Asked by: Henry Tufnell (Labour - Mid and South Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Legal Aid Agency is taking to engage with local legal aid providers to increase legal aid provision.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
It is vital that those who need legal aid—some of the most vulnerable people in our society—can access it wherever they live.
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) monitors provider numbers in each procurement area and across all categories of law. It takes operational action where it can, to respond to market pressures that may arise.
At a local level, LAA hold market engagement events to understand challenges to service delivery for particular categories of law, considering how it can remove any barriers or manage concerns which could deter providers from bidding for a legal aid contract.
The LAA consults with provider representative bodies on any proposed contractual changes, with the aim of incentivising legal aid work. Acting on feedback the LAA has made changes to reduce perceived barriers to holding contracts such as increasing the use of remote working, amending supervisor standards and introducing greater flexibility in office requirements.
Legal aid contracts are now offered on an ‘always on’ basis, meaning providers can apply at any time, not just during a fixed bidding window as before. This flexible approach lets new organisations join when ready and allows providers to grow their services. It removes strict deadlines and helps ensure services are widely available. The new crime contract lasts ten years, twice as long as before, making it easier for firms to plan ahead and reducing paperwork. These changes were brought in following considerable market engagement and have been widely welcomed.
The LAA works closely with the Ministry of Justice on policy solutions concerning the supply of legal aid. The Department recently closed a consultation on uplifts to civil legal aid fees. Once implemented, these changes would inject an additional £20 million into the sector each year, and is currently consulting on funding of up to £92 million more a year for criminal legal aid solicitors.
Asked by: Henry Tufnell (Labour - Mid and South Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) imposing further sanctions on settlers in the West Bank and (b) restricting goods, trade and investment in Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are deeply concerned by the levels of violence towards settlers in the West Bank and continue to urge the Government of Israel to take action to hold violence to account. On 10 June 2025, together with international partners Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, we announced measures against Israeli government ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich. We sanctioned these individuals in their personal capacity as a result of their repeated incitement of violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. This followed a previous sanctions announcement related to settler violence on 20 May, demonstrating our determination to hold extremist settlers to account as Palestinian communities suffer violence and intimidation. It would not be appropriate to speculate about any potential future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact, but we have been clear we keep these issues under close review.
The UK does not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including Israeli settlements, as part of Israel. Goods imported from the settlements are therefore not entitled to benefit from trade preferences under the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement. The UK also supports accurate labelling of settlement goods, so as not to mislead the consumer.
Asked by: Henry Tufnell (Labour - Mid and South Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to ensure that the Legal Aid Agency’s digital systems are cyber-secure.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The recent data breach is the result of heinous criminal activity, but it was enabled by the fragility of the Legal Aid Agency’s (LAA) IT systems as a result of the long years of underinvestment under the last Conservative Government. By contrast, since taking power this Government has prioritised work to reverse the damage of over a decade of under-investment. That includes the allocation of over £20 million in extra funding this year to stabilise and transform the LAA digital services. This investment will make the system more robust and resilient in the face of similar cyber-attacks in future.
The cyber-attack is subject to an ongoing investigation and the LAA continues to work closely with the National Crime Agency and National Cyber Security Centre. As a precautionary measure the LAA’s digital services have been taken offline. The decision to bring LAA services back online will include a comprehensive security assessment.
Appropriate actions have been taken to mitigate the impact of the attack and contingency measures have been put in place to ensure those most in need of legal support and advice can continue to access the help they need during this time, as outlined on LAA’s dedicated information page.
Asked by: Henry Tufnell (Labour - Mid and South Pembrokeshire)
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 5 June 2025 to Question 56598 on Restless Legs Syndrome: Medical Treatments, whether he plans to make such an assessment.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has no plans to make such an assessment. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has an established prioritisation process overseen by a prioritisation board, for the identification of priorities for guidance development. Anyone is able to suggest a topic through the NICE website, at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/forms/topic-suggestion
The licensed dopamine agonist medicines that are indicated for the treatment of restless leg syndrome are ropinirole, pramipexole, and rotigotine. Decisions about what medicines to prescribe are made by healthcare professionals and National Health Service commissioners, based on an assessment of the available evidence, taking into account national guidance and advice, such as Clinical Knowledge Summaries.
