Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help prevent the illegal sale of ADHD medication for recreational use.

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

The illegal sale and supply of human medicines is recognised as a significant challenge for regulators across the world. Medicines purchased from websites that are illegally trading can be harmful to health, as the products received are generally unlicensed in the United Kingdom. They can contain too little, too much, or incorrect active ingredients. The global trade is substantial, with offences often taking place beyond the geographical reach of UK legislation.

The Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) within the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) works with law enforcement partners and others to tackle the illegal trade, and to prevent products from entering the UK. Where offences are identified in the UK, the CEU can investigate and, where appropriate, bring those involved to justice. In parallel with enforcement action, the MHRA also operates the #FakeMeds campaign, offering safety advice and providing practical tools to help the public stay safe when buying medicines online.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support British sheep farmers.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has committed to support the farming sector, including sheep farmers, through a farming budget of £5 billion over two years, including £2.4 billion in 2025/26.

Our environmental land management schemes, such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive, include a comprehensive offer to support the management of a wide range of different grassland and moorland types that exist in England. They include actions to support the inclusion of sheep within an arable rotation, as well as actions to promote sustainable grazing management on moorlands and grasslands. The full list of actions available can be found on GOV.UK.

Eligible sheep farmers in England can also access support to continually improve the health, welfare and productivity of their animals through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.

Furthermore, the Government is taking action to ensure fairness across the food supply chain to ensure producers receive a fair price for their livestock by bringing forward legislation to mandate sheep carcase classification and price reporting, bringing the sheep sector in line with the beef and pork sectors.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to protect British wool businesses.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We have a proud tradition of wool production in this country. We recognise the sheep sector’s immense contribution to rural life, local economies, and iconic landscapes across the different countries of the UK.

British Wool is a public body that works on behalf of farmers to collect, grade, market and sell British wool to the wool textile industry. As a natural, versatile, and durable textile, which is renewable, biodegradable, and environmentally sustainable, wool from Britain is already used in flooring, furnishing, apparel and indeed insultation.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of wool prices in the last (a) 6 months, (b) 12 months and (c) 8 years.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

British Wool, a public body, is responsible for the collection, sale and marketing of wool from across the UK. Sales are conducted through open auction and will reflect global market developments in price and availability.

This Government has made no assessment on the impact of policies on wool prices; however Defra officials meet regularly with British Wool, who share regular reports on auction sales and wool values.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of diesel train availability on the Twyford to Henley-on-Thames branch line.

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

Train operators are responsible for ensuring that they make adequate rolling stock available to meet the needs of their customers. Currently, there are no issues with the diesel fleet availability on this line.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will take steps to (a) increase (i) frequency and (ii) reliability and (b) decarbonise services on (A) the Henley branch line and (B) other branch lines.

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

The Department and operators continually review demand when assessing the need to increase frequency going forward. There are currently no plans to increase frequency on the Henley line. The Department also monitors reliability closely as operational performance is a key focus for the Secretary of State. Great Western Railway is developing plans that would decarbonise services on branch lines in the Thames Valley and these are currently being discussed with the Department.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to increase the availability of rolling stock suitable for (a) the Henley branch line and (b) other non-electrified branch lines.

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

Train operators are responsible for ensuring that they make adequate rolling stock available to meet the needs of their customers.

The Government is in the early stages of formulating a rolling stock strategy which will include considerations around the timelines for new build, refurbishments, and potential cascades. Once established, Great British Railways will take the strategy forward providing a long-term approach to future rolling stock needs.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will work with local authorities to ensure Education, Health and Care plans are updated post annual review for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities to take into account the potential impact on the transition to KS3 and post-16 education.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

The SEND code of practice is clear that all children and young people with SEND should be prepared for adulthood. All local authorities must set out the support available to help children and young people with SEND move into adulthood as part of their local offer. This should be co-produced with children, young people and their families to ensure it meets local needs. The department expects activity to support effective preparation for adulthood to be embedded within provision across every age and stage of education, starting as early as possible.

