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 merits of giving local authorities the power to create firework-free zones.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

No assessment has been made of the potential the merits of giving local authority the powers to create fireworks control zones. Building on the work of my predecessor, I will continue to engage with counterparts in Scotland to understand the impact Firework Control Zones have made before considering if similar changes are needed for England and Wales.

The Government launched a public campaign on fireworks safety for this year’s fireworks season. The campaign includes guidance for those running community events, which encourages the use of low-noise fireworks and social media posts that emphasise the risks from the misuse of fireworks.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to participate in the 22nd Meeting of States Parties to the Antipersonnel Mine Ban Convention.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Yes. The UK will serve in the role of Vice-President during the meeting, as well as having a role on the Committee reviewing requests by States Parties to extend their mine clearance obligations under Article 5 of the Convention.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking with UN counterparts to help reduce child casualties from explosive weapons.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Earlier this month, the UK participated in the Second International Conference of the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA), and officials emphasised the particular importance of protecting children from both direct and indirect impacts of those weapons. The UK is also a member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict and plays a key role in ensuring scrutiny of conflicts where children are harmed and holding perpetrators to account.

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 merits of expanding the eligibility for the Severe Conditions Criteria in Universal Credit to include someone with a life-limiting, progressive condition who currently meets the criteria for Limited Capability for Work.

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

The Severe Conditions Criteria (SCC) have been in place since September 2017 to protect those who we do not expect will ever be able to work, due to a severe lifelong health condition or disability that is not expected to improve, from having to undergo reassessment which is unlikely to lead to a change in outcome.

To meet the SCC, a person must demonstrate that their level of functional impairment will always meet the threshold of limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA). Their condition must be a recognised medical diagnosis that is lifelong without any realistic prospect of recovery of function.

When the Universal Credit Act 2025 comes into force on 6 April 2026, Universal Credit (UC) claimants who already meet SCC and those who meet SCC in the future (along with existing LCWRA claimants) will receive the higher rate of LCWRA, and will see their combined UC standard allowance and LCWRA element increase at least in line with inflation every year for the next four years. Those who meet SCC will also be exempt from reassessment.

An individual who meets the Limited Capability for Work criteria, but not LCWRA, whilst not able to work currently, is considered able to take steps to prepare themselves for work in the future. It would not be appropriate for someone with SCC to be placed in this group as people with SCC are not expected to be able to work again. We believe that the SCC capture those who we want to protect, and there is no intention to widen the criteria any further.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure schools have adequate (a) training and (b) resources to support children with dyslexia.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is committed to improving support for all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including pupils with dyslexia.

The English Hubs programme is dedicated to improving the teaching of reading, and the Reading Ambition for All programme will improve outcomes for children in primary who need additional support with reading, including those with SEND.

All statutory initial teacher training and early career teacher training must cover adaptive teaching and supporting pupils with SEND. The department has reviewed the content of the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework, adding more content related to adaptive teaching and supporting improving inclusivity for SEND pupils. We have also enhanced the requirement on providers to develop SEND specific training materials.

In 2024 we began delivery of the national professional qualification for special educational needs co-ordinators. This mandatory qualification will support participants to develop the essential knowledge and skills needed to set the strategic direction of SEND policy in schools and the conditions in which pupils with SEND can thrive.

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 merits of extending the Winter Fuel Payment to anyone with a terminal illness regardless of age.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

We understand that pensioner circumstances may be complex and variable. However, Winter Fuel Payments remain a simple scheme to provide a modest lump sum payment to the majority of pensioners quickly and automatically, without the need for claim.

The Department supports people nearing the end of life through the Special Rules for End of Life. These enable people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to certain benefits, without needing to attend a medical assessment, serve waiting periods and in most cases, receive the highest rate of benefit. For many years, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Special Rules have applied to people who have six months or less to live but they have now been changed so they apply to people who have 12 months or less to live.

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 improve access to care for menopause treatment across the country.

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

The Government acknowledges that women suffering from symptoms of menopause have been failed for far too long, and the impact it has on women’s lives, relationships, and participation in the workplace.

In October 2025, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced that menopause will be added to the NHS Health Checks from 2026. Local authorities will be asked to include menopause to the check for eligible women aged 40 to 55 years old who attend. This will support up to five million eligible women across England to access high quality information on the menopause, including advice on managing symptoms and where to seek support when they need it the most.

