Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to ensure that all patients with suspected leukaemia symptoms can access a full blood count test within 48 hours, as recommended by the NICE NG12 guidelines.

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

The Department is determined to take all the necessary steps to improve early diagnosis for all cancers, including blood cancers such as leukaemia.

To accomplish this, the National Health Service is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has a guideline on suspected cancer called ‘recognition and referral’ which aim to support the identification of children, young people and adults with symptoms that could be caused by cancer’. The guideline provides guidance on appropriate investigations in primary care, and the selection of people to refer for a specialist opinion. The guideline recommends that people with specific symptoms should be offered a very urgent full blood count to assess for leukaemia. Local NHS organisations are expected to take NICE guidelines fully into account in ensuring that their services meet the needs of their local populations. The NHS is held to account to deliver guidelines, which include all NICE directions, at local and regional level.

The National Cancer Plan for England will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, as well as prevention. The plan will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to better the experience and outcomes for all patient groups, including leukaemia patients.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help ensure that UK universities remain competitive in attracting global research talent.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

To keep our world-leading universities globally competitive, the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper sets out a joint DfE–DSIT vision for a financially sustainable higher education sector that delivers better value for students, supports local growth, and meets labour market needs. This includes record DSIT R&D investment of £58.5 billion between 2026/27 and 2029/30.

The UK’s immigration offer attracts research talent through visa routes such as the fast-track Global Talent visa, complemented by funding via UKRI and National Academies fellowships and professorships, our association to Horizon Europe, and the Global Talent Fund to retain world-class researchers.

UKRI allows visa costs, including the Immigration Health Surcharge, to be claimed on grants, and many other organisations also allow these costs on their grants. Visa costs are also allowable costs for researchers on Horizon Europe grants.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her proposed timeline is to enact Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

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

The Government is strongly committed to improving the implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).

In December 2024 we made changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to support increased delivery of SuDS. The NPPF now requires all development to use SuDS where they could have drainage impacts.

We are in the process of consulting on a revised version of the NPPF, with new policies on local plans and national decision making, including flood risk and SuDS.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 103084, if she will publish policy proposals to implement the practice of collection of data of non-injury road traffic accidents in order to make an assessment of the risk at rural junctions.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

There are currently no plans to collect non-injury collision data from road traffic collisions to make an assessment of risk at rural junctions.

As announced in the recently published Road Safety Strategy, the department is exploring the possibility of breaking down rural roads into several subcategories to better define their purpose. This segmentation will help target safety interventions more effectively, ensuring resources are spent where they can have the greatest impact. We have also announced the establishment of a data-led Road Safety Investigation Branch, which will investigate collisions on a thematic basis.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions has he had to help conclude the dialogue between NHS England and the manufacturer of givinostat as part of the NICE appraisal.

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

The Department has had no such discussions. NHS England is responsible for any commercial discussions with companies whose products are undergoing a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence evaluation.

Following discussions in November 2025, NHS England invited the manufacturer, ITF Pharma UK and Ireland, to submit a written proposal to progress a potential commercial agreement in December, with a range of ideas being offered by NHS England that could form the basis of a deal.

NHS England is still awaiting a proposal from the company and has continued to press ITF Pharma on the need to make progress as patients and campaigners deserve certainty on the next steps regarding access to this treatment.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to higher education funding on creative arts courses, and the potential consequences for the creative industries.

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

The government is committed to supporting creative arts subjects in higher education and acknowledges the importance of this provision to the creative industries. These subjects will benefit from further increases in tuition fee limits in line with forecast inflation that we have announced for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 academic years.

For this academic year, we have maintained the funding at £57 million for the 20 small and specialist providers previously identified by the Office for Students as world leading. Of these providers, 13 are focused on creative arts. These 20 providers will retain their world leading status for 2026/27.

Decisions around funding through the Strategic Priorities Grant for 2026/27 have not yet been made. We will prioritise subjects that are essential to delivery of our Plan for Growth, and the Industrial Strategy, and we will issue guidance to the OfS setting out our funding priorities for 2026/27 in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will set out the mechanisms for leaseholders and shared ownership tenants to challenge unexpected or excessive maintenance charges; and whether his Department plans to (a) strengthen enforcement or (b) provide additional support for those in dispute with housing associations.

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

Most shared owners have a landlord who is a member of the Housing Ombudsman Service. Tenants can therefore take complaints about service charges, not including fees, to the Ombudsman.

The new Social and Affordable Homes Programme places new expectations on shared ownership providers to improve customer experience. These include giving greater consideration to long-term customer affordability and increasing transparency and fairness on costs.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 4 July 2025 (HCWS780).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to review the practices of housing associations in relation to the application of maintenance charges for shared ownership properties; and what steps he will take to ensure charges (a) reflect actual services delivered and (b) are communicated in plain language.