If a local authority issues an education, health and care (EHC) plan, it has a statutory duty to review the plan as a minimum every 12 months. This is to review the child or young person’s progress towards achieving the outcomes specified in the plan and to consider whether the outcomes and supporting targets remain appropriate.

For children and young people with an EHC plan, there must be a focus from year 9 onwards on preparing the young person for adulthood as part of their plan’s annual review. This focus must continue until the young person’s EHC plan ceases.

An EHC plan must be reviewed and amended in sufficient time prior to a child or young person moving between key phases of education, to allow for planning for and, where necessary, commissioning of support and provision at the new institution.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help support families with the costs of raising (a) twins and (b) children of multiple births; and if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of her maternity pay policies for families with multiple births.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

There are two types of maternity pay available to pregnant working women:

• Statutory Maternity Pay paid by employers
• Maternity Allowance paid by the Department for Work and Pensions to eligible women (including the self-employed and women in employment who are not eligible for SMP).

Maternity pay is primarily a health and safety provision for pregnant working women providing a measure of financial security to help them take time off work in the later stages of their pregnancy and in the months following childbirth. It is not, and has never been, intended to replace a woman's earnings completely nor is it intended to help with the cost of having a baby. As such, maternity pay is paid for each pregnancy, not in respect of each child.

Additional financial support is available depending on individual circumstances, such as Universal Credit and Child Benefit. The Sure Start Maternity Grant (a lump sum payment of £500) may also be available with additional payments for those having a multiple births in certain circumstances. For more information about benefits and financial support available to pregnant women and their families can be found on www.gov.uk via the Childcare and Parenting link on the home page.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that pregnant women are informed of their rights to an elective C-section.

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

NHS England’s three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services recognises the importance of listening to women and families. It aims to ensure that women have clear choices, supported by unbiased information and evidence-based guidelines, and that all women are offered personalised care and support plans.

Personalised care and support plans take account of their physical health, mental health, social complexities, and choices. Personalised care includes an open and honest ongoing dialogue between a woman, her midwife, and other clinicians, to understand the care that is wanted.

NHS England’s website includes information about asking for a caesarean.

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 to (a) ultrasound and (b) other scans during pregnancy in Henley and Thame constituency.

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

Antenatal care can start as soon as a woman knows she is pregnant. This can be done by contacting a midwife or general practitioner, or by referring herself direct to a maternity service. There will be two ultrasound scans at 11 to 14 weeks and at 18 to 21 weeks, followed by any further scans recommended by the relevant healthcare professionals.

Further details can be found on the NHS.UK website, at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/your-antenatal-appointments/

The Government is continuing to work with NHS England as it delivers its three-year maternity and neonatal plan to ensure that women receive timely care.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of ADHD medication shortages on children in school.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has been working hard with industry and NHS England to help resolve the 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.

The DHSC are intensively working to resolve issues with methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets by collaborating with current suppliers to resolve issues as soon as possible, expanding the UK supplier base with new suppliers, and partnering with NHS England to improve demand forecasting for ADHD medicines.

The DHSC is also supporting an independent cross-sector taskforce that NHS England has established to look at ADHD service provision and support across sectors and their impact on patient experience. The taskforce is bringing together expertise from across a broad range of sectors, including the NHS, education and justice to better understand the challenges affecting people with ADHD, including timely access to services and support. The ADHD taskforce will also work closely with the Department for Education’s neurodivergence task and finish group.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to allow Hartley pension holders to transfer their pensions funds to other administrators.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is actively monitoring the situation of Hartley Pensions and offers our sympathies to the affected customers. Hartley Pensions is a self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) provider and is therefore the responsibility of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to regulate. The FCA are working with the administrators to ensure the affected customers achieve the best possible outcome and the Government is working with the FCA as part of this process. Unfortunately, the Government cannot comment on any issues relating to an ongoing administration or court case.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department took to support the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony in August 2024; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the non-attendance of the UK ambassador on relations between the UK and Japan.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We have consistently been represented at the Nagasaki peace ceremony by our Ambassador or a senior diplomat since 2010. Last year was no different: the British Embassy's Minister Counsellor Political, our second most senior diplomat in Japan at the time, attended the ceremony in Nagasaki on 9 August 2024. Our Ambassador attended a separate Buddhist ceremony to mark the anniversary on the same day at Zojoji Temple in Tokyo. The UK-Japan relationship is the strongest it has been for decades. The Prime Minister and I have affirmed the UK's continued commitment to the UK-Japan Global Strategic Partnership.

