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 ICBs to engage with communities that may not trust the NHS.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

On behalf of my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Department will set the direction, issuing clear guidance to integrated care boards and local authorities on obtaining and actioning the views of local people on health and care services.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that compensation awarded to armed forces (a) veterans and (b) their families is not classified as income.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Payments intended to compensate individuals for personal injury would generally fall within established tax principles that treat compensation for personal injury as non-taxable. If payments are made which specifically represent loss of earnings, they will be subject to income tax under miscellaneous income rules.

For compensation paid under some schemes, specific tax treatment applies. Current and former armed forces personnel can claim compensation for any injury or illness which was caused by service. Family members may claim for compensation for personnel whose death was caused by service. Payments made under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme are tax free. More information can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/armed-forces-compensation-scheme-afcs

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme applies from 6 April 2005. Claims for injuries, illnesses or death prior to that date are covered by the War Pensions Scheme, which also compensates using tax free payments.

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 the NHS providing free detail repairs for teeth damaged by seizures.

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

We recognise that certain groups of patients may be more vulnerable to oral health problems and may find it difficult to access dental care. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for assessing the needs of their population and ensuring that the relevant dental services are available.

Free National Health Service dental care is available to people who are: under 18 years old, or under 19 years old and in full-time education; pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months; being treated in an NHS hospital and treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist, keeping in mind that patients may have to pay for any dentures or bridges; and receiving low-income benefits, or under 20 years old and a dependant of someone receiving low-income benefits.

Support is also available through the NHS Low Income Scheme for those patients who are not eligible for exemption or full remission. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/dental-costs/get-help-with-dental-costs/

1.8 million additional courses of NHS dental treatment were delivered in the seven months between April and October 2025 compared to the corresponding months prior to the 2024 General Election, nearly half of which were delivered to children.

From April 2026, we began introducing a package of reforms to address some of the pressing issues that dental teams have been experiencing. These reforms will prioritise those with the greatest need, shifting care away from clinically unnecessary check-ups.

We are also committed to fundamentally reforming the dental contract, with a focus on matching resources to need, improving access, promoting prevention and rewarding dentists fairly, while enabling the whole dental team to work to the top of their capability.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of ease of access to the benefits system for veterans.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

The Government is fully committed to renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve and who have served, to ensure veterans and their families get access to support should they need it.

The Ministry of Defence’s Veterans Services operates a national network of Case Managers across the UK to provide tailored, holistic support, with a focus on welfare case management and bespoke advice and assistance tailored to each individual's specific circumstances. This includes support with applications for a War Pension or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, understanding the Armed Forces Pension Scheme entitlements and advice on state benefits and help with applications.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to respond the consultation on reforms to leasehold properties and flats.

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

We are currently analysing the feedback received to the ‘Moving to Commonhold: banning leasehold for new flats’ consultation and will publish our response in due course.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress she has made on Financial Risk Assessments following the Gambling Commission Board meeting on 21 May 2026.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

DCMS supports the policy intent behind Financial Risk Assessments, and has had regular engagement with the Gambling Commission on this issue. It is however for the Gambling Commission as the regulator to decide whether to implement Financial Risk Assessments.

The Gambling Commission has confirmed that its Board met at the end of May and the agenda included consideration of the extensive evidence base connected with financial risk assessments. The Commission Board has not yet fully completed its assessment of that evidence. The Commission has confirmed that it will communicate further in due course when the Board assessment is complete.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of requiring the (a) Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and (b) War Pensions to (i) recognise and (ii) compensate veterans with diagnosed chronic pain.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

The Ministry of Defence has assessed that both the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and the War Pension Scheme (WPS) already provide compensation for pain and suffering as part of a holistic assessment of service-attributable injury or illness.

Under both schemes, chronic pain is not normally treated as a standalone condition. Instead, it is generally considered an expected consequence of a primary injury and is reflected within the overall award.

