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 support the development of a (a) safe and (b) effective Group B Streptococcus vaccine.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The UK Health Security Agency’s Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre (VDEC) has been supporting the creation of a safe and effective maternal vaccine for Group B Streptococcus (GBS).

A maternal vaccine for GBS, which protects infants from both the early and late onset of the disease, will have a positive impact on infant mortality and morbidity. It will also lead to a sharp reduction in the use of antibiotics in neonatal units worldwide. By focusing on effectiveness, through advanced immune response evaluations, these efforts are accelerating the development of a reliable GBS vaccine that can protect vulnerable populations worldwide. Further information on how VDEC is supporting a GBS vaccine to prevent newborn deaths is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/vdec-is-supporting-a-gbs-vaccine-to-prevent-newborn-deaths.

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 results of the GBS3 trial can be acted upon (a) quickly and (b) effectively.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Recruitment to the GBS3 trial ended in May 2024. The researchers are analysing the data, and a report is expected in Summer 2025. The UK National Screening Committee Secretariat is in close and regular contact with the researchers. The committee will review its recommendation, considering the evidence from the trial, once the report is available.

As part of this, the UK National Screening Committee will engage with stakeholders, in line with its usual processes.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will meet with Group B Strep Support to discuss the importance of (a) early and (b)consistent diagnosis of Group B Streptococcus.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Recruitment to the GBS3 trial ended in May 2024. The researchers are analysing the data, and a report is expected in Summer 2025. The UK National Screening Committee Secretariat is in close and regular contact with the researchers. The committee will review its recommendation, considering the evidence from the trial, once the report is available.

As part of this, the UK National Screening Committee will engage with stakeholders, in line with its usual processes.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent guidance his Department has issued to NHS Foundation Trusts on the provision of early pregnancy services (a) at weekends and (b) overnight.

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

The Government is determined to make sure all women and babies receive safe, personalised, and compassionate care, particularly when things go wrong.

We will continue to work with NHS England to ensure that we listen to women and their families, and learn lessons from recent inquiries and investigations, including recommendations from the pregnancy loss review.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total cost to the public purse was of out of court settlements for employment tribunal cases across Government in each of the last five years.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The total cost of special payments for the Cabinet Office, which includes - but is not limited to - any out of court settlements for Employment Tribunals is provided in the department’s annual report and accounts each year, which is published on gov.uk.

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 adequacy of the availability of early pregnancy services in A&E departments (a) at weekends and (b) overnight.

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

No assessment has been made of the adequacy of the availability of early pregnancy services in accident and emergency departments. It is vital that women seeking support, including in early pregnancy, get the care they need. We will continue to work with NHS England to improve the Early Pregnancy Assessment Units’ (EPAUs) services, where the Pregnancy Loss Review found variation in the availability of EPAUs.

We encourage all women who have concerns about their pregnancy to seek help from a healthcare professional. Accident and emergency departments are 24-hour services, so a person presenting with concerns related to early pregnancy would initially be assessed by an emergency medicine clinician. Where further specialist care is needed, the person would be supported in an Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic, or through the attendance of an obstetrician at the accident and emergency.

Found: Smith Street London SW1P 3BT tel: 0370 000 2288 www.education.gov.uk/contactus/dfe Helen Hayes

Found: Smith Street London SW1P 3BT tel: 0370 000 2288 www.education.gov.uk/contactus/dfe Helen Hayes

Found: 5 December 2024 Ms Helen Hayes MP Chair of the Education Select Committee House of Commons

Found: Helen Hayes MP 2 January 25 Chair, Education Select Committee Via email helen.hayes.mp@parliament.uk

Found: Brown; Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi; Dame Caroline Dinenage; Florence Eshalomi; Patricia Ferguson; Helen Hayes

Found: Floor 100 Parliament Street London SW1A 2BQ E: enquiries@dcms.gov.uk www.gov.uk/dcms Helen Hayes

Found: London SW1P 3BT tel: 0370 000 2288 www.education.gov.uk/contactus/dfe Helen Hayes

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Helen Hayes (Chair); Jess Asato; Mrs Sureena Brackenridge; Dr Caroline

Found: Current membership Helen Hayes (Labour; Dulwich and West Norwood) (Chair) Jess Asato (Labour; Lowestoft

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Helen Hayes (Chair); Jess Asato; Mrs Sureena Brackenridge; Darren

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Helen Hayes (Chair); Mrs Sureena Brackenridge; Dr Caroline Johnson

Found: disabilities where a Home Assessment has been carried out. 5 REPORT STAGE Tuesday 7 January 2025 _NC10 Helen Hayes

Found: disabilities where a Home Assessment has been carried out. 5 REPORT STAGE Monday 6 January 2025 _NC10 Helen Hayes

Found: disabilities where a Home Assessment has been carried out. 5 REPORT STAGE Friday 20 December 2024 _NC10 Helen Hayes

Found: disabilities where a Home Assessment has been carried out. 5 REPORT STAGE Tuesday 17 December 2024 _NC10 Helen Hayes

Found: disabilities where a Home Assessment has been carried out. 5 REPORT STAGE Friday 13 December 2024 _NC10 Helen Hayes

Submit Evidence (by 30 Jan 2025)

A number of recent reports have set out in detail the extent of the crisis in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system, which is letting down children and their families, creating intense pressure on local authority funding and on schools.