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

Most shared owners have a landlord who is a member of the Housing Ombudsman Service. Tenants can therefore take complaints about service charges, not including fees, to the Ombudsman.

The new Social and Affordable Homes Programme places new expectations on shared ownership providers to improve customer experience. These include giving greater consideration to long-term customer affordability and increasing transparency and fairness on costs.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 4 July 2025 (HCWS780).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure transparency and fairness in the calculation and application of maintenance charges for shared ownership properties; and whether he will assess the potential merits of introducing clearer guidance to prevent unexpected or disproportionate costs being passed on to (a) leaseholders and (b) part-buy, part-rent tenants.

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

Most shared owners have a landlord who is a member of the Housing Ombudsman Service. Tenants can therefore take complaints about service charges, not including fees, to the Ombudsman.

The new Social and Affordable Homes Programme places new expectations on shared ownership providers to improve customer experience. These include giving greater consideration to long-term customer affordability and increasing transparency and fairness on costs.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 4 July 2025 (HCWS780).

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of legal sale mileage blockers on the proposed pence-per-mile charge of 3p per mile in addition to the standard Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) starting in April 2028.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028, a new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, recognising that electric vehicles (EVs) contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty.

The Government is considering options to mitigate against odometer tampering, including whether any legislative, regulatory or technical changes are necessary to strengthen compliance and enforcement. The Government intends to engage with manufacturers, the leasing industry and insurers to minimise fraud.

The eVED consultation provides further detail on how eVED will work and seeks views on its implementation, including the approach to compliance. The consultation is available at GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-introduction-of-electric-vehicle-excise-duty-eved.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of current statutory consultation requirements for introducing parking restrictions on main roads, and whether she plans to review these requirements.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

No such assessment has been made. We have not identified a need for change but will continue to monitor their impact as part of wider traffic management reviews.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what mechanisms he plans to put in place to safeguard community sports provision if the current statutory consultation arrangements be changed.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 103087 on 13 January 2026.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support for training and resources his Department is providing to integrated care boards to help implement the NHS England Maternal Care Bundle, published on 6 January 2026.

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

Maternity care remains a top priority for NHS Providers, as demonstrated in the planning guidance.

Maternity services in England are commissioned by integrated care boards (ICBs), and maternity funding, which formed part of the System Development Funding in 2024/25, has been transferred to ICB core allocations for 2025/26. This is to allow local leaders more flexibility to serve the needs of their population.

The Maternity Care Bundle codifies best practice standards and therefore the implementation of the Maternity Care Bundle will be absorbed through ICB core allocations.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the 18-week waiting time target can be met.

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

The Government is committed to returning, by March 2029, to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment.

In November 2025, performance against the standard was at 61.8%, 2.6% higher than a year earlier. Since the Government came into office, the waiting list for routine appointments, operations, and procedures in England has now been cut by 312,369 despite 30.1 million referrals being added onto the waiting list.

As set out in the Elective Reform Plan, we’ve set ambitious targets, and are investing in modernisation, and reforming and simplifying pathways, increasing surgical and diagnostic capacity, and empowering patients with faster and more convenient access to care. We’ve made good progress, through there remains lots more to do.

We will empower patients by giving them more choice and control, reform delivery by working more consistently, and in many cases differently, to deliver more elective care, ensure care takes place in the right place, and implement robust and regular oversight of performance with clear expectations.

In September last year, we announced a new “online hospital”, through NHS Online, which will help to reduce patient waiting times, delivering the equivalent of up to 8.5 million appointments and assessments in its first three years, four times more than an average trust, while enhancing patient choice and control over their care. The first patients will be able to use the service from 2027.

We are investing £6 billion of additional capital over five years for diagnostic, elective, urgent, and emergency capacity in the NHS. This includes £1.65 billion of capital funding in 2025/26 to support both immediate winter capacity and infrastructure transformation, for instance new surgical hubs, community diagnostic centres, and beds to increase capacity for elective and emergency care.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of patients whose treatment has been delayed as a result of restrictions placed on private providers delivering NHS services.

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

Reducing waiting lists is a key part of the Government’s Health Mission, and we are committed to putting patients first by ensuring that they are seen on time and that they have the best possible experience of care. Since the Government came into office, the waiting list for routine appointments, operations, and procedures in England has now been cut by 312,369. This is despite 30.1 million referrals onto the waiting list.