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 (a) the funding provided through and (b) other aspects of general practitioner core contracts.

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

We have announced a proposed £889 million uplift for general practices (GPs) in 2025/26, and set out the proposed areas of contract reform which will help us to deliver on our commitments. This is the largest uplift to GP funding in years, reversing the recent trend, with a rising share of total National Health Service resources going to GPs.

GPs receive funding through a range of income streams in return for providing services specified in the GP Contract. Global sum, which is the funding allocated for providing core services, makes up 50 to 60% of practice income. The global sum allocation formula, also known as the Carr-Hill formula, is designed to ensure that resources are directed to practices based on an estimate of their patient workload and unavoidable practice costs.  The rest of the income is made of the Quality and Outcomes Framework, premises payments, directed enhanced services, and additional services, for instance vaccine and immunisation services.

Practices are able to provide additional services by opting in, and will receive payment for these services separately to global sum payments. As commissioners of primary care, integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning additional services locally, which are not agreed nationally and can vary in scope and funding to fit local 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 Integrated Care Boards taking steps to help general practitioners set up new practices.

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

Integrated care boards (ICBs) have a delegated responsibility for planning and commissioning healthcare services to meet the reasonable needs of the people for whom they are responsible. ICBs should evaluate the needs of the populations for which they are responsible, including for general practice services, and plan service provision as required.

ICBs’ annual commissioning plans for general practice (GP) services will consider requirements for new GP practices, for example, in response to population growth, planned contract expiry and management of unplanned closures, as well as the additional local services they wish to commission. The commissioner must decide on the contracting route for new core general practice services and select providers that will deliver the best quality and outcomes. Commissioners sometimes provide additional funding to new practices while they are growing their list sizes to enable them to recover their fixed costs, as most of the funding GP providers receive is related to the number and type of patients they have on their registered list and growing list size may take time.

At the Autumn Budget 2024, we established a dedicated capital fund of £102 million for the next financial year to deliver around 200 upgrades to GP surgeries across England, which will support improved use of existing buildings and space, boosting productivity and enabling delivery of more appointments. This funding represents a first step in delivering the additional capital the primary care sector needs.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the uptake rate was of the RSV vaccine by pregnant people in each of the last three years; and if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the uptake rate of the RSV vaccine by pregnant people in that time.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antenatal maternal vaccination programme for infant protection began in England on 1 September 2024. The first uptake data will be published on 30 January 2025.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) undertakes evaluations of national immunisation programmes, and will be evaluating the impact and effectiveness of the RSV maternal vaccination programme for infant protection once sufficient data is available. Immunisation programme effectiveness against hospital admissions is typically assessed using the test-negative case-control method.

To raise awareness of the potential vaccination benefits and increase awareness of the programmes amongst health professionals, parents, carers, and the wider public, the UKHSA provides a comprehensive suite of public facing resources and assets. This includes information leaflets in multiple languages and accessible formats, like easy read, British Sign Language, and braille. The UKHSA also provides comprehensive clinical guidance, including e-learning programmes and training for healthcare professionals.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria he plans to use to evaluate the respiratory syncytial virus immunisation method to protect infants in the June 2025 review.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antenatal maternal vaccination programme for infant protection began in England on 1 September 2024. The first uptake data will be published on 30 January 2025.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) undertakes evaluations of national immunisation programmes, and will be evaluating the impact and effectiveness of the RSV maternal vaccination programme for infant protection once sufficient data is available. Immunisation programme effectiveness against hospital admissions is typically assessed using the test-negative case-control method.

