Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with (a) NHS England and (b) ITF Pharma UK on the (i) resources and (ii) guidance available to NHS Trusts that participate in the early access programme for givinostat.

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

The Department has not had any discussions with ITF Pharma UK about the resources or guidance available to National Health Service trusts participating in the early access programme (EAP) for givinostat.

Department officials have had discussions with colleagues in NHS England about the guidance and resources that are available to NHS trusts. NHS England has published guidance for integrated care systems (ICS) on free of charge medicine schemes, such as EAPs, including providing advice on potential financial, administrative, and clinical risks. The guidance aims to support the NHS to drive value from medicines and ensure consistent and equitable access to medicines across England. ICSs should follow the recommendations to determine whether to implement any free of charge scheme, including assessing suitability and any risks in the short, medium, and long term. The guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/free-of-charge-foc-medicines-schemes-national-policy-recommendations-for-local-systems/

Under the EAP, givinostat is free to both patients taking part in it, and to the NHS, but NHS trusts must still cover the cost of administering it to patients. While there are no current plans to hold discussions with Duchenne UK on steps to increase access, ministers in the Department are keen to engage with a broad range of stakeholders. Participation in the programme is decided at an individual NHS trust level.

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) Duchenne UK and (b) other patient advocacy groups on steps to increase access to the givinostat early access programme.

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

The Department has not had any discussions with ITF Pharma UK about the resources or guidance available to National Health Service trusts participating in the early access programme (EAP) for givinostat.

Department officials have had discussions with colleagues in NHS England about the guidance and resources that are available to NHS trusts. NHS England has published guidance for integrated care systems (ICS) on free of charge medicine schemes, such as EAPs, including providing advice on potential financial, administrative, and clinical risks. The guidance aims to support the NHS to drive value from medicines and ensure consistent and equitable access to medicines across England. ICSs should follow the recommendations to determine whether to implement any free of charge scheme, including assessing suitability and any risks in the short, medium, and long term. The guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/free-of-charge-foc-medicines-schemes-national-policy-recommendations-for-local-systems/

Under the EAP, givinostat is free to both patients taking part in it, and to the NHS, but NHS trusts must still cover the cost of administering it to patients. While there are no current plans to hold discussions with Duchenne UK on steps to increase access, ministers in the Department are keen to engage with a broad range of stakeholders. Participation in the programme is decided at an individual NHS trust level.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of commercial protections for airline passengers.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Air passenger rights remain a priority for the Department for Transport, and continues to consider options to ensure passengers have the best possible protections whilst travelling by air.

This includes ensuring aviation is accessible for all passengers. That is why the Department launched the Aviation Accessibility Task & Finish Group. It brings together industry and consumer representatives to assess the barriers and develop practical and achievable actions to make aviation more accessible.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a proportional property tax as a replacement for (a) stamp duty and (b) council tax.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Council Tax and Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) are reliable and important sources of revenue for both the Exchequer and Local Authorities. They raise over £50 billion each year to help pay for essential public services. Any reforms to the property tax system would have to carefully consider impacts on the Exchequer and Local Government finances, as well as impacts on taxpayers. The Government has no plans to introduce a proportional property tax. The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the usual tax policy making process.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure adequate (a) financial and (b) other support for communities with a building society but not a banking hub.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the value that building societies bring to their members in local communities across the country, and the value of their 30% share of the UK’s branch network. However, I recognise that most building societies do not provide current accounts or serve businesses.

The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets and is committed to championing sufficient access to all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs, which allow businesses and individuals to deposit and take out cash, across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 200 hubs have been announced so far, and over 100 are already open.

Further, the Financial Conduct Authority has introduced rules which seek to ensure individuals and business have reasonable access to cash withdrawal and deposit facilities. Under these rules, LINK will assess the impact of a closure or material change of a cash service on the local community and recommend new services if necessary. Assessments can also be requested by the local community. As part of its process, LINK considers what services are already available in the area, including any existing branches, and whether they meet the needs of the local community.

Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the overseas scale rates.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Overseas Scale Rates are an administrative easement and do not limit the amount an employee can claim for. They reduce the need to provide evidence to support an employee’s claim for tax relief.

Employees travelling overseas for work have the same entitlement to tax relief whether they use the rates or not. An employee can claim tax relief on a higher value if that is appropriate, with the only distinction being they must provide receipts.

There will be occasions where OSR may not reflect the current prices in a particular location. In these cases, the employer can choose to reimburse the full expenses incurred by their staff, if receipts are kept. Should the employer choose not to reimburse all the actual expenses, the employee may claim tax relief on the difference from HMRC.

