Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will take steps to discover the full extent of health issues in aircrew exposed to (a) fuel and (b) exhaust fumes from helicopters.

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

The Ministry of Defence is committed to the health and wellbeing of our people.

The Independent Medical Expert Group (IMEG) was previously tasked to review independently the evidence base for causality between Sea King helicopter exhaust fumes and rare cancers. The report by the IMEG concluded that the evidence did not meet internationally adopted criteria for causation of these rare cancers.

The Department will continue to monitor medical evidence and respond accordingly.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure (a) transparency and (b) accountability in dairy supply chains.

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

Defra is committed to delivering this Government’s ambition to support British farmers to boost Britain’s food security. Central to achieving this ambition will be pursuing the right approach to fairness across the supply chain.

The Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations (2024) came into force for new contracts on 9 July 2024 and will apply to all existing contracts from 9 July 2025. These Regulations will enhance transparency in the dairy supply chain, ensuring that contracts are agreed in writing, are clear on a range of important terms including pricing and termination, and cannot be altered without mutual agreement.

The Regulations will be enforced by the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA), who can exercise powers to investigate relevant complaints.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to publish a consultation on potential changes to the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024.

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

Defra is committed to enhancing fairness across supply chains, which will support farmers to boost Britain’s food security. The Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations (2024), which were introduced earlier this year, represent an important step forward in ensuring fairness and transparency for dairy farmers. However, some within the sector have raised concerns about potential unintended consequences of the Regulations, which the Government is seeking to address.

To ensure that the Regulations meet their original aims, we are undergoing a process of engagement with industry stakeholders and representatives, as well as the Devolved Governments. The Government will make any changes before the Regulations apply to existing contracts, on 9 July 2025.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many hospices there were in England in each year since 2015; and how many of those received Government funding in each of those years.

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

Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.

Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at end of life, and their loved ones.

The Department does not hold specific data regarding hospice funding for each year. Individual ICBs oversee and maintain records of these transactions.

Additionally, the amount of funding each charitable hospice receives varies both within and between ICB areas. This will vary depending on the demand in that ICB area, but will also be dependent on the totality and type of palliative and end of life care provision from both NHS and non-NHS services, including charitable hospices, within each ICB area.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much Government funding has been provided to hospices in each year since 2015.

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

Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.

Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at end of life, and their loved ones.

The Department does not hold specific data regarding hospice funding for each year. Individual ICBs oversee and maintain records of these transactions.

Additionally, the amount of funding each charitable hospice receives varies both within and between ICB areas. This will vary depending on the demand in that ICB area, but will also be dependent on the totality and type of palliative and end of life care provision from both NHS and non-NHS services, including charitable hospices, within each ICB area.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the mean payment to each Government funded hospice was in each year since 2015.

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

Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.

Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at end of life, and their loved ones.

The Department does not hold specific data regarding hospice funding for each year. Individual ICBs oversee and maintain records of these transactions.

Additionally, the amount of funding each charitable hospice receives varies both within and between ICB areas. This will vary depending on the demand in that ICB area, but will also be dependent on the totality and type of palliative and end of life care provision from both NHS and non-NHS services, including charitable hospices, within each ICB area.

Healthy lunches

Reform of electoral law

Sage House Dementia Hub

Flood recovery framework

Role of small family farms in Somerset

Review into breast cancer screening

Fife Carers Centre recognition as a Carer Positive Exemplary employer

UN Special Rapporteur's report on atrocity crimes in Iran

Bowel Cancer UK report into NHS services

Bath Young Carers

Potential closure of post offices