We are also renewing the Women’s Health Strategy for England to set out next steps to improving women's healthcare as part of the 10-Year Health Plan. The priority will be to create a system that listens to women's experiences and tackles the inequalities they face. The renewal will look at women’s health as a whole including considering the menopause.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing measures to stop the underage sale of fireworks online.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

No assessment has been made of the merits of increasing measures to stop underage sale of fireworks online. There are enforcement mechanisms in place to tackle situations when fireworks are unsafe, sold illegally, or misused. Sales offences in Great Britain are enforced by Local Authority Trading Standards, and the penalty for retailers who sell to children is a fine and/or three months in prison.

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 improve respiratory health and care.

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

The Government has committed to delivering three big shifts that our National Health Service needs to be fit for the future: from hospital to community; from analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention. All of these are relevant to improving respiratory health in all parts of the country.

Through the community diagnostic centres, we are building capacity for respiratory testing and enabling people to get tested for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) closer to home. Earlier diagnosis of conditions will help prevent deterioration and improve survival rates.

We are also focused on expanding capacity and improving quality in pulmonary rehabilitation delivery to support patients living with respiratory conditions.

We are also taking action to reduce the causes of respiratory conditions such as enabling a smoke free generation and cross Government action to improve air quality.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of exposure to (a) glyphosate, (b) per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and (c) heavy metals in period products on public health.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

During the passage of the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, the Government committed to consult on period product safety. As part of this Officials are reviewing the need for any further research and testing for harmful chemicals and heavy metals in period products to complement the consultation.

We are working closely with DEFRA who advise that studies carried out in the EU on chemicals in period products found that the chemicals identified were present only in low concentrations, with no evidence of significant risks to human health. Defra is continuing to monitor research in this area.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that (a) private sector employers apply their company sick pay policies consistently and transparently, and (b) workers, particularly those who are disabled or living with long-term health conditions, are fully informed of and able to access their entitlement to sick pay.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Government sets the approach to statutory sick pay (SSP), providing a vital safety net to workers. Through the Employment Rights Bill, Government is ensuring SSP is available from the first day of sickness. It is for employers to decide if they wish to provide an occupational sick pay scheme that goes beyond these requirements.

Employers play a vital role in addressing health-related economic activity. That is why we appointed Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead the Keep Britain Working review, published 5 November. Following the review, Government has committed to testing new employer-led approaches to support individuals to remain in work.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the impact of Surrey ICB suspending ADHD and autism assessments for people using providers under the NHS Right to Choose pathway on wait times for adults and children to receive care for their ADHD or autism.

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

The Government has recognised that, nationally, the demand for assessments for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the National Health Service fit for the future and recognises the need for early intervention and support.

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) in England to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including providing access to autism and ADHD assessments, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

The Medium-Term Planning Framework, published 24 October, was explicit that ICBs and providers are expected to optimise existing resources to reduce long waits for autism and ADHD assessments and improve the quality of assessments by implementing existing and new guidance, as published.

In April 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance to help ICBs and the NHS to deliver improved outcomes for people referred to an autism assessment service. NHS England has continued to support services to identify challenges and how they might overcome these.  NHS England also established an ADHD taskforce to better understand the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including in accessing timely and equitable access to services and support. We are pleased that the final report was published on 6 November, and we are carefully considering its recommendations.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the impact of Surrey ICB suspending ADHD and autism assessments for people using providers under the NHS Right to Choose pathway on support for adults and children with ADHD and autism.

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

The Government has recognised that, nationally, the demand for assessments for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the National Health Service fit for the future and recognises the need for early intervention and support.

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) in England to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including providing access to autism and ADHD assessments, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

The Medium-Term Planning Framework, published 24 October, was explicit that ICBs and providers are expected to optimise existing resources to reduce long waits for autism and ADHD assessments and improve the quality of assessments by implementing existing and new guidance, as published.

In April 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance to help ICBs and the NHS to deliver improved outcomes for people referred to an autism assessment service. NHS England has continued to support services to identify challenges and how they might overcome these.  NHS England also established an ADHD taskforce to better understand the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including in accessing timely and equitable access to services and support. We are pleased that the final report was published on 6 November, and we are carefully considering its recommendations.