To raise awareness of the potential vaccination benefits and increase awareness of the programmes amongst health professionals, parents, carers, and the wider public, the UKHSA provides a comprehensive suite of public facing resources and assets. This includes information leaflets in multiple languages and accessible formats, like easy read, British Sign Language, and braille. The UKHSA also provides comprehensive clinical guidance, including e-learning programmes and training for healthcare professionals.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help increase the uptake rate of the RSV vaccine during pregnancy.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne

The maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme launched on 1 September 2024, and is being delivered by general practices and commissioned maternity services. NHS England has been working with systems, stakeholders, and partners to increase awareness and uptake of the RSV vaccine amongst pregnant women.

A system letter setting out the role of providers in advising pregnant women of their eligibility for vaccination was sent from the Chief Midwifery Officer for England, the National Clinical Director for Maternity, and the Chief Delivery Officer and National Director for Vaccination and Screening in August 2024.

NHS England has held webinars for health professionals on vaccination in pregnancy and with the midwifery and nursing teams delivering the RSV vaccine, to provide information on eligibility, outreach, and how to administer the vaccine before the programme started. Resources and information have been shared with maternity leads since the programme began, to increase awareness of the vaccine and ensure more women are booking their vaccination for when they become eligible at 28 weeks. Commissioned maternity services are also encouraged to have vaccination discussions with pregnant women early in pregnancy.

A range of communication materials have been produced by NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency, who are working with stakeholders, including parenting clubs, to disseminate information on vaccination in pregnancy through their channels.

RSV vaccination event data from all commissioned providers is made available to NHS England regional commissioning teams and their partner integrated care boards in a timely way. NHS operational vaccination data is being monitored closely at a local and national level, and is being used to drive further development of the programme.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of taking legislative steps to provide VAT relief on the rethatching of listed buildings.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

To preserve heritage, restorative work carried out on listed buildings previously benefited from a zero rate of VAT. However, this relief was abolished in 2012, as it was primarily used to carry out extension work unnecessary for heritage purposes. Withdrawing this relief simplified VAT rules and removed the scope for error when categorising construction work as either alteration or repair.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax forecast to raise £171 billion in 2024/25. Taxation is a vital source of revenue that helps to fund vital public services.

Evidence suggests that businesses only partially pass on any savings from lower VAT rates. In some cases, reliefs do not represent good value for money, as there is no guarantee that savings will be passed on to consumers.

The Government therefore has no current plans to reduce the VAT charged on work to maintain and repair listed properties, but we keep all taxes under review.

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 24 October to Question 9576 on Methylphenidate: Shortages, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the supply of methylphenidate for ADHD since October 2024.

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

The Department continues to work hard with industry and NHS England to help resolve the 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. All strengths of lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine capsules, atomoxetine oral solution, and guanfacine prolonged-release tablets are now available.

However, whilst the supply of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets has improved since October 2024, issues persist. We are continuing to work to resolve these remaining issues by 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. The Department is also working with new suppliers of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets to improve supply and resiliency for the UK market.

We are supporting an ADHD taskforce that NHS England has established to examine ADHD service provision. The taskforce will bring together expertise from across a broad range of sectors, including the National Health Service, education, and justice, to help provide a joined-up approach in response to concerns around rising demand. In collaboration with NHS England’s national ADHD data improvement plan, we plan to combine modelling for future growth forecasts, which will be shared with industry to improve demand forecasting for ADHD medicines.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will bring forward proposals to finalise the care placements for children in care to align with applications to post-16 education.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department recognises the critical importance of continuity and stability throughout a looked after child’s life. Under the ‘Care planning, placement and case review’ guidance and regulations, the child’s allocated social worker should do everything possible to minimise disruption to their education. School changes should be minimised, and any necessary transitions well planned and supported.

All looked after children must have a Personal Education Plan (PEP), which is an ongoing record of their education and training which should describe what needs to happen to enable them to reach their full potential. The PEP should set out arrangements in place to minimise disruption to the child’s education and training where a change in their educational arrangements is unavoidable.

