Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of a diagnosis of cancer during (a) pregnancy and (b) maternity leave on a mother's physical health, mental wellbeing and access to treatment.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises that a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy or maternity leave can have a significant impact on women and their families.
The National Cancer Plan sets out how we will provide support to people with cancer before, during, and after their treatment, including for pregnant or postnatal women. Everyone should get a personalised needs assessment and personal cancer plan that takes into account their wider psychological and social needs, including the impact of pregnancy where relevant.
Health professionals should provide integrated care for pregnant women facing serious physical illnesses and mental health challenges. Significant progress has been made across England in recent years to transform and increase access to specialist perinatal mental health services.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many retail properties in England have become vacant in each of the last three years, and what proportion of those properties were still vacant after three months.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
Billing Authorities provide information to HMRC Valuation Office to support the maintenance of the non-domestic rating list. Some Billing Authorities may indicate whether a property was vacant at the time the information was provided. However, HMRC Valuation Office does not routinely collect data on when properties become vacant or how long they remain vacant.
We have introduced powers for high street rental auctions to help fill long-term vacant properties. Through regular engagement with local authorities, we are aware of more than 40 councils that have either implemented or are actively preparing to use HSRAs.
The Government recognises that there are costs associated with implementing the powers and is currently gathering evidence from local authorities to review the HSRA new burdens payments. Through this engagement, councils have highlighted additional costs associated with identifying suitable vacant premises and refurbishment of long-term vacant premises. To that end, the Government has announced a ÂŁ10 million funding package to support HSRA implementation. Further details will be made available in due course.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending business rates improvement relief to property owners as well as occupiers.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The responsibility for paying business rates falls on the occupier of the property. Property owners could be eligible for Improvement Relief if they meet the eligibility criteria, such as completing qualifying works, and occupying the property during and after the improvement works have taken place.
The Call for Evidence published at Budget sought further evidence on the role business rates and reliefs play in investment, including Improvement Relief and Empty Property Relief. Transforming the business rates system is a multi-year process, and any reforms taken forward will be phased over the course of the Parliament.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact on investment in retail properties of reducing the standard business rates multiplier for retail, hospitality and leisure properties by a further 5p to 38p from April 2027.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government is continuing to review the wider business rates system to ensure it better supports high streets, local economies and small businesses.
Further decisions on wider business rates reforms will be set out in the normal way at the Budget.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Gambling Impact Assessments enable local authorities to disapply the aim to permit presumption by creating a rebuttable presumption against the granting of new gambling premises licences in areas designated as being saturated with existing gambling premises.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Once introduced, gambling impact assessments will enable licensing authorities to adopt a presumption to reject applications in areas covered by the policy. This will mean that the presumption in favour of granting a licence resulting from the “aim to permit” principle will no longer apply in areas covered by a gambling impact assessment. However, licensing authorities will still be required to consider all premises applications even where a gambling impact assessment is in force.
On the 11th August, the Prime Minister announced that DCMS will consult on repealing the “aim to permit” from the Gambling Act 2005. The consultation will be published in due course.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to fast-track immigration and deportation cases in which offenders have prolonged proceedings through appeals lasting more than three years.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice is only able to collect data on the timeliness of appeals; it does not record or hold information related to an appellant’s previous convictions or offending, or how long the overall deportation process takes.
We have taken steps to speed up appeals brought by Foreign National Offenders (FNOs). The latest figures show that, in 2025/26, the average time taken from receipt to disposal was 36 weeks for Detained HM Prison appeals and 16 weeks for Detained Immigration Removal Centre appeals, compared with 43 weeks and 20 weeks respectively in 2023/24 (Source: DIA_dataset_2025-26_Q4.ods). Further, we will shortly commence the 24-week statutory timeframe for appeals from those in supported accommodation and non-detained FNOs liable to deportation, as legislated in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025.
Since the July 2024 election, there have been 9,805 removals of FNOs, to end of March 2026. This is 36% up on the 7,185 returns from the previous 21 months from October 2022 to June 2024.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average tribunal waiting time is for the deportation of foreign national child sex offenders whose criminal sentences have fully expired.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice is only able to collect data on the timeliness of appeals; it does not record or hold information related to an appellant’s previous convictions or offending, or how long the overall deportation process takes.
We have taken steps to speed up appeals brought by Foreign National Offenders (FNOs). The latest figures show that, in 2025/26, the average time taken from receipt to disposal was 36 weeks for Detained HM Prison appeals and 16 weeks for Detained Immigration Removal Centre appeals, compared with 43 weeks and 20 weeks respectively in 2023/24 (Source: DIA_dataset_2025-26_Q4.ods). Further, we will shortly commence the 24-week statutory timeframe for appeals from those in supported accommodation and non-detained FNOs liable to deportation, as legislated in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025.
Since the July 2024 election, there have been 9,805 removals of FNOs, to end of March 2026. This is 36% up on the 7,185 returns from the previous 21 months from October 2022 to June 2024.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether each Government department has appointed a Procurement Innovation Champion, as announced in the Autumn Budget; and if he will publish (a) the name of appointees, (b) each department's innovation priorities for public procurement, and (c) the metrics being used to assess the success of those appointments.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor set out that each Department should appoint a Procurement of Innovation Champion at Director General level to act as driving forces for behavioural change and to support the identification and adoption of innovation opportunities across the organisation.
His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) are co-ordinating the appointment of Procurement Innovation Champions and will publish an update on this shortly.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed school food fat and oil restriction for bread on bread products that meet the proposed 3 grams per 100 grams fibre threshold but contain a small amount of oil for functional manufacturing purposes.
Answered by Olivia Bailey
The government is committed to raising the healthiest generation ever and we have recently consulted on proposed updates to the School Food Standards in England to ensure that all food served at school better reflects current nutritional guidance and support children’s health, wellbeing and learning.
As part of our proposals, we have consulted on changes to increase fibre, reduce sugar and further restrict foods higher in fat, sugar and salt, in line with the latest nutritional advice set by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.
The consultation sought views on the practical impact of the proposed standards, including on bread products that meet the proposed fibre threshold but contain small amounts of oil for functional manufacturing purposes. We will now consider these consultation responses.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of China’s unilateral 2026 fishing ban in the South China Sea covering waters between 12°N and 26°30'N; whether the Government plans to make representations to the Government of China regarding that ban or issue a formal statement on its legality; and what discussions she has had with international partners, including ASEAN states, on the implications of the ban for the rules-based international order and freedom of navigation.
Answered by Seema Malhotra
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 23 July 2025 in response to Question HL9318.