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 reduce the 130,000 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospital admissions made each year.

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

Smoking is the number one preventable cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will be the biggest public health intervention since the indoor smoking ban in 2007 and will help deliver our ambition for a smoke-free United Kingdom.

Poor air quality can exacerbate COPD. To address this, the Department of Health and Social Care is working across the Government with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to tackle air pollution, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to fix housing and reduce damp and mould. Infections can also exacerbate COPD, so the National Health Service is running winter vaccine campaigns against respiratory infections including COVID-19, flu, and pneumococcal disease.

To enable faster diagnosis and earlier access to treatment, access to spirometry tests in community diagnostic centres (CDCs) is growing and will continue to do so as more sites come online. The first five months of 2025/26 saw an increase in CDC spirometry testing of approximately 2,000 tests per month more than in the previous year.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a key intervention to improve the health of people with COPD and reduce pressure on NHS hospitals. NHS England has published commissioning standards for pulmonary rehabilitation, setting out the benchmarks that high-quality services should aim for. This includes reducing health inequalities and ensuring equitable access.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if the Prime Minister will appoint a space minister in the Ministry of Defence to lead cross-government space policy.

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

My noble friend Baroness Lloyd of Effra is the Minister responsible for leading cross government civil space policy.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will instruct health providers to update outdated or unclear information on hormone replacement therapy treatments for menopause.

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

Setting guidance for the treatment of individual conditions falls to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), who produce guidance for the National Health Service and wider health and care system. NICE guidelines are evidence-based recommendations for health and care in England and Wales. They help health and social care professionals to prevent ill health, promote good health, and improve the quality of care and services.

NICE clinical guidelines are intended for health and social care professionals, commissioners, patients, and carers to help them make informed decisions on the appropriate treatment and care.

When put into practice, NICE guidelines have the potential to effectively target health and care resources to significantly improve patient outcomes, in line with the best available evidence of clinical and cost-effectiveness. Although healthcare professionals and commissioners are not legally obliged to follow NICE guidelines, they are expected to take them into full account when making decisions on treatment and care for patients. The most recent guidance, last updated November 2024, is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23

Generally, providers rely on a range of professional organisations to keep their practice up to date, and they need to work within a scope of practice which includes being up to date and which is assessed through appraisal. In addition to NICE, they would look to the British Menopause Society, the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, the Royal College of General Practitioners, or the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Further information on the British Menopause Society is available at the following link:

https://thebms.org.uk/

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will ensure cleft training is embedded in undergraduate dental education and ongoing professional development.

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

I refer the Hon. Member to the response I gave to the Hon. Member for Yeovil on 20 November 2025 to Question 90537.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how his Department plans to meet its target of 9.3 million heat pumps by 2035.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The government will continue to provide financial support to households through our support schemes and by growing the market for green finance, and we will set out more details in the Warm Homes Plan.

The government is supporting supply chain growth through the reformed Clean Heat Market Mechanism, investing in manufacturing capacity through the Heat Pump Investment Accelerator, and helping installers train through the Heat Training Grant.

Our expectation is that the vast majority of heating system replacements will be with heat pumps and other low-carbon technologies, as these become the natural, affordable choice for consumers at the point of replacing an existing heating appliance at the end of its life.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment has been done on the impact of energy bills in the event of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme being scaled back.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is committed to ensuring that the costs of the UK’s transition to Net Zero are fair and affordable, and the potential impacts on consumers are being fully considered. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is not funded by a levy on energy bills and will be funded as part of the Warm Homes Plan. As set out in the Budget, the Government will provide an additional £1.5bn for those in fuel poverty, exceeding the £13.2bn commitment set out in the manifesto.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has a committed budget of £295 million for this financial year, and has been extended to 2030, with funding increasing each year. Further details will be set out soon. On 18 November, the Government published the response to a recent consultation providing detail on amendments to the scheme which will be implemented from next year. These changes are designed to increase access, stimulate further demand, and enhance existing consumer protections

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will protect the Boiler Upgrade Scheme through any changes to the Warm Home Plan.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Through the Warm Homes Plan, the Government is making the biggest ever capital investment in home retrofit with an additional £1.5bn of new funding announced in the budget to tackle fuel poverty, in turn exceeding our manifesto commitment of £13.2bn. Further details will be set out soon.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has a committed budget of £295 million for this financial year, and has been extended to 2030, with funding increasing each year.