Local authorities have a number of duties to accommodate eligible care leavers and to support them to pursue education or training. This includes contributing to expenses incurred by the young person in living near the place where they will receive that education or training.

Further education (FE) and higher education (HE) play important roles in giving care leavers the skills they need to succeed in life. To ensure care experienced students are supported to gain the qualifications needed to access these destinations, we have rolled out post-16 funding which can be used for raising attainment through interventions such as additional tutoring or mentoring. The department is also making the virtual school head role for children with a social worker statutory, enabling earlier intervention to address the educational barriers these children can face.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Independent review of children's social care: final report, published on 23 May 2022, whether she plans to implement the recommendation on care experience and caring as protected characteristics.

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

We know care leavers have some of the worst long-term life outcomes in society. We are therefore committed to ensuring children leaving care have stable homes, access to health services, support to build lifelong loving relationships and are engaged in education, employment and training. Through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill we will be driving forward our commitments on children’s social care, including improved support for care leavers.

As announced by the Prime Minister on 24 September 2024, care leavers under age 25 will be exempt from rules which require a connection to a local area before accessing social housing. We have also established a care leaver Ministerial Board, which brings together Ministers from key Departments, to improve support for care leavers across Government.

On the specific question of protected characteristics, the Government often receives requests for new characteristics such as "carer experience"” to be added to the Equality Act 2010. While many of these carry merit, it would not be practical to legislate because of the public and private sector burdens that this would create. The Equality Act 2010 will already protect many care leavers under the indirect discrimination provisions, because a disproportionately high number are likely to be from an ethnic minority and/ or have a disability. They may also benefit from the age discrimination protections in the Act.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the funding settlement is for National Trails UK for 2025-26.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recognises the value of the Trails and the benefits they bring. We understand the uncertainty around resourcing remains a challenge for National Trails UK. Defra business planning is ongoing, and we will communicate the outcome of the settlements for National Trails UK as soon as possible.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a statutory purpose for national trails.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to improving access to nature and is currently considering how best to continue to drive forward our goals in this area. There are no plans to undertake an assessment to consider the merits of introducing a statutory purpose for national trails at this time.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of provisions for registration of deaths to ensure that (a) bereaved people are able to meet the requirement to notify a death within five days of the statutory relevant date and (b) the burden on the recently bereaved is minimised as far as possible.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

Since the implementation of the death certification reforms in September 2024, the 5-day statutory time period for an informant to register a death commences when the registrar receives a completed Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) from a Medical Examiner, or notification from a Coroner.

Monitoring by the General Register Office for England and Wales confirms that current appointment availability for the bereaved with registrars in Local Authorities to be available to register deaths is adequate, but the Government is continuing to work towards the electronic registration of deaths to minimise the burden on bereaved family members at a difficult time, as set out by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the contribution of national trails to biodiversity gain.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We are aware of the wider benefits that national trails can bring for nature recovery and biodiversity gain.

The Coast to Coast National Trail was the first to include wider benefits in the National Trail proposal. This resulted in funding being allocated to nature recovery projects from the start of the establishment phase. We are mapping biodiversity projects associated with the trails and encouraging Local Nature Recovery Statements to consider the potential of National Trails.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the length of parental leave in other OECD countries.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Paternity Leave supports working people. Access to family-friendly rights means that working people can enjoy a better work-life balance that benefits wellbeing, morale, productivity and retention.

The Government has committed to conduct a review of the whole parental leave system. This review will focus on ensuring that parental leave, including Paternity Leave, offers the best possible support to working families. Work is already underway on planning for its delivery.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the impact of the statutory two week paternity leave on the economy.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Paternity Leave supports working people. Access to family-friendly rights means that working people can enjoy a better work-life balance that benefits wellbeing, morale, productivity and retention.

The Government has committed to conduct a review of the whole parental leave system. This review will focus on ensuring that parental leave, including Paternity Leave, offers the best possible support to working families. Work is already underway on planning for its delivery.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending paternity leave.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Paternity Leave supports working people. Access to family-friendly rights means that working people can enjoy a better work-life balance that benefits wellbeing, morale, productivity and retention.

