Asked by: Graham Stuart (Conservative - Beverley and Holderness)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Every child achieving and thriving, updated on 27 April 2026, if she will set out how the proposed targeted layer of support for children with SEND will differ from the existing support provided by teaching assistants to pupils who require additional help.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department is investing £1.6 billion in an Inclusive Mainstream Fund to support the development of a more inclusive education system. Over £500 million per year will be provided to early years, schools and colleges to boost their existing core funding for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to help them strengthen their inclusive offer.
Settings should deploy funding to help build an inclusive core offer, based on the commonly occurring needs and barriers to learning and participation faced by their cohort and to support the delivery of evidence-based targeted support for those who need it.
Targeted support may include small group interventions based on evidence-informed strategies and approaches to alleviate persistent barriers to learning, delivered by school staff. Targeted plus support will include support from external experts including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, as well as signposting to specialists from Alternative Provision or Specialist settings, delivered through a new Experts at Hand service. We are investing around £1.8 billion over the next three years for local area partnerships, including local authorities and integrated care boards, to develop a new ‘Experts at Hand’ offer, strengthening mainstream education through access to health and specialist education support.
We will roll out a new national training programme supporting educators to identify and respond to children’s needs backed by £200 million investment, to train staff across nurseries, schools and colleges with the first wave of training materials coming online from September.
Asked by: Graham Stuart (Conservative - Beverley and Holderness)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he will take where NHS trusts tell patients with Functional Neurological Disorder that their services are not set up to treat the condition, in the context of NHS England's August 2025 Specialised Neurology Service Specification requiring FND to be provided as a core activity at every specialised neurology centre.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their local populations and for ensuring that providers deliver services in line with national service specifications. NHS England oversees this process and has mechanisms in place to assure compliance with these standards.
Where services are not meeting required standards, NHS England oversees system performance through established accountability arrangements, including routine oversight and engagement with ICBs across a range of domains such as access, quality and outcomes. Where concerns about service provision or variation are identified, NHS England works with ICBs and providers to support improvement, including through planning guidance, performance discussions, and system oversight processes.
NHS trusts are accountable to their boards, and to their local systems, for the quality and safety of the services they provide and are expected to act where gaps in provision or access are identified.
The Government recognises that access to appropriate psychological therapies and multidisciplinary support for people with functional neurological disorder (FND), including non‑epileptic seizures, can vary between areas. The majority of services for people with neurological conditions, including FND, are commissioned locally by ICBs.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence provides guidance to support clinicians in recognising and managing FND, and promotes a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to care, including access to psychological therapies where clinically appropriate.
NHS England’s specialised neurology service specification requires all specialised neurology centres to ensure access to appropriate treatment services for FND, delivered through integrated pathways involving neurological, mental health and community services.
There is no single nationally mandated clinician responsible for reviewing and managing medication for patients with FND and non-epileptic seizures. Decisions about prescribing and reviewing medicines are made by the clinician responsible for that aspect of the patient’s care, which may be a general practitioner, neurologist or other specialist, depending on the patient’s needs and where care is being delivered.
In practice, medication management is typically undertaken through shared care arrangements, with clinicians working together to ensure patients receive safe, appropriate and person‑centred treatment based on clinical judgement.
Asked by: Graham Stuart (Conservative - Beverley and Holderness)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether psychological therapy services are fully commissioned across all areas of England to accept referrals for patients with Functional Neurological Disorder and non-epileptic seizures; and what steps he is taking to help tackle gaps where patients are being turned away.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their local populations and for ensuring that providers deliver services in line with national service specifications. NHS England oversees this process and has mechanisms in place to assure compliance with these standards.
Where services are not meeting required standards, NHS England oversees system performance through established accountability arrangements, including routine oversight and engagement with ICBs across a range of domains such as access, quality and outcomes. Where concerns about service provision or variation are identified, NHS England works with ICBs and providers to support improvement, including through planning guidance, performance discussions, and system oversight processes.
NHS trusts are accountable to their boards, and to their local systems, for the quality and safety of the services they provide and are expected to act where gaps in provision or access are identified.
The Government recognises that access to appropriate psychological therapies and multidisciplinary support for people with functional neurological disorder (FND), including non‑epileptic seizures, can vary between areas. The majority of services for people with neurological conditions, including FND, are commissioned locally by ICBs.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence provides guidance to support clinicians in recognising and managing FND, and promotes a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to care, including access to psychological therapies where clinically appropriate.
NHS England’s specialised neurology service specification requires all specialised neurology centres to ensure access to appropriate treatment services for FND, delivered through integrated pathways involving neurological, mental health and community services.
There is no single nationally mandated clinician responsible for reviewing and managing medication for patients with FND and non-epileptic seizures. Decisions about prescribing and reviewing medicines are made by the clinician responsible for that aspect of the patient’s care, which may be a general practitioner, neurologist or other specialist, depending on the patient’s needs and where care is being delivered.
In practice, medication management is typically undertaken through shared care arrangements, with clinicians working together to ensure patients receive safe, appropriate and person‑centred treatment based on clinical judgement.