Asked by: Henry Tufnell (Labour - Mid and South Pembrokeshire)
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 consult people with restless legs syndrome in the development of (a) policy and (b) clinical treatment guidelines.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Involving the relevant patient advocacy organisations, including people with lived experience of restless legs syndrome, is central to developing our policies for the National Health Service, to improve patients’ experience of services.
The consultation on our 10-Year Health Plan received over 270,000 contributions, including responses from NHS staff and patients. The plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed to move healthcare from hospital to the community, from analogue to digital, and from treatment to prevention.
The Department has also convened a new United Kingdom wide neuro forum, which brings together the devolved administrations, health services, and Neurological Alliances of all four UK nations. The forum will share learnings across the UK, and will discuss important neurology service transformation and workforce challenges, as well as best practice examples and potential solutions.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has not developed any guidelines on the diagnosis and/or management of restless legs syndrome, but has commissioned a Clinical Knowledge Summary (CKS) on the diagnosis and clinical management of restless legs syndrome, updated in February 2025, which can be used as a source of information for healthcare professionals, and which is available at the following link:
https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/restless-legs-syndrome/
CKS topics are written by an expert multidisciplinary team with experience of primary care, supported by a network of specialist external reviewers.
Asked by: Henry Tufnell (Labour - Mid and South Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the safe passage of aid to Gaza; and what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the Madleen vessel.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are aware of the interception of the Madleen and the arrest of its passengers by Israeli Naval Forces on 09 June. We note that this happened without serious incident or injury to any passenger.
Over the weekend and last week, we pressed the Israeli authorities in advance of the ship's arrival to ensure that any action they took would resolve the situation safely, with restraint, and in line with International Law.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is appalling. The UK continues to demand that the Israeli government permits the full and unhindered resumption of aid into Gaza immediately. By far the most effective way to meet the desperate needs of the Gazan people at the speed and scale that is needed is via overland routes. We reiterate that Israel must immediately allow the United Nations and other agencies to deliver lifesaving aid to those in Gaza who so desperately need it.
Asked by: Henry Tufnell (Labour - Mid and South Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to make the British standard entitled BS EN 13724:2013 Postal services: apertures of private letter boxes and letter plates mandatory for all new (a) builds and (b) front door replacements.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Guidance on letterplate specifications for developers are referenced in Approved Document Q (ADQ), but the Government has recently published a Frequently Asked Question alongside ADQ on gov.uk here, providing developers with further guidance on letterbox and letterplate positioning. When reviewing the Approved Documents, the Building Safety Regulator engages with the Building Advisory Committee, an independent board of industry representatives, including developers.
Asked by: Henry Tufnell (Labour - Mid and South Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of low-level letterboxes on postal workers.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Guidance on letterplate specifications for developers are referenced in Approved Document Q (ADQ), but the Government has recently published a Frequently Asked Question alongside ADQ on gov.uk here, providing developers with further guidance on letterbox and letterplate positioning. When reviewing the Approved Documents, the Building Safety Regulator engages with the Building Advisory Committee, an independent board of industry representatives, including developers.
Asked by: Henry Tufnell (Labour - Mid and South Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of prohibiting low-level letterboxes.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Guidance on letterplate specifications for developers are referenced in Approved Document Q (ADQ), but the Government has recently published a Frequently Asked Question alongside ADQ on gov.uk here, providing developers with further guidance on letterbox and letterplate positioning. When reviewing the Approved Documents, the Building Safety Regulator engages with the Building Advisory Committee, an independent board of industry representatives, including developers.
Asked by: Henry Tufnell (Labour - Mid and South Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of protecting postal workers against the health and safety risks posed by low-level letterboxes.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Guidance on letterplate specifications for developers are referenced in Approved Document Q (ADQ), but the Government has recently published a Frequently Asked Question alongside ADQ on gov.uk here, providing developers with further guidance on letterbox and letterplate positioning. When reviewing the Approved Documents, the Building Safety Regulator engages with the Building Advisory Committee, an independent board of industry representatives, including developers.