On 18 November, the Government published its’ response to a consultation on potential changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, providing detail on amendments to the scheme which will be implemented from next year.

These changes are designed to increase access, stimulate further demand, and enhance existing consumer protections.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will guarantee lifelong NHS dental care for people born with a cleft.

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

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Eastleigh on 21 November 2025 to Question 89684, and to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Yeovil on 21 November 2025 to Question 90538.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of homes in (a) Surrey and (b) England have been built on land classified as grey belt land.

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

My Department does not hold the requested information.

It is for individual local planning authorities to undertake the necessary assessments to identify if land is grey belt, either through plan making or through considering specific applications that come forward.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that all assistant dog handlers are treated consistently by (a) employers and (b) service providers regardless of how their dog was trained.

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

Assistance dogs are not funded or provided by the Government, and assistance dogs are not regulated or defined in law.

There are well established dog training organisations which have international accreditation and are members of the umbrella coalition Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK). Following a Government initiative in 2017/18, a new charity was established - the Assistance Dogs Assessment Association (ADAA) - which offers a test and certificate for assistance dogs trained through sources without international accreditation. It is now possible for assistance dogs to be tested and certified as having reached a set standard, even where they are trained by a body without international accreditation.

The Equality Act 2010 places a general duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to allow disabled people, including people with assistance dogs, access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. Duties and protections under the Equality Act are ultimately enforceable through the courts, and anybody who thinks that they have been discriminated against - including where access to an assistance dog has been refused - can take legal action to seek to resolve the issue.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Equality Act, and has published guidance on ‘Assistance Dogs: a guide for businesses and service providers’.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to establish a process for recognising assistant dogs that meet agreed national standards.

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

Assistance dogs are not funded or provided by the Government, and assistance dogs are not regulated or defined in law.

There are well established dog training organisations which have international accreditation and are members of the umbrella coalition Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK). Following a Government initiative in 2017/18, a new charity was established - the Assistance Dogs Assessment Association (ADAA) - which offers a test and certificate for assistance dogs trained through sources without international accreditation. It is now possible for assistance dogs to be tested and certified as having reached a set standard, even where they are trained by a body without international accreditation.

The Equality Act 2010 places a general duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to allow disabled people, including people with assistance dogs, access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. Duties and protections under the Equality Act are ultimately enforceable through the courts, and anybody who thinks that they have been discriminated against - including where access to an assistance dog has been refused - can take legal action to seek to resolve the issue.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Equality Act, and has published guidance on ‘Assistance Dogs: a guide for businesses and service providers’.

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 protect green belt land being reclassified as grey belt.

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

The government is committed to preserving Green Belts which have served England's towns and cities well over many decades, not least in terms of checking the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas and preventing neighbouring towns merging into one another.

However, we know that there are simply not enough sites on brownfield land registers to deliver the volume of homes that the country needs each year, let alone enough that are viable and in the right location.

The government’s new approach to the Green Belt, including prioritising the release of lower quality grey belt land and introducing ‘golden rules’ to ensure development benefits communities and nature, is set out in the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December.

On 27 February, Planning Practice Guidance was published to assist local authorities and other decision-makers, and to support a consistent approach to determining whether land is grey belt. It can be found on gov.uk here. This new guidance will support authorities in producing Local Plans, while also making sure that planning applications and development on suitable grey belt land can proceed in the short-term in areas without an up-to-date plan.

The government has also provided 133 local planning authorities with £70,000 of pump priming funding each to contribute towards the costs of carrying out Green Belt reviews in their areas.

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 that undeveloped countryside is not listed as grey belt.

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

The government is committed to preserving Green Belts which have served England's towns and cities well over many decades, not least in terms of checking the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas and preventing neighbouring towns merging into one another.

However, we know that there are simply not enough sites on brownfield land registers to deliver the volume of homes that the country needs each year, let alone enough that are viable and in the right location.

The government’s new approach to the Green Belt, including prioritising the release of lower quality grey belt land and introducing ‘golden rules’ to ensure development benefits communities and nature, is set out in the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December.

On 27 February, Planning Practice Guidance was published to assist local authorities and other decision-makers, and to support a consistent approach to determining whether land is grey belt. It can be found on gov.uk here. This new guidance will support authorities in producing Local Plans, while also making sure that planning applications and development on suitable grey belt land can proceed in the short-term in areas without an up-to-date plan.

