as they discharge their quality improvement duties. Local National Health Service commissioners are expected to take them fully into account in the design of services that meet the needs of their local populations

The revised NHS England Specialised Neurology Services (adults) specification 2025 also outlines expectations of a system-wide approach, incorporating end-to-end pathways within an Integrated Neurology System, supporting more equitable and efficient care for people with long-term neurological diseases, including Huntington’s disease.

Dedicated care co-ordinators for Huntington’s disease are not centrally commissioned. Integrated care boards are responsible for working with their local communities to understand the needs of the local populations and make decisions about how best to commission services, including for those with Huntington’s disease.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the free bus travel for children in August scheme will permit travel by minors unaccompanied by an adult.

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

In May, the Chancellor announced the Summer Bus Fare Offer, which will enable children aged five to 15 to travel for free on participating local buses in England throughout August to help ease cost-of-living pressures for families and to help them get out and about for less this summer.

In developing the scheme, the Department for Transport continually assesses its potential impacts. We have carefully considered operational and safety issues raised through extensive engagement with the bus sector, including bus operators, and have incorporated a number of measures to ensure the scheme is delivered in a way that is safe and operationally workable. This includes enabling operators to require that children under 11 are accompanied by a person aged 16 or over, and have discretion in applying this requirement where doing so could place a child at risk.

The Department has also been in correspondence with trade unions on the development of the Summer Bus Fare Offer and continues to engage with stakeholders, including bus operators and local authorities on its delivery.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consultation with trade unions representing bus workers was undertaken (a) prior to and (b) since the announcement of the free bus travel for children in August scheme.

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

In May, the Chancellor announced the Summer Bus Fare Offer, which will enable children aged five to 15 to travel for free on participating local buses in England throughout August to help ease cost-of-living pressures for families and to help them get out and about for less this summer.

In developing the scheme, the Department for Transport continually assesses its potential impacts. We have carefully considered operational and safety issues raised through extensive engagement with the bus sector, including bus operators, and have incorporated a number of measures to ensure the scheme is delivered in a way that is safe and operationally workable. This includes enabling operators to require that children under 11 are accompanied by a person aged 16 or over, and have discretion in applying this requirement where doing so could place a child at risk.

The Department has also been in correspondence with trade unions on the development of the Summer Bus Fare Offer and continues to engage with stakeholders, including bus operators and local authorities on its delivery.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether an impact assessment has been undertaken for the free bus travel for children in August scheme.

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

In May, the Chancellor announced the Summer Bus Fare Offer, which will enable children aged five to 15 to travel for free on participating local buses in England throughout August to help ease cost-of-living pressures for families and to help them get out and about for less this summer.

In developing the scheme, the Department for Transport continually assesses its potential impacts. We have carefully considered operational and safety issues raised through extensive engagement with the bus sector, including bus operators, and have incorporated a number of measures to ensure the scheme is delivered in a way that is safe and operationally workable. This includes enabling operators to require that children under 11 are accompanied by a person aged 16 or over, and have discretion in applying this requirement where doing so could place a child at risk.

The Department has also been in correspondence with trade unions on the development of the Summer Bus Fare Offer and continues to engage with stakeholders, including bus operators and local authorities on its delivery.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will meet with LightAware to discuss digital exclusion for light-sensitive people.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

The Government’s ambition is simple: everyone, whatever their circumstances, should be able to get connected and get online, safely and with confidence. That is why we published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan and, in the year, since, over a million people have been supported to get online, more than 22,000 people have received a free device, and communities across the UK have benefited from the £11.9 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund.

But we know some people have barriers to inclusion, including those who have visual impairments. That is why we are clear that essential public services should make their digital services accessible as well as maintain offline pathways like phone and face to face, for those that need them. We also recognise the valuable role that assistive technologies, like screen readers, can play in ensuring people with visual impairments can access essential public sector services online. We are also clear essential private sector digital services should be usable and accessible for all.

We are determined to help more people get connected and get online, safely and with confidence. My officials have offered a meeting with LightAware to discuss their concerns.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to help ensure that all police use of force against children is limited to cases preventing significant harm to themselves or others, rather than to detain children for the purposes of a search.

