Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of funding for transport to support the Universal United Kingdom resort will be allocated to (a) improving the Bedford - Brighton Thameslink route and (b) the Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, (a) when and (b) how secondary schools will receive additional funding for new books in secondary school libraries.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
At the Autumn Budget 2025, £5 million was announced for books and reading materials for secondary schools in England to support reading for pleasure.
This funding will be split between all state‑funded secondary schools in England with key stage 3 and key stage 4 cohorts. The department has been engaging with the sector and industry to consider how best to distribute the funding and support schools maximise value for money.
The department intends to issue the funding during the National Year of Reading 2026. Schools will have autonomy and flexibility over when to spend their allocation. The department recognises the importance of certainty for schools and librarians and will provide further information as soon as decisions on distribution and allocations are finalised.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to adopt the draft Acquired Brain Injury Action Plan, published on 4 May 2026, before 1 July 2026.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the significant and often life‑changing impact that acquired brain injury (ABI) can have on individuals and their families.
The Department is currently working with NHS England and a range of stakeholders, including other Government departments and the voluntary sector, to develop the ABI Action Plan. This work is considering how best to improve care, rehabilitation, and long-term support for people living with ABI, as well as how to strengthen coordination across services.
Given the breadth and complexity of this work, it is important that the action plan is informed by robust evidence and stakeholder engagement. The Department intends to publish the plan in due course, once this process has been completed.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of research clinicians supporting levels of brain tumour research.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department invests approximately £1.8 billion each year on research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
The NIHR is the United Kingdom’s largest funder of clinical academic training, delivering comprehensive research career pathways for the full range of clinicians, covering all career stages from undergraduate level to chair. A core component of many NIHR career development awards is protected time for research and research training, allowing award holders to develop and utilise research skills alongside clinical practice.
The Government is invested in developing ways to boost brain cancer research activity. The NIHR is working closely with research partners, including the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, to attract new researchers, develop the community, and support researchers to submit high-quality research funding proposals, which should result in more effective treatments. In March 2026, two Tessa Jowell Allied Health Professional (AHP) Fellowships were awarded which will equip AHPs with the skills, confidence, and protected time to lead high-quality applied research in neuro-oncology.
In addition, in January 2026 the NIHR announced increased investment of over £25 million in the NIHR Brain Tumour Research Consortium. The world-leading consortium aims to transform outcomes for adults and children, and their families, who are living with brain tumours, ultimately reducing lives lost to cancer. The consortium will develop new training programmes for those working in brain cancer research to build capacity and increase skills among the next generation of researchers.
Whilst no assessment has been made of the adequacy of the number of research clinicians for brain cancer research, the NIHR continues to welcome high quality applications for clinical research careers through the NIHR Academy. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to the public and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
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 adequacy of access scanner capacity to support increased brain tumour research.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department invests approximately £1.8 billion each year on research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The Department’s investment in the NIHR facilitates the direct funding of research projects through NIHR programmes, support for researchers to develop and conduct research through NIHR translational infrastructure, and a workforce to deliver research on behalf of other funders through NIHR research delivery infrastructure.
The NIHR capital investment funding opportunity provides funding for cutting edge research equipment and fixed assets to strengthen research capacity. In March 2026, the NIHR launched a new £55 million Capital Investment Funding call, funded in partnership with the pharmaceutical industry’s Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth Investment Programme. Medical scanning equipment and related items that support commercial research are eligible for funding through this call. No assessment has been made of the adequacy of funding allocated for scanner capacity specifically for brain cancer research.
In addition, we have demonstrated our commitment to transforming diagnostic services through a £2.3 billion investment into diagnostic capacity, which will provide the National Health Service with the tools they need to deliver an additional 9.5 million tests by 2029.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the total cost of resolving all remaining Loan Charge cases broken down by (a) the 32,000 individual cases currently unsettled, (b) cases involving HMRC demand from before December 2021 and (c) all demands from after April 2019.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
At Budget 2024, the Government committed to a new independent review of the loan charge. The purpose of the review was to bring the matter to a close for people who have not settled and paid their Loan Charge liabilities.
The Government has accepted all but one of the Review’s recommendations, and in some areas has gone further. The Government has introduced legislation in the Finance Act to provide for a generous new settlement offer which it hopes maximises the opportunity for individuals to come forward and settle. I am committed to deliver the Government’s ambition to bring this matter to a close for as many customers as possible.