The government has also provided 133 local planning authorities with £70,000 of pump priming funding each to contribute towards the costs of carrying out Green Belt reviews in their areas.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with international counterparts on levels of civilian harm caused by military practice in international conflicts.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

Protection of civilians is directed through Joint Service Publication (JSP) 985, Human Security in Defence. It is at the heart of Defence’s human-centric approach to operations and is reflected in all relevant policies and operating procedures. The department engages regularly with international colleagues regarding this topic, including at ministerial level.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing the use of private high street eye care providers to treat conditions such as glaucoma to relieve pressure from the NHS.

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

We recognise the vital contribution that high street eye care providers make in maintaining the nation’s eye health.

Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing the health needs of their local population and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet them. This could include the commissioning of community-based glaucoma services, such as glaucoma referral filtering or glaucoma monitoring schemes.

The Getting It Right First-Time programme is currently developing best practice guidance for glaucoma services to support the adoption of high standards across the pathway, from detection onwards.

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 no one is denied treatment outright because of their cleft.

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

Patients born with cleft should have care plans tailored to meet their individual needs, with support from multi-disciplinary teams where necessary. Access to dental care is an important part of this and we recognise that some groups of patients may find it difficult to access. We have asked integrated care boards to commission extra urgent dental appointments and are also committed to reforming the dental contract, with a focus on matching resources to need and improving access.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when her Department plans to bring forward potential sanctions relating to human rights violations and abuses in Sudan.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We continue to work tirelessly towards securing a ceasefire, humanitarian relief, and accountability for atrocities committed in Sudan, as set out in the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House on 18 November. We will provide further updates to the House in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what humanitarian assistance her Department is giving to people in Sudan impacted by the conflict.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We continue to work tirelessly towards securing a ceasefire, humanitarian relief, and accountability for atrocities committed in Sudan, as set out in the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House on 18 November. We will provide further updates to the House in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her American counterparts on securing a ceasefire in Sudan following President Trump’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on 19 November 2025.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We continue to work tirelessly towards securing a ceasefire, humanitarian relief, and accountability for atrocities committed in Sudan, as set out in the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House on 18 November. We will provide further updates to the House in due course.

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 increase research funding for bladder cancer.

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

Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Between the 2020/21 and 2024/25 financial years, the NIHR committed £6 million for new research and programmes into bladder cancer research projects. An example of this investment includes a £2.9 million award for ‘Combination chemotherapy versus Bacillus Calmette-Guérin for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer a phase III multi-centre randomised controlled trial (COBRA)’. This study is researching whether gemcitabine and docetaxel delivered through intravesical therapy are typically recommended to patients who do not respond well to bacillus Calmette-Guerin treatment, a more common type of intravesical therapy that uses immunotherapy drugs to disrupt the processes that fuel bladder cancer growth.

The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including bladder cancer. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to the public and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

Horton Cemetery

Gold awards for Nonsuch Park in South & South East in Bloom 2025

150th anniversary of Sandown Park Racecourse

Schools Residential Outdoor Education (Scotland) Bill (No. 2)

Construction of a new MRI centre at West Berkshire Community Hospital

Sinking of SS Tilawa

Convention on Cluster Munitions and preventing UK involvement in their production

UK arms export licensing and conflict in Sudan

Winter NHS corridor care

Parkway Shopping

Florian Dargel award of Emmy

Life and legacy of Saskia Jones

Cary Repair Café

Royal Naval Association Torbay

Changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief in the Autumn Budget 2025

Blue Badge wait times

Postal workers and Royal Mail staff

North East Fife restaurants named among world’s best

25th anniversary of Blyth Offshore Wind Farm

Lando Norris wins Formula One World Driver's Championship

McLaren title win for British motorsport

Valporate report

Palestinian children in Israeli military detention

Russian shadow fleet

Sheringham bus shelter

Julie Whitton

Water scarcity and agricultural reservoirs

Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme

Surrey Youth Focus

Sewage discharge in the Severn and Avon

Tenth anniversary of Storm Desmond

10,000th Robotic Procedure at Royal Surrey County Hospital

Chalk streams and salmon in Hampshire

Detention of Hassan Mushaima and Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace