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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of permitting shared ownership staircasing valuations to be (a) appealed or (b) negotiated by shared owners, using evidence of significant local variations between (i) RICS valuations and (ii) actual sale prices of (1) similar or (2) identical properties.

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

The price paid by shared owners for staircasing is based on the property's full open 'Market Value' (defined in the shared ownership model leases) as determined by an independent Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) valuer.

RICS valuations will include the use of comparable data from recent sales of similar properties in the locality. They will also account for the property's condition and any home improvements, meaning that shared owners do not have to pay a higher price for staircasing as a result of improvements that they have made to the home.

Valuations are normally final and cannot be challenged. However, if in exceptional circumstances the 'Market Value' of the property has not been properly assessed, then a request for a revaluation could be made by the shared owner or the provider.

A RICS valuation is not required on 1% staircasing transactions; instead, the House Price Index is used to determine the price to be paid by the shared owner.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of waiting times for the processing of Disabled Facilities Grants for people with (a) motor neurone disease and (b) other rapidly progressing diseases.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognises the importance of timely home adaptations, especially for individuals with rapidly progressing conditions, such as motor neurone disease.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide adaptations for people who satisfy a needs assessment, eligibility criteria and a means test, and have powers to agree a more generous local policy.

Local authorities also have a statutory duty to provide a decision on Disabled Facilities Grants applications within 6 months of receipt, and the works must usually be completed within 12 months of the approval date. Government guidance sets out that local authorities should prioritise urgent cases, and work to quicker, best practice timescales. The guidance is available here.

To support effective delivery, government also funds a national body for home improvement

agencies, currently Foundations, to provide support and advice to local authorities to help them deliver the DFG as efficiently as possible.

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 create a standardised pathway for the genetic testing of people with motor neurone disease.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS). Testing is directed by the National Genomic Test Directory, which sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing.

Genomic testing for adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder is included in the Test Directory under specific clinical scenarios including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the most common type of motor neurone disease. The Test Directory is routinely reviewed to ensure that genomic testing continues to be available for all patients for whom it would be of clinical benefit, while delivering value for money for the NHS. The directory and associated supporting material are available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-genomic-test-directory-supporting-material/

The strategic and systematic embedding of genomic medicine in end-to-end clinical pathways and clinical specialities is supported by a network of seven regional NHS GMS Alliances, which play an important role in achieving equitable access to standardised end-to-end pathways of care, including genomic testing, clinical genetics and genetic counselling services.

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 enable Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB to allow GP to make referrals to adult ADHD assessment waiting lists.

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

It is the responsibility of the integrated care boards (ICBs) in England to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including providing access to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment and treatment, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

Due to the unprecedented demand for ADHD diagnosis and treatment nationally and locally across all age groups, the Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB advises that it has implemented an interim measure which is intended to ensure that those patients most in need are prioritised and that those who can self-manage are supported to do so.

Under the interim measure, referrals for adult ADHD assessments are being triaged, and assessments are progressed only for people who also have co-occurring complex psychosocial co-morbidity and/or co-existing secondary care mental health needs, to ensure needs are assessed and resources are utilised on those who are most in need. General practitioners are still able to refer patients to Right to Choose providers if the need for an ADHD assessment is clinically indicated.

Nationally, NHS England has captured examples from ICBs who are trialling innovative ways of delivering ADHD services and is using this information to support systems to tackle ADHD waiting lists and to provide support to address people’s needs.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's proposal for pharmacists to be granted additional powers to make minor substitutions to prescribed medications, such as substituting it for a different quantity, if there is a shortage of the medication in question and it is out-of-stock.

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

We will consult on proposals enabling pharmacists working in a community pharmacy to be granted the flexibility to supply an alternative strength or formulation, and hence also quantity, against a prescription written by another prescriber, where it is safe and appropriate to do so. This will improve patient access to medicines and improve patient experience.

Alongside this, we have serious shortage protocols (SSPs), which are a tool to manage and mitigate medicine and medical device shortages. An SSP enables community pharmacists to supply a specified alternative in accordance with a protocol rather than a prescription.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to process the settlement protection ILR applications from Syrian nationals.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The pause on processing settlement protection applications from Syrian nationals has been lifted.

We are working through the outstanding cases in line with the relevant published policy guidance taking into account the latest published country policy information on Syria. Each application will be considered on its individual merits and some cases may require further consideration and evidence gathering.

We will not remove anyone to their own or any other country where they would face persecution or serious harm.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of jobs for newly qualified nurses.

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

On 11 August 2025, the Government announced the Graduate Guarantee for nurses and midwives. The guarantee will ensure there are enough positions for every newly qualified nurse in England. The package of measures will unlock thousands of jobs and will ensure thousands of new posts are easier to access by removing barriers for National Health Service trusts, creating opportunities for graduates and ensuring a seamless transition from training to employment.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's correspondence entitled ACMD 3-year work programme 2025 to 2028: commissioning letter, published on 2 June 2025, if she will consult families of people reliant on medical cannabis to treat drug-resistant epilepsy as part of the review of Cannabis-Based Products for Medicinal Use.

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

The Government commissioned the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (‘ACMD’) to review the current evidence on cannabis-based products for medicinal (‘CBPMs’) on 2 June 2025. The commission invited the ACMD to consider whether the legislation has had the desired impact and any unintended consequences, including on clinical trials.

The Government recognises the importance of this matter to families who are affected by conditions like drug-resistant epilepsy, and this is why we have asked the ACMD to prioritise this work. The ACMD is an independent scientific advisory body and determines its own procedures. The Government has confidence in its ability to consider the full breadth of the evidence. The Government will consider the ACMD’s advice carefully before taking any action.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a minimum age requirement for children to travel on a motorbike as a pillion passenger.

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

The department has not made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a minimum age requirement for children to travel on a motorbike as a pillion passenger. The decision to carry a child passenger on a motorcycle remains with the rider, who is legally responsible for ensuring that the child is safely supported.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the UK’s ballistic missile defence capability in light of the emerging threat environment.

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

The Ministry of Defence keeps its approach and posture in relation to evolving threats under constant review, including those from ballistic missiles. The Strategic Defence Review announced further investment in Integrated Air and Missile Defence to provide the broadest range of options for deterring and responding to high-impact threats. As part of this, we are investing up to £1 billion in new funding for homeland air and missile defence. Further details will be set out in the Defence Investment Plan.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care,with reference to the consultation entitled Proposals to extend medicines responsibilities for paramedics, physiotherapists, operating department practitioners and diagnostic radiographers published on 5 August 2025, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of adding occupational therapists to the list of regulated healthcare professionals under consideration for being given responsibility to prescribe medicines.

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

The Department welcomes healthcare professionals exploring how they can extend their scope of practice safely and appropriately.

Non-medical prescribing remains a keen area of interest, and departmental officials are carefully considering proposals relating to the medicines responsibilities of a range of healthcare professionals, including those of occupational therapists, as part of a wider programme of work that is underway.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Third Report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights of Session 2022-23 on The Violation of Family Life: Adoption of Children of Unmarried Women 1949–1976, HC 270, published on 15 July 2022, if she will make a formal apology on behalf of Government to those people impacted by forced adoptions between 1949 and 1976.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

​​​This abhorrent practice should never have taken place, and our deepest sympathies are with all those affected.

​We take this issue extremely seriously and continue to engage with those affected to provide support.

​The department continues to follow up on the 2022 Joint Committee on Human Rights report, including improving access to adoption records, enhancing intermediary services and preserving historical records.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) longest, (b) shortest and (c) average time taken from claim to decision was for Research and Development tax relief in (i) 2023-24 and (ii) 2024-25.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC aims to process 85% of Research and Development (R&D) tax relief claims within 40 working days. This target was met in both 2023–24 and 2024–25, with performance reaching 90% in 2024–25, as reported in HMRC’s Annual Report and Accounts.

HMRC published information on the average duration of a compliance check in the Approach to Research and Development tax reliefs 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK

Since 31 December 2024, HMRC has received 20 voluntary disclosures about incorrect R&D tax relief claims with a total value of £5.5m via the R&D Disclosure Facility.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Research and Development tax relief disclosures have been made in each month since 31 December 2024.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC aims to process 85% of Research and Development (R&D) tax relief claims within 40 working days. This target was met in both 2023–24 and 2024–25, with performance reaching 90% in 2024–25, as reported in HMRC’s Annual Report and Accounts.

HMRC published information on the average duration of a compliance check in the Approach to Research and Development tax reliefs 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK

Since 31 December 2024, HMRC has received 20 voluntary disclosures about incorrect R&D tax relief claims with a total value of £5.5m via the R&D Disclosure Facility.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 August to Question 67990 on Hussam Abu Safiya, what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and (b) Israel’s ambassador to the UK on (i) the reasons for the detention of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya and (ii) access to detention facilities for the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We remain deeply concerned by the ongoing detention of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya and other medical staff from Gaza. We continue to call on Israel to clarify the reasons for the detention of Dr Abu Safiya and other medical personnel, and to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross immediate access to detention facilities. I have on multiple occasions raised Dr Hussam Abu Safiya's case with both the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and Israel's ambassador to the UK. Given the famine and dire medical conditions in Gaza, it is more essential than ever that medical workers are allowed to carry out their work safely.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions her Department has had with email service providers on the adequacy of account recovery processes for victims of mobile phone theft.

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

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has not held discussions with email service providers specifically on the adequacy of account recovery processes for victims of mobile phone theft. The Home Office leads on matters relating to the consequences of crime and supporting victims, including work to tackle mobile phone theft and its associated harms. DSIT continues to engage with industry on broader issues of digital security and resilience, including the safe use of online services and the protection of personal data.

Award of honorary posthumous England cap to Frank Soo

Elon Musk at the Unite the Kingdom rally

The Chilterns National Landscape boundary review

Job reductions at news publisher Reach plc

Farmers, growers and the supermarket supply chain

Digital-only immigration status

Dame Annette Brooke

Import of goods from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

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Found: Christine Jardine John McDonnell Sir Julian LewisMr Will Forster Dr Roz Savage Ian SollomJon Trickett Daisy Cooper

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