The Government has committed to conduct a review of the whole parental leave system. This review will focus on ensuring that parental leave, including Paternity Leave, offers the best possible support to working families. Work is already underway on planning for its delivery.

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 January 2025 to Question 24596 on Caesarean Sections, what steps he is taking with NHS England to ensure that women are not unnecessarily discouraged from having elective caesarean sections.

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

NHS England’s three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services recognises the importance of listening to women and families. It aims to ensure that women have clear choices, supported by unbiased information and evidence-based guidelines, and that all women are offered personalised care and support plans.

Personalised care and support plans take account of physical health, mental health, social complexities, and choices. Personalised care includes open, honest, and ongoing dialogue between a woman, her midwife, and other clinicians, to understand the care she wants.

If a woman would prefer a caesarean for non-medical reasons, they can ask their midwife or doctor, who will explain the overall benefits and risks of a caesarean to the woman and their baby compared with a vaginal birth. If, after discussing all the risks and hearing about all the support on offer, a woman feels that a vaginal birth is not an acceptable option, they should be offered a planned caesarean.

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 expediting a NICE appraisal for Givinostat.

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

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) works with companies on timelines for its evaluations of new medicines, and aims, wherever possible, to issue guidance close to the point of licensing to support rapid access for National Health Service patients to clinically and cost-effective medicines. The NICE’s timeline for its evaluation of givinostat was rescheduled at the request of the company, to facilitate a suitably comprehensive and robust submission. The NICE’s Appraisal Committee is due to meet to consider its recommendations on givinostat in May 2025.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the letter of 6 November 2024 from the Hon. Member for Henley and Thame on a constituent's concern over confectionary VAT added to his product designed to be a healthier option.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne

We have received the Hon. Member’s correspondence of 6 November 2024, and responded on 23 January 2025, with the reference PO-1545237.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government if taking to reach an agreement to end collective action by GPs.

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

The Government has accepted and implemented the independent pay review body recommendation of a 6% uplift in general practitioner (GP) pay, and has committed to hiring an extra 1,000 GPs.

We have announced a proposed £889 million uplift for GPs in 2025/26 and set out the proposed areas of reform. This is the largest uplift to GP funding since the beginning of the five-year framework and means that we are reversing the recent trend with a rising share of total National Health Service resources going to GPs.

The Department and NHS England started consultation with the General Practitioners Committee in England, of the British Medical Association, on the 2025/26 GP Contract on 19 December 2024, and will consider all proposed policy changes. An announcement will be made before April 2025.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of people (a) accessing national trails and (b) participating in outdoor activities on the cost to the public purse of providing NHS treatment.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recognises that promoting regular outdoor activity is a vital component of preventative health, as it fosters physical activity, reduces the risk of long term conditions, supports mental well-being, and strengthens community health by encouraging active lifestyles and social engagement in natural environments.

The 2017 baseline assessment covering the economic and health impacts of walking on English coastal paths found that for the 29 million leisure walking trips taken in 2017, the total benefit to the recreational wellbeing of people using the paths was valued at an estimated £1.8 billion.

A 2021 study identified that the physical health benefits of active visitors to National Trails are estimated in the range £186 million to £423 million per year, which represents cost savings to the NHS of between £46 and £107 million per year. Outdoor exercise overall delivers estimated health benefits to adults in England of between £2.0 and £4.7 billion annually.

It is clear from this evidence that there are significant benefits through improved access to national trails and engagement in outdoor activities. We will continue to work with other Government departments to embed access to nature as part of community-based preventative care approaches, in support of the Government’s Health Mission.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will have discussions with (a) Eisai Co., Ltd and Biogen Inc. and (b) Eli Lilly and Company on the production of disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease in the UK.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne

The Government deeply values its relationships with life science companies and is committed to getting treatments to National Health Service patients through our 10 Year Plan for the NHS. This will include a plan for procurement, giving a clearer route to getting products into the NHS, coupled with reformed incentive structures to drive innovation and faster regulatory approval for new technology and medicines. The Government engages regularly with companies on the production of disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease in the United Kingdom, such as those developed by Eisai, Biogen, and Eli Lilly, and where appropriate, ministers may be involved in this engagement.