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

The Government welcomes the Children’s Commissioner’s report, Police powers and children – strip searching and use of force, and takes its recommendations seriously.

Strip search is one of the most intrusive powers available to the police and its use must be lawful, fair, respectful and without unlawful discrimination. We recognise that any strip search of a child can be traumatic, particularly where safeguards are not followed, and that the welfare and safeguarding of children must remain paramount. There will, however, be occasions where a strip search is necessary to prevent or detect crime, or to protect the individual, police officers or the public.

The report highlights progress, including reductions in the number of strip searches of children and improvements in data transparency, but also raises important concerns about the consistent application of safeguards, repeat searches, racial disproportionality and the use of force.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on strip searches in police custody and strip searches following stop and search as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical series: [Police powers and procedures England and Wales. (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales).

The Government is carefully considering the Children’s Commissioner’s findings and recommendations. We are taking forward work to strengthen safeguards for children and vulnerable people, improve accountability and oversight, and provide greater clarity and consistency for police. This work is being progressed with relevant partners across Government and policing as part of wider consideration of the legal, operational and safeguarding framework for police search powers. We will continue to engage with the Children’s Commissioner, policing partners and other stakeholders as this work progresses.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the extent to which the Children Commissioner’s recommendations from the report Police Powers and Children – Strip Searching and Use of Force, published on 22 April 2026 have been implemented.

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

The Government welcomes the Children’s Commissioner’s report, Police powers and children – strip searching and use of force, and takes its recommendations seriously.

Strip search is one of the most intrusive powers available to the police and its use must be lawful, fair, respectful and without unlawful discrimination. We recognise that any strip search of a child can be traumatic, particularly where safeguards are not followed, and that the welfare and safeguarding of children must remain paramount. There will, however, be occasions where a strip search is necessary to prevent or detect crime, or to protect the individual, police officers or the public.

The report highlights progress, including reductions in the number of strip searches of children and improvements in data transparency, but also raises important concerns about the consistent application of safeguards, repeat searches, racial disproportionality and the use of force.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on strip searches in police custody and strip searches following stop and search as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical series: [Police powers and procedures England and Wales. (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales).

The Government is carefully considering the Children’s Commissioner’s findings and recommendations. We are taking forward work to strengthen safeguards for children and vulnerable people, improve accountability and oversight, and provide greater clarity and consistency for police. This work is being progressed with relevant partners across Government and policing as part of wider consideration of the legal, operational and safeguarding framework for police search powers. We will continue to engage with the Children’s Commissioner, policing partners and other stakeholders as this work progresses.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will consider the potential merits of requiring police forces to have custody healthcare practitioners conduct child strip searches rather than police officers.

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

The Government welcomes the Children’s Commissioner’s report, Police powers and children – strip searching and use of force, and takes its recommendations seriously.

Strip search is one of the most intrusive powers available to the police and its use must be lawful, fair, respectful and without unlawful discrimination. We recognise that any strip search of a child can be traumatic, particularly where safeguards are not followed, and that the welfare and safeguarding of children must remain paramount. There will, however, be occasions where a strip search is necessary to prevent or detect crime, or to protect the individual, police officers or the public.

The report highlights progress, including reductions in the number of strip searches of children and improvements in data transparency, but also raises important concerns about the consistent application of safeguards, repeat searches, racial disproportionality and the use of force.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on strip searches in police custody and strip searches following stop and search as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical series: [Police powers and procedures England and Wales. (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales).

The Government is carefully considering the Children’s Commissioner’s findings and recommendations. We are taking forward work to strengthen safeguards for children and vulnerable people, improve accountability and oversight, and provide greater clarity and consistency for police. This work is being progressed with relevant partners across Government and policing as part of wider consideration of the legal, operational and safeguarding framework for police search powers. We will continue to engage with the Children’s Commissioner, policing partners and other stakeholders as this work progresses.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to ensure that children are only strip searched where there is an immediate risk of significant harm.

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

The Government welcomes the Children’s Commissioner’s report, Police powers and children – strip searching and use of force, and takes its recommendations seriously.