Where there is a distinct and separately diagnosable chronic pain condition, such as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, this may be considered on its own merits on a case-by-case basis

The Department keeps the operation of both schemes under review. The Independent Medical Expert Group (IMEG) is currently considering evidence and stakeholder concerns on how chronic pain is reflected within existing arrangements. No final conclusions have yet been reached.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review are yet to be implemented.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) sets a vision for long-term transformative and visionary change in Defence over the course of the next decade and beyond. Implementation of the SDR began immediately after the Government endorsed the SDR's 62 recommendations; the delivery of the recommendations remains priority business for the Department and significant progress has been made in the first year of implementation.

Notable achievements include enhancements to warfighting readiness such as launching the Military Intelligence Services, the Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit, and the Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force – all crucial in maintaining the UK’s security and Defence’s operational effectiveness in an evolving threat environment. The SDR has also driven UK growth and innovation through the launch of the Defence Industrial Strategy, procurement and acquisition reforms, setting up UK Defence Innovation and the establishment of associated bodies such as the Defence Industrial Joint Council and Defence Investors Advisory Group. Measures such as these will strengthen Defence’s industrial base, foster innovation, and improve acquisition efficiency to safeguard the UK’s technological edge and economic resilience. Internationally, the launch of the public summary of the UK’s first Defence Diplomacy Strategy and renewed bilateral agreements with key European partners including France, Germany, Poland and Norway have reinforced the UK’s global influence and collaborative security posture.

Longer-term implementation planning will be further refined through the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) process which will deliver the vision set out in the SDR, and which will be published before the NATO summit.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review are yet to be implemented.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) sets a vision for long-term transformative and visionary change in Defence over the course of the next decade and beyond. Implementation of the SDR began immediately after the Government endorsed the SDR's 62 recommendations; the delivery of the recommendations remains priority business for the Department and significant progress has been made in the first year of implementation.

Notable achievements include enhancements to warfighting readiness such as launching the Military Intelligence Services, the Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit, and the Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force – all crucial in maintaining the UK’s security and Defence’s operational effectiveness in an evolving threat environment. The SDR has also driven UK growth and innovation through the launch of the Defence Industrial Strategy, procurement and acquisition reforms, setting up UK Defence Innovation and the establishment of associated bodies such as the Defence Industrial Joint Council and Defence Investors Advisory Group. Measures such as these will strengthen Defence’s industrial base, foster innovation, and improve acquisition efficiency to safeguard the UK’s technological edge and economic resilience. Internationally, the launch of the public summary of the UK’s first Defence Diplomacy Strategy and renewed bilateral agreements with key European partners including France, Germany, Poland and Norway have reinforced the UK’s global influence and collaborative security posture.

Longer-term implementation planning will be further refined through the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) process which will deliver the vision set out in the SDR, and which will be published before the NATO summit.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department's proposed SEND reforms will support children who receive education otherwise than at school packages.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department’s consultation, “SEND reform: putting children and young people first”, proposes the introduction of Specialist Provision Packages for all children and young people with complex needs, including those children and young people whose needs are currently met through Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) packages of support.

After a 12-week consultation period, including over 200 engagement events, meetings and roundtables, the department’s consultation has now closed. We are carefully reviewing and taking into account all responses submitted to the consultation and continuing to engage widely on our proposals.

As part of that continued engagement, we intend to publish a consultation on the use of EOTAS provision in the coming weeks. It is crucial that we get support for EOTAS children and young people right, particularly given their often complex needs. This consultation will seek views to ensure we meet those specific needs, and that these children and young people benefit from the inclusive education we want for all.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that public community health initiatives continue to be inclusive for all participants.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

There is no established definition of public community health initiatives. Most local health services are commissioned by NHS integrated care boards. Each integrated care board must have regard to the need to reduce health inequalities, with respect both to the ability of people to access health services and the outcomes achieved for them by the provision of health services.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2026 to written question 123047, if he will make available the equality impact assessment that informs decision making on mandatory and additional general ophthalmic services contract fees.

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

The Department continues to consult with the optical fees negotiating committee on general ophthalmic services fees and payments for 2026/27. The Department will consider what information can be made available once the consultation has concluded.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to maintain the rights of children on Education Otherwise Than At School packages.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department’s consultation, “SEND reform: putting children and young people first”, proposes the introduction of Specialist Provision Packages for all children and young people with complex needs, including those children and young people whose needs are currently met through Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) packages of support.