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 patients have access to (a) oestrogen and (b) testosterone HRT implants in the context of supply difficulties from the US.

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

Oestrogen and testosterone hormone replacement therapy (HRT) implants are not licenced in the United Kingdom. The Department is working closely with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to ensure safe access to these products. We have also reached out to specialist importers who can source unlicensed medicines in order to find alternative sources of both HRT implants for UK patients. We will continue to work closely with the MHRA and the National Health Service to ensure suitable alternatives are available for patients.

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 potential impact of plastic grass on (a) biodiversity and (b) nature.

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

This Government is committed to moving to a circular economy – a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is reduced, we accelerate the path to net zero, we see investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs, our economy prospers, and nature thrives. The government is currently considering the actions that can be taken to address the challenges associated with problematic plastic products.

Defra recognises the importance of assessing the impacts of plastic grass on biodiversity and nature. As we develop our Circular Economy Strategy for England, we will consider the evidence for action from right across the economy and evaluate what interventions may be needed.

The Government is committed to delivering our legally-binding biodiversity targets on species abundance, species extinction, habitat creation and restoration. The Environment Act 2021 introduced a number of policies that will support habitat restoration. For example, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) and a strengthened biodiversity duty on public authorities will work in tandem to create or restore habitats that enable wildlife to recover and thrive, while conservation covenants will help secure habitat for the long term.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing individual health plans for every child with epilepsy.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

Statutory guidance on supporting pupils at school with medical conditions recommends the use of individual healthcare plans as good practice. The guidance can be accessed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ce6a72e40f0b620a103bd53/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions.pdf. Healthcare plans can help schools support pupils with medical conditions, providing clarity about what needs to be done, when and by whom. The school, healthcare professionals and parents should agree, based on evidence, when a healthcare plan would be appropriate.

The department will keep the statutory guidance under review as we take forward our commitment to delivering an inclusive mainstream system.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take to improve DVSA’s online booking service to ensure it can handle the demand for driving tests without technical issues.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

As set out in the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) 2024/25 business plan, DVSA is beginning the process of replacing its booking system. The system has many uses including:

• booking and scheduling of all practical driving and riding tests
• recording mandatory training taken by professional lorry and bus drivers
• administering the register of approved driving instructors (ADIs) and the compulsory basic training (CBT) scheme for novice motorcyclists

DVSA will start by replacing the test booking and scheduling service. This will allow better capture and meeting of customers’ requirements, including those with additional needs. DVSA will update the way it schedules tests using modern, flexible technology that makes better use of examiners’ time and reduces manual processes.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps to ensure that (a) people and (b) businesses are not disrupted by loss of mobile phone network coverage in areas where coverage previously existed.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

UK mobile operators have committed to close all legacy 2G and 3G mobile services by 2033, with some operators having already turned off their 3G networks. The government is working in conjunction with Ofcom and the telecoms industry to minimise disruption and ensure that people and businesses are 4G and 5G ready. This includes close engagement with critical sectors such as the emergency services.

As well as maintaining our commitment to our target of 95% of the UK geography being covered by 4G, our ambition is for all populated areas to have higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the meeting between PANS PANDAS and his Department on 19 November 2024, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for research into that condition.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are supportive of the progress made by PANS PANDAS UK and the PANS PANDAS Steering Group to undertake a national surveillance study, develop a clinical guideline, and produce guidance for professionals, children, young people, and families.

Funding for research into rare diseases such as pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome and pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infections is available through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and researchers in this area are encouraged to come forward with proposals that can further our understanding.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to take steps to ensure young people receiving therapy funded by the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund will continue to receive this therapy beyond March 2025.

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

The department will shortly be finalising business planning decisions on how we will allocate our budget for the next financial year. Decisions regarding the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) are being made as part of these discussions and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

ASGSF applications are generally permitted to extend up to 12 months, allowing children and families to receive continuing therapy across financial years. Where applications are agreed, therapy which starts before March 2025 may therefore continue into the next financial year, under previously agreed transitional funding arrangements.

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 improve the ecological status of Holton Brook.

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

The ecological status of Holton Brook (The Holton Brook and tributaries) is currently classified as having ‘Bad’ ecological status overall. This status is driven mainly by a deterioration to invertebrate status from ‘Poor’ to ‘Bad’ in the 2022 classification. The reason for this deterioration is suspected to be the impact from invasive species, particularly North American Signal Crayfish. There are also existing Reasons for Not Achieving Good Status (RANGs) listed against diffuse agricultural pollution, continuous sewage discharge and physical modification to the waterbody. Macrophytes and Phosphate are also at ‘Poor’ status on the Holton Brook and have RANGs associated with continuous sewage discharge and diffuse agricultural pollution. All other ecological elements are at ‘Good’ or ‘High’ status.

For the next water company asset management period (AMP 8), investment period for 2025 – 2030, an improvement scheme at Horton-cum-Studley sewage treatment works has been identified as part of the Environment Act’s Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan. This will ensure the site operates its storm overflow no more than 10 times per year and causes no adverse ecological impact. Forest Hill STW and Stanton St John STW will have schemes in subsequent AMP periods to meet their Environment Act (2021) targets.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2025 to Question 29734 on Thames Water, what discussions he has had with Ofwat on the potential impact of (a) the High Court-approved restructure of Thames Water and (b) Ofwat's decision to open an enforcement case on the delayed delivery of environmental improvement schemes on the stability of Thames Water.

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

The Secretary of State meets with a wide range of stakeholders on a regular basis.

The Government and Ofwat continue to carefully monitor the situation with Thames Water, and Ofwat is working closely with the company to strengthen its long-term financial resilience within the context of its licence and broader statutory obligations. We prepare for a range of scenarios across our regulated industries - including water - as any responsible Government would.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve (a) recruitment and (b) retention of driving examiners in high cost of living areas.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) examiner recruitment campaigns continue to be successful but, like many employers, DVSA is finding the job market extremely competitive. As it moves through each recruitment campaign, DVSA will continually review and make changes and improvements to its recruitment and selection process, and training courses.

Driving examiners are Civil Servants so their salary is determined by the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance. The guidance sets out the financial parameters within which Civil Service departments can determine pay awards for their staff. DVSA cannot act independently from this guidance. DVSA is working with Department for Transport colleagues to consider a new approach to the pay structure for all its front-line workers.

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 (a) ensure the interoperability of NHS IT systems and (b) reduce duplication across NHS IT systems.

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

Regulations will be introduced shortly to Parliament to commence section 95 of the Health and Care Act 2022 and establish the process for preparing and publishing information standards, which will be mandatory for public and private health and adult social care providers. In addition, the Data (Use and Access) Bill, which is currently before Parliament, will make information standards mandatory for IT suppliers in the health and care system and will provide support for ensuring compliance.

Information standards define a common set of requirements that must be followed when health and adult social care information is used, processed, and shared. Mandatory information standards can be set to provide for interoperability between IT systems, allowing for information to be shared easily, in real time, between organisations that use different systems, to improve outcomes for patients, and the productivity of the National Health Service.

To achieve the vision of a digitised NHS by March 2026, the current patchwork of digitisation across the system must be remedied, to reduce duplication and ensure that the NHS is better able to harness the power of data and technology.

Through the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP), we have been supporting trusts and integrated care boards to access the information they already hold in a single, secure place. The NHS FDP is software that sits across existing systems, making it possible to connect them, and thereby reducing duplication and improving efficiency.

Through the Frontline Digitisation programme, we are supporting levelling up integrated care systems (ICS) and trusts to a baseline level of digital capability, as defined in our Minimum Digital Foundation. The What Good Looks Like guidance sets a common vision for good digital practice to empower frontline leaders to accelerate digital transformation in their organisations and reduce duplication.

The NHS App provides the digital front door for citizens to access whichever national or locally commissioned services will best meet their needs. Each ICS can use these channels to support the delivery of their own digital transformation programmes. We also provide services that can be utilised by health and care organisations through their own system solutions, for example NHS.UK website’s syndicated content or the NHS App notification and messaging service. By enabling others to use our channels and services, we reduce duplication of investment and effort, and create efficiencies across the system.

Future of the adoption and special guardianship support fund

Refusal of Citizenship to refugees who have made irregular crossings

Injury on Duty Award Scheme

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Found: Mohamed Alex Brewer Bell Ribeiro-Addy Carla Denyer Mr Jonathan Brash Dr Allison Gardner Freddie van Mierlo

Found: Mohamed Alex Brewer Bell Ribeiro-Addy Carla Denyer Mr Jonathan Brash Dr Allison Gardner Freddie van Mierlo

Found: Mohamed Alex Brewer Bell Ribeiro-Addy Carla Denyer Mr Jonathan Brash Dr Allison Gardner Freddie van Mierlo

Found: Mohamed Alex Brewer Bell Ribeiro-Addy Carla Denyer Mr Jonathan Brash Dr Allison Gardner Freddie van Mierlo