Strip search is one of the most intrusive powers available to the police and its use must be lawful, fair, respectful and without unlawful discrimination. We recognise that any strip search of a child can be traumatic, particularly where safeguards are not followed, and that the welfare and safeguarding of children must remain paramount. There will, however, be occasions where a strip search is necessary to prevent or detect crime, or to protect the individual, police officers or the public.

The report highlights progress, including reductions in the number of strip searches of children and improvements in data transparency, but also raises important concerns about the consistent application of safeguards, repeat searches, racial disproportionality and the use of force.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on strip searches in police custody and strip searches following stop and search as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical series: [Police powers and procedures England and Wales. (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales).

The Government is carefully considering the Children’s Commissioner’s findings and recommendations. We are taking forward work to strengthen safeguards for children and vulnerable people, improve accountability and oversight, and provide greater clarity and consistency for police. This work is being progressed with relevant partners across Government and policing as part of wider consideration of the legal, operational and safeguarding framework for police search powers. We will continue to engage with the Children’s Commissioner, policing partners and other stakeholders as this work progresses.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish data on a) multiple strip searches, b) the outcome, c) the reason, d) whether the outcome is linked, e) whether an officer of the opposite gender was present, and f) the search location for child strip searches, following the Children’s Commissioner’s 2026 report recommendation.

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

The Government welcomes the Children’s Commissioner’s report, Police powers and children – strip searching and use of force, and takes its recommendations seriously.

Strip search is one of the most intrusive powers available to the police and its use must be lawful, fair, respectful and without unlawful discrimination. We recognise that any strip search of a child can be traumatic, particularly where safeguards are not followed, and that the welfare and safeguarding of children must remain paramount. There will, however, be occasions where a strip search is necessary to prevent or detect crime, or to protect the individual, police officers or the public.

The report highlights progress, including reductions in the number of strip searches of children and improvements in data transparency, but also raises important concerns about the consistent application of safeguards, repeat searches, racial disproportionality and the use of force.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on strip searches in police custody and strip searches following stop and search as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical series: [Police powers and procedures England and Wales. (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales).

The Government is carefully considering the Children’s Commissioner’s findings and recommendations. We are taking forward work to strengthen safeguards for children and vulnerable people, improve accountability and oversight, and provide greater clarity and consistency for police. This work is being progressed with relevant partners across Government and policing as part of wider consideration of the legal, operational and safeguarding framework for police search powers. We will continue to engage with the Children’s Commissioner, policing partners and other stakeholders as this work progresses.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will consider the potential merits of requiring police forces to 1) inform the child’s legal parent or guardian prior to the strip search taking place, and 2) ensure that the parent or guardian is present to witness the strip search.

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

The Government welcomes the Children’s Commissioner’s report, Police powers and children – strip searching and use of force, and takes its recommendations seriously.

Strip search is one of the most intrusive powers available to the police and its use must be lawful, fair, respectful and without unlawful discrimination. We recognise that any strip search of a child can be traumatic, particularly where safeguards are not followed, and that the welfare and safeguarding of children must remain paramount. There will, however, be occasions where a strip search is necessary to prevent or detect crime, or to protect the individual, police officers or the public.

The report highlights progress, including reductions in the number of strip searches of children and improvements in data transparency, but also raises important concerns about the consistent application of safeguards, repeat searches, racial disproportionality and the use of force.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on strip searches in police custody and strip searches following stop and search as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical series: [Police powers and procedures England and Wales. (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales).

The Government is carefully considering the Children’s Commissioner’s findings and recommendations. We are taking forward work to strengthen safeguards for children and vulnerable people, improve accountability and oversight, and provide greater clarity and consistency for police. This work is being progressed with relevant partners across Government and policing as part of wider consideration of the legal, operational and safeguarding framework for police search powers. We will continue to engage with the Children’s Commissioner, policing partners and other stakeholders as this work progresses.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Minister for Women and Equalities regarding plans to end the use of strip search powers against minors.

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

The Government welcomes the Children’s Commissioner’s report, Police powers and children – strip searching and use of force, and takes its recommendations seriously.

Strip search is one of the most intrusive powers available to the police and its use must be lawful, fair, respectful and without unlawful discrimination. We recognise that any strip search of a child can be traumatic, particularly where safeguards are not followed, and that the welfare and safeguarding of children must remain paramount. There will, however, be occasions where a strip search is necessary to prevent or detect crime, or to protect the individual, police officers or the public.

The report highlights progress, including reductions in the number of strip searches of children and improvements in data transparency, but also raises important concerns about the consistent application of safeguards, repeat searches, racial disproportionality and the use of force.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on strip searches in police custody and strip searches following stop and search as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical series: [Police powers and procedures England and Wales. (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales).

The Government is carefully considering the Children’s Commissioner’s findings and recommendations. We are taking forward work to strengthen safeguards for children and vulnerable people, improve accountability and oversight, and provide greater clarity and consistency for police. This work is being progressed with relevant partners across Government and policing as part of wider consideration of the legal, operational and safeguarding framework for police search powers. We will continue to engage with the Children’s Commissioner, policing partners and other stakeholders as this work progresses.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will consider the potential merits of requiring police forces to conduct all child strip searches at police stations.

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

The Government welcomes the Children’s Commissioner’s report, Police powers and children – strip searching and use of force, and takes its recommendations seriously.

Strip search is one of the most intrusive powers available to the police and its use must be lawful, fair, respectful and without unlawful discrimination. We recognise that any strip search of a child can be traumatic, particularly where safeguards are not followed, and that the welfare and safeguarding of children must remain paramount. There will, however, be occasions where a strip search is necessary to prevent or detect crime, or to protect the individual, police officers or the public.

The report highlights progress, including reductions in the number of strip searches of children and improvements in data transparency, but also raises important concerns about the consistent application of safeguards, repeat searches, racial disproportionality and the use of force.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on strip searches in police custody and strip searches following stop and search as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical series: [Police powers and procedures England and Wales. (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales).

The Government is carefully considering the Children’s Commissioner’s findings and recommendations. We are taking forward work to strengthen safeguards for children and vulnerable people, improve accountability and oversight, and provide greater clarity and consistency for police. This work is being progressed with relevant partners across Government and policing as part of wider consideration of the legal, operational and safeguarding framework for police search powers. We will continue to engage with the Children’s Commissioner, policing partners and other stakeholders as this work progresses.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many women's health hubs have been established in NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB and what services do they provide.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board currently has one women’s health hub operating, provided by Queen Square Medical Practice in Lancaster. The hub delivers a community gynaecology service, including assessment and treatment for routine gynaecological conditions and fertility work-up services.

The service provides a range of interventions and treatments, including support for abnormal uterine bleeding, prolapse, cervical polyp removal, complex intrauterine contraception procedures, vulval skin conditions and other conditions that do not require secondary care management.

Memorial plaque for Ann Widdecombe

Technology companies and crimes against Palestinians

Enhertu for metastatic breast cancer patients

Impact of Israel’s ingress into Palestinian territory on maternal care

Compulsory voting and civic education

Arrest of Dr Mazen Al-Rantisi and Israeli action against Palestinian civil society

Ownership and regulation of water

Toxicity testing on animals

Found: The Chair of the Procedure Committee, Cat Smith MP, wrote to tell us of her committee’s “wholehearted

Found: Department for Education Josh MacAlister OBE MP Minister for Children and Families 2026-0074123 Cat Smith

Found: Yours ever, Cat Smith MP Chair of the Procedure Committee Annex: Terms of reference

Found: Restricted: For Committee use only House Administration Response: Campaign material Cat Smith

Found: Yours ever, Cat Smith MP Chair of the Procedure Committee

Found: The Chair of the Procedure Committee, Cat Smith MP , wrote to tell us of her committee’s “wholehearted

Found: The Chair of the Procedure Committee, Cat Smith MP, wrote to tell us of her committee’s “wholehearted

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Cat Smith (Chair); James Asser; Bambos Charalambous; Sir Christopher

Found: Summary of Committee’s meeting on 9 June 2026 The Committee agreed that Cat Smith MP, Chair of the