Integrated care boards have existing contractual powers to manage activity by providers, which were enhanced in 2025/26 with central support for setting and managing activity. Commissioners’ use of these powers support systems to live within their means and deploy better financial discipline than previous years where systems have overspent. As these powers are exercised by local systems, no national assessment has been made.

We expect use of activity management provisions by local systems to support efforts achieving the goal of at least 65% of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks for treatment by March 2026 whilst living within financial budgets set for 2025/26.

All trusts are expected to have their own safeguards to ensure that patients waiting for planned care are triaged, and that appointments take place according to clinical priority and the length of time patients have waited, avoiding risk of serious complications.

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 potential impact of activity management plans on patient waiting times for elective surgery.

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

Integrated care boards have existing contractual powers to manage activity by providers, which were enhanced in 2025/26 with central support for setting and managing activity. The NHS Standard Contract includes the ability to set Indicative Action Plans (IAPs) to help providers and commissioners plan demand, capacity, and expenditure. While not binding, if activity exceeds the agreed plan, and therefore the funding agreed, an Activity Management Plan (AMP) can be agreed to bring activity back in line.

The provision and use of IAPs and AMPs is designed to deliver the activity levels required to achieve the goal of at least 65% of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks for treatment by March 2026 whilst also living within financial budgets set for 2025/26.

Any planning assumptions based on waiting times need to support commissioners’ overall duties to the populations they serve and our waiting time targets, including our commitment to return to the 18 week standard. AMPs allow commissioners and providers to work together to manage elective activity within agreed performance and financial targets, all whilst working towards improving patient waiting times overall.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of (a) trends in the level of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation and (b) the potential impact of those lawsuits on public-interest advocacy and journalism.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Due to the covert nature of Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) cases, with many threats occurring before cases reach the courts, it is difficult to know precise figures. On the available qualitative evidence we recognise that such tactics continue to be used to intimidate and silence journalists and others acting in the public interest. By curtailing free speech, SLAPPs cause a chilling effect on public interest journalism and pose a threat to both our legal system and our democracy. We are considering all options for reform to address this issue.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Department is taking to ensure that individuals who applied to purchase voluntary National Insurance contributions through the International Pensions Centre before the April 2025 deadline and experienced delays in their processing are not disadvantaged.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Telephony demand from individuals seeking to pay Voluntary National Insurance Contributions (VNICs) ahead of the 6^th April 2025 deadline was significant. In response, DWP provided routes for individuals to register their interest in paying VNICs. DWP introduced an online call-back form, a route for citizens to register their interest over the telephone and where possible, individuals were sent confirmation text messages.

Where individuals registered an interest to pay VNICs on or before the April 2025 deadline, the Department is honouring pre-deadline rates for all, even if the payment of VNICs is made after the deadline. Customers who are over State Pension age and who paid VNICs, will receive an increase to their State Pension.

For individuals living overseas (who are already over State Pension age), all DWP call-back requests were completed before the end of December 2025.

Customers who are over State Pension age and who paid VNICs based on pre-deadline rates, will receive an increase to their State Pension. The pre-deadline contribution rates required to purchase the relevant qualifying years will be honoured.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Department will consider backdating State Pension increases in cases where there were delays by his Department.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Telephony demand from individuals seeking to pay Voluntary National Insurance Contributions (VNICs) ahead of the 6^th April 2025 deadline was significant. In response, DWP provided routes for individuals to register their interest in paying VNICs. DWP introduced an online call-back form, a route for citizens to register their interest over the telephone and where possible, individuals were sent confirmation text messages.

Where individuals registered an interest to pay VNICs on or before the April 2025 deadline, the Department is honouring pre-deadline rates for all, even if the payment of VNICs is made after the deadline. Customers who are over State Pension age and who paid VNICs, will receive an increase to their State Pension.

For individuals living overseas (who are already over State Pension age), all DWP call-back requests were completed before the end of December 2025.

Customers who are over State Pension age and who paid VNICs based on pre-deadline rates, will receive an increase to their State Pension. The pre-deadline contribution rates required to purchase the relevant qualifying years will be honoured.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Department has made of the adequacy of the time taken to process applications to purchase voluntary National Insurance contributions through the International Pensions Centre before the April 2025 deadline.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Telephony demand from individuals seeking to pay Voluntary National Insurance Contributions (VNICs) ahead of the 6^th April 2025 deadline was significant. In response, DWP provided routes for individuals to register their interest in paying VNICs. DWP introduced an online call-back form, a route for citizens to register their interest over the telephone and where possible, individuals were sent confirmation text messages.

Where individuals registered an interest to pay VNICs on or before the April 2025 deadline, the Department is honouring pre-deadline rates for all, even if the payment of VNICs is made after the deadline. Customers who are over State Pension age and who paid VNICs, will receive an increase to their State Pension.