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 (a) increase diagnostic capacity at memory clinics, (b) prepare primary care, (c) increase numbers of specialists capable of prescribing new medicines, (d) adopt new diagnostic technology including blood biomarkers, (e) ensure adequate CT scanning capacity and (f) raise awareness among patients of new medications for Alzheimer's Disease.

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

The Government is committed to transforming diagnostic services and will support the National Health Service to increase diagnostic capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new capacity, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners.

Our Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, builds on the investments already made with an ambitious vision for the future of diagnostic testing. This will include more straight-to-test pathways, increasing and expanding Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs), and better use of technology. With 170 CDCs due to be up and running by the end of March 2025, CDCs can take on more of the growing diagnostic demand within elective care. We will also deliver additional CDC capacity in 2025/26 by expanding a number of existing CDCs and building up to five new ones.

Alongside Alzheimer’s Research UK, the Alzheimer’s Society, Gates Ventures, and the People’s Postcode Lottery, the National Institute for Health Research is funding the Blood Biomarker Challenge, which seeks to produce the clinical and economic data that could make the case for the use of a blood test in the NHS to support the diagnosis of dementia.

New disease modifying drugs for Alzheimer’s disease are in development. NHS England is working closely with system partners to ensure that arrangements are in place to support the adoption of any new licensed and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence-recommended treatments as soon as possible.

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 adequacy of the diagnostic capacity of memory clinics in Oxfordshire.

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

Cutting waiting lists, including for diagnostic tests, is a key priority for the Government. We are committed to transforming diagnostic services, and will support the National Health Service to increase diagnostic capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new capacity, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners.

Our Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, builds on the investments already made with an ambitious vision for the future of diagnostic testing. This will include more straight-to-test pathways, increasing and expanding Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs), and better use of technology.

With 170 CDCs due to be up and running by the end of March 2025, CDCs can take on more of the growing diagnostic demand within elective care. We will also deliver additional CDC capacity in 2025/26 by expanding a number of existing CDCs and building up to five new ones.

In Oxfordshire, we are currently working with the local population, including patients, carers, Age UK, and clinicians in primary care, mental health services, and acute hospital services, to develop a new strategy, Living Well with Dementia, to be implemented from April 2025. Within this work we are seeking to increase the rate of diagnosis by streamlining the referral processes into diagnostic and memory clinics, as well as the alignment with the other services that might be needed.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making it mandatory for insurers participating in the Flood Re scheme to provide insurance to properties at risk of flooding.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Flood Re is a joint government and industry flood reinsurance scheme established specifically to help UK households at high risk of flooding to access affordable insurance through their insurance provider. In 2023/24, Flood Re provided cover for over 280,000 household policies, and report that 99% of householders at high risk of flooding can now obtain quotes from 15 or more insurers.

All insurance companies providing home insurance policies in the UK are required to pay the Flood Re Levy irrelevant of whether they cede policies to Flood Re or not. It is for individual companies to decide the policies they offer, and when to cede a policy to Flood Re.

Householders are encouraged to always shop around for the most suitable policy for their needs, including flood cover. For anyone struggling to find appropriate insurance we advise them to look at BIBA’s Flood Insurance Directory, which can be accessed online via www.biba.org.uk/find-insurance. Alternatively, BIBA’s Find an insurance service can be contacted on 0370 950 1790, Monday to Friday between 9:00am and 5:30pm. Consumers must ensure the cover they choose provides appropriate cover for their circumstances.

Flood preparedness

Parliamentary Prayers

US proposals for Gaza

World Cancer Day and Leukaemia UK’s Take Action, Save Lives report

Dinosaur trackway discovery in Ardley, Oxfordshire

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