After a 12-week consultation period, including over 200 engagement events, meetings and roundtables, the department’s consultation has now closed. We are carefully reviewing and taking into account all responses submitted to the consultation and continuing to engage widely on our proposals.

As part of that continued engagement, we intend to publish a consultation on the use of EOTAS provision in the coming weeks. It is crucial that we get support for EOTAS children and young people right, particularly given their often complex needs. This consultation will seek views to ensure we meet those specific needs, and that these children and young people benefit from the inclusive education we want for all.

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 merits of reforming the processes of (a) recruitment and (b) retention of the Parkinson’s speech and language therapists workforce.

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

No specific assessment has been made. Decisions on the employment of speech and language therapists are a matter for individual National Health Service trusts which manage their recruitment at a local level, ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are working closely with NHS England, employers and educators to improve transition into the workforce.

The Government is committed to making the NHS the best place to work to support and retain our hardworking and dedicated healthcare professionals. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it and will make sure staff are better treated, have better training, more fulfilling roles, and hope for the future.

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 nursing leadership at (a) national, (b) regional and (c) local levels.

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

The Aspiring Deputy Directors of Nursing programme is a well-established, nationally commissioned leadership development offer that sustains a strong and diverse pipeline of future deputy directors of nursing across providers and integrated care boards (ICBs).

A dedicated executive level leadership development programme is also being developed for chief nursing officers (CNOs) and deputy CNOs. This is a targeted offer, designed for senior statutory roles with accountability for quality governance, patient safety, safeguarding, workforce planning and regulatory compliance in increasingly complex and high-risk environments.

A leadership development programme for aspiring CNOs, currently in development, will provide a critical pipeline for future executive professional leaders.

A national provider and ICB career status and professional development tracker has also been established, to support succession planning and the development of a strong leadership pipeline.

These initiatives are delivered alongside locally led provision within trusts. The Government is also committed to establishing an NHS College of Leadership and Management to support and develop clinical and non-clinical leaders. Wider professional leadership and workforce initiatives will be set out in the 10 Year Workforce Plan.

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 making the OdonAssist available across all NHS Trusts.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

OdonAssist is not currently available across National Health Service trusts and is only being used in the context of research in the United Kingdom. OdonAssist has not yet been fully evaluated for safety and efficacy compared with other methods of assisted vaginal birth. A randomised controlled trial is currently underway to assess its use. The device would also require training to support safe and effective use.

Duty to assess mental capacity

Improving access to elected office for disabled candidates

VAT for UK hospitality

A new growth and defence partnership with Europe

Seven-year anniversary of the mixed-aged couples’ rule

NARPO Love or Money Campaign

Bank holiday for celebrations if England win the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Fountain Inn in Plumpton

Risk of AI chatbots to children

Infected Blood Inquiry compensation

Newton Abbot Rugby Football Club

Support for pubs

Russian bombing of the monastery at Kyiv Pecherska Lavra

Domestic abuse and the FIFA World Cup

Christine Belcher’s charity wing walk for the RAF Wings Appeal

Lelia Gardner achieving the King's Scout Award

Retirement of Vincent Willson of Citizens Advice, Teignbridge

Sensory room at Upton St James Primary School

Chyngton Primary School and Nursery OPAL Platinum Award

English Wine Week 2026

Camberley men's breakfast club

Armed Forces Week

Visibility, marketing and public safety of vaping products

Birth of England in Westmorland in 927

Reform of the asylum system

Dolphin hunting in the Faroe Islands

Enhertu for metastatic breast cancer patients

England men's football team

Prosecution of parents of children with SEND for school absence

Cardiac risk in the young

Government response to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report on communication of changes to women’s state pension age

NHS funding for mental health services

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether any recommendations from the Animal Welfare Committee's report entitled The welfare impacts on pigs of high concentration CO2 gas stunning and of potential alternative stunning methods, published on 16 October 2025, have been implemented.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell, Helen Maguire, on 20 May 2026 to PQ UIN 613.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she intends to consult on a draft ban on the use of carbon dioxide to stun pigs.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell, Helen Maguire, on 20 May 2026 to PQ UIN 613.