For individuals living overseas (who are already over State Pension age), all DWP call-back requests were completed before the end of December 2025.

Customers who are over State Pension age and who paid VNICs based on pre-deadline rates, will receive an increase to their State Pension. The pre-deadline contribution rates required to purchase the relevant qualifying years will be honoured.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to provide additional (a) guidance and (b) professional development for primary teachers on incorporating learning through play into classroom.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework sets the standards and requirements that all early years settings must follow to ensure every child has the best start in life and is clear that play is essential for children’s development.

The department is committed to supporting settings to deliver the EYFS for the benefit of all children and provides a range of resources, including written and online guidance on curriculum and pedagogy, to assist early years teachers.

The department provides free guidance and training in delivering developmentally appropriate, play based learning. Our early years child development training, developed with sector experts, offers practical advice and materials for those working with Reception-aged children, including content about how play supports early learning and development.

It reflects an emphasis on active, exploratory, play based learning as the foundation for children’s cognitive, language, social and emotional development.

Finally, we have committed in our strategy for improving child development to a new training course for classroom teachers in reception and enhancing the National Professional Qualification for Headship with more content on effective Reception practice.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to introduce new earner income disregards for housing benefit claimants in supported housing.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department will be introducing new earned income disregards for Housing Benefit claimants in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation from Autumn 2026. Further information will be available in the regulations pack and Explanatory Memorandum when the new regulations are laid later this year.

We continue to work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure that the implementation is robust and we reduce the financial cliff edge for individuals in supported housing and temporary accommodation.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to review the level of the Household Benefit Cap.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

There is a statutory obligation to review the levels at least once every five years. They were last reviewed in November 2022 and, as such, a further review is not required until November 2027. This will happen at the appropriate time as determined by the Secretary of State.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of levels of Local Housing Allowance rates on households in the private rented sector following the removal of the two-child limit; and whether he has plans to review LHA levels, in the context of recent trends in the cost of renting.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Secretary of State reviews LHA rates annually and rates were reviewed in November at Autumn Budget. A decision was made to maintain LHA rates at their current 2024/25 levels for 2026/27.

A range of factors were considered, including rent levels across Great Britain, the wider fiscal context and welfare priorities. This included the decision to remove the two child limit, which will lift 450k children out of poverty.

Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

Discretionary Housing Payments are available from local authorities for low-income renters who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. From April 2026 DHPs for England will be incorporated into the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF).

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the annual budget that has been allocated for the introduction of new earned income disregards for Housing benefit claimants in supported housing.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department's estimate of the Exchequer impact of the additional earned income disregards for Housing Benefit claimants resident in supported housing and temporary accommodation from 2026/27 to 2030/31 on Annually Managed Expenditure (AME) can be found in the published Autumn Budget 2025 policy costings here: Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will publish further information on the four new earned income disregards for housing benefit claimants in supported housing.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department will be introducing new earned income disregards for Housing Benefit claimants in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation from Autumn 2026. Further information will be available in the regulations pack and Explanatory Memorandum when the new regulations are laid later this year.

We continue to work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure that the implementation is robust and we reduce the financial cliff edge for individuals in supported housing and temporary accommodation.

Stamp Duty liability for periodic tenancies

Gambling harms

St David’s Day (Dydd Gwyl Dewi)

Role of the House of Lords in scrutinising legislation

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

Hospices and end of life care

President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement

Signing of the Hamburg Declaration

Bird gathering licences

World Cancer Day

Public toilet provision

Artificial Intelligence chatbots

World Cancer Day and breast cancer

Less Survivable Cancers Week

Use of UK bases by the United States and international law in relation to Greenland

Iran protests

Brain cancer

Deregistration of international non-governmental organisations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Public health campaign on tackling stigma towards suicide

Import of illegal meat

Commemorating National Care Leaver’s Month November 2025

Social media for under 16s

Newborn bloodspot screening for spinal muscular atrophy

Found: ); Emily Darlington; Dr Allison Gardner; Kit Malthouse; Dr Lauren Sullivan; Adam Thompson; Freddie van Mierlo

Found: ); Emily Darlington; Dr Allison Gardner; Kit Malthouse; Dr Lauren Sullivan; Adam Thompson; Freddie van Mierlo

Found: ); Emily Darlington; Dr Allison Gardner; Kit Malthouse; Dr Lauren Sullivan; Adam Thompson; Freddie van Mierlo

Found: ); Emily Darlington; Dr Allison Gardner; Kit Malthouse; Dr Lauren Sullivan; Adam Thompson; Freddie van Mierlo