Asked by: Graham Stuart (Conservative - Beverley and Holderness)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance exists on which clinician - GP or neurologist - is responsible for reviewing and managing medication for patients with Functional Neurological Disorder and non-epileptic seizures.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their local populations and for ensuring that providers deliver services in line with national service specifications. NHS England oversees this process and has mechanisms in place to assure compliance with these standards.
Where services are not meeting required standards, NHS England oversees system performance through established accountability arrangements, including routine oversight and engagement with ICBs across a range of domains such as access, quality and outcomes. Where concerns about service provision or variation are identified, NHS England works with ICBs and providers to support improvement, including through planning guidance, performance discussions, and system oversight processes.
NHS trusts are accountable to their boards, and to their local systems, for the quality and safety of the services they provide and are expected to act where gaps in provision or access are identified.
The Government recognises that access to appropriate psychological therapies and multidisciplinary support for people with functional neurological disorder (FND), including non‑epileptic seizures, can vary between areas. The majority of services for people with neurological conditions, including FND, are commissioned locally by ICBs.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence provides guidance to support clinicians in recognising and managing FND, and promotes a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to care, including access to psychological therapies where clinically appropriate.
NHS England’s specialised neurology service specification requires all specialised neurology centres to ensure access to appropriate treatment services for FND, delivered through integrated pathways involving neurological, mental health and community services.
There is no single nationally mandated clinician responsible for reviewing and managing medication for patients with FND and non-epileptic seizures. Decisions about prescribing and reviewing medicines are made by the clinician responsible for that aspect of the patient’s care, which may be a general practitioner, neurologist or other specialist, depending on the patient’s needs and where care is being delivered.
In practice, medication management is typically undertaken through shared care arrangements, with clinicians working together to ensure patients receive safe, appropriate and person‑centred treatment based on clinical judgement.
Asked by: Graham Stuart (Conservative - Beverley and Holderness)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, that the consent based model for determining the location of GDFs for storing nuclear waste remains government policy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government remains committed to delivering a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) as the long-term solution for the safe and secure management of the UK’s most hazardous radioactive waste. The process for identifying a suitable location for a GDF remains consent-based, requiring both suitable geology and a willing host community.
Asked by: Graham Stuart (Conservative - Beverley and Holderness)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to introduce a strategy for motorcycle safety.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
By miles travelled, motorcyclists are over 40 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than someone travelling by car. That is why motorcyclist safety was included in the new Road Safety Strategy.
Although there are no plans for a separate motorcycle strategy at this time the Road Safety Strategy announced a consultation on an ambitious package of reforms to the training, testing and licensing regime for Category A moped and motorcycle licences in Great Britain. That consultation closes on May 11th.
Asked by: Graham Stuart (Conservative - Beverley and Holderness)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he plans to launch the allocation rounds for the Hydrogen Transport Business Model and Hydrogen Storage Business Model.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are progressing the design of the business models and the first allocation round at pace. We will award the first contracts for the Hydrogen Transport Business Model and Hydrogen Storage Business Model through the Regional Hydrogen Network competition.
Further clarity on publication timings will be provided in due course.
Asked by: Graham Stuart (Conservative - Beverley and Holderness)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the Humber supporting industrial decarbonisation through the development of hydrogen infrastructure.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Humber is the UK’s largest industrial cluster and is home to a number of hydrogen and industrial decarbonisation projects, which aim to supply low-carbon hydrogen to local industrial users, supporting decarbonisation, skilled job creation and regional economic growth across the Humber region. Proposals for hydrogen infrastructure in the Humber will be able to participate in the proposed Regional Hydrogen Network when launched.
Three projects in the Humber area were shortlisted in Hydrogen Allocation Round 2. If successful, these projects will produce low-carbon hydrogen to power gas turbines and help decarbonise oil refineries and lime kilns in the Humber area.
Asked by: Graham Stuart (Conservative - Beverley and Holderness)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Humber’s hydrogen production capacity on UK hydrogen targets.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Hydrogen has the potential to support decarbonisation and economic growth across the UK. The Government recognises the Humber as one of several regions that could supply, as well as benefit from, low‑carbon hydrogen production.
As part of the Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 (HAR2), three projects in the Humber area were shortlisted in April 2025, specifically Aldborough Hydrogen Pathfinder, Humber H2ub, and Singleton Birch Kilns. If successful, these projects will produce low-carbon hydrogen which will power gas turbines and help to decarbonise an oil refinery and lime kiln in the Humber area, as well as generate low carbon power.
Asked by: Graham Stuart (Conservative - Beverley and Holderness)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a core hydrogen network on linking hydrogen production in the Humber to other industrial clusters.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In the early hydrogen economy, we expect that most hydrogen demand will be located within our existing industrial clusters. Government is therefore prioritising the development of regional network infrastructure. Government continues to assess the economic and system benefits that could be presented by a core hydrogen network. However, determining the determining the needs case for inter-regional networks, as well as the location, scale and timing for any such networks requires further evidence.