Whilst HMRC assesses the overall resources needed to carry out Loan Charge compliance activity, this is not based on detailed case-by-case forecasts. HMRC is required to collect tax due under the law. The progression and resolution of Loan Charge cases depend on a range of variable and often uncertain factors. These include the extent to which taxpayers choose to engage with HMRC to settle their enquiries.
In line with most tax policy changes, Tax Impact and Information Note (TIIN) setting out HMRC’s assessment of the impacts of the Loan Charge were published when the Loan Charge was announced in 2016. Further TIINs were published alongside subsequent changes to the Loan Charge.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of his department producing and publishing a long-term financial sustainability plan for community pharmacy in partnership with the community pharmacy sector in England.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recently announced a £340 million uplift to community pharmacy funding, a 10% increase, recognising the essential role pharmacies play in supporting patients and the wider National Health Service. This follows on from a 19% uplift delivered across 2024/25 and 2025/26, the largest uplift in the NHS at the time.
The Government is committed to continuing to work jointly with Community Pharmacy England on reforms to ensure the sustainability of the medicine supply and resilience of the community pharmacy network, to ensure that patients receive the best possible care and support.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 71118 on Prescriptions: Occupational Therapy, if he will provide an update on the work of his department relating to the medicines responsibilities of (a) a range of healthcare professionals and (b) occupational therapists.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department supports expanding medicines responsibilities for non‑medical professionals where it is safe to do so. Appropriately trained occupational therapists can already supply and administer medicines under Patient Specific Directions or Patient Group Directions.
Any changes to medicines responsibilities follow a robust process to ensure patient safety. NHS England develops clinical cases for change with professional bodies, the Commission on Human Medicines provides advice, and, where proposals are progressed, the Department amends the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.
The Department has recently concluded a consultation on extending medicines responsibilities for a group of allied health professionals. We are analysing the responses and will consider proposals relating to other professional groups once this work is complete.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2026 to Question 506 on Cancer: Vaccination, whether there will be further (a) webinars and (b) other engagement events for interested pharmaceutical companies in 2026.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Cancer Vaccines Launch Pad (CVLP) is open to supporting immunotherapy trials for all cancer types, including brain cancer, and welcomes conversations with interested companies.
NHS England hosted a webinar in 2025, and representatives from 12 pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies attended. Since then, discussions have been held with 15 companies to explore potential support from the CVLP. NHS England cannot release the names of the companies as this is commercially sensitive information. Some of the 15 companies may have had an interest in developing brain cancer vaccines, however, this information was not directly shared as clinical pipelines are often commercially sensitive. In addition to the 12 companies who attended the webinar in 2025, discussions have been held with a further four.
The National Cancer Plan committed to establishing a Cancer Clinical Trials Accelerator Programme to increase the speed, scale, and reliability of delivery of cancer clinical trials. The newly planned Cancer Clinical Trials Accelerator Programme will be embedded in the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Industry Hub, which will streamline the pathway for both industry and academic investment.
NHS England is currently working with the NIHR on the design of this Accelerator and communications on this new support infrastructure will follow. In the meantime, any company interested in support for recruitment into their cancer clinical trials can contact the CVLP via the email address England.cancervaccinelaunchpad@nhs.net.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2026 to Question 506 on Cancer: Vaccination, how many of those 15 companies were included in the 12 who attended the 2025 webinar.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Cancer Vaccines Launch Pad (CVLP) is open to supporting immunotherapy trials for all cancer types, including brain cancer, and welcomes conversations with interested companies.
NHS England hosted a webinar in 2025, and representatives from 12 pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies attended. Since then, discussions have been held with 15 companies to explore potential support from the CVLP. NHS England cannot release the names of the companies as this is commercially sensitive information. Some of the 15 companies may have had an interest in developing brain cancer vaccines, however, this information was not directly shared as clinical pipelines are often commercially sensitive. In addition to the 12 companies who attended the webinar in 2025, discussions have been held with a further four.
The National Cancer Plan committed to establishing a Cancer Clinical Trials Accelerator Programme to increase the speed, scale, and reliability of delivery of cancer clinical trials. The newly planned Cancer Clinical Trials Accelerator Programme will be embedded in the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Industry Hub, which will streamline the pathway for both industry and academic investment.
NHS England is currently working with the NIHR on the design of this Accelerator and communications on this new support infrastructure will follow. In the meantime, any company interested in support for recruitment into their cancer clinical trials can contact the CVLP via the email address England.cancervaccinelaunchpad@nhs.net.