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 impact of planned Integrated Care Board cuts on the delivery of the NHS 10-year plan in South Suffolk.

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

As part of our 10-Year Health Plan, integrated care boards (ICBs) will become strategic commissioners with responsibility for using multi-year budgets to enhance local population health while achieving efficiencies. NHS England provided additional guidance to ICBs, National Health Service trusts and NHS foundation trusts on 1 April 2025. This letter is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/working-together-in-2025-26-to-lay-the-foundations-for-reform/

ICBs will continue to deliver their statutory responsibilities and will work with NHS England to ensure this is done effectively within the running costs allowance with savings reinvested in frontline services to deliver better care for patients.

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 impact of financial cuts to Integrated Care Boards on NHS service delivery in South Suffolk.

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

As part of our 10-Year Health Plan, integrated care boards (ICBs) will become strategic commissioners with responsibility for using multi-year budgets to enhance local population health while achieving efficiencies. NHS England provided additional guidance to ICBs, National Health Service trusts and NHS foundation trusts on 1 April 2025. This letter is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/working-together-in-2025-26-to-lay-the-foundations-for-reform/

ICBs will continue to deliver their statutory responsibilities and will work with NHS England to ensure this is done effectively within the running costs allowance with savings reinvested in frontline services to deliver better care for patients.

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 impact of financial cuts to Integrated Care Boards on patients in South Suffolk.

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

As part of our 10-Year Health Plan, integrated care boards (ICBs) will become strategic commissioners with responsibility for using multi-year budgets to enhance local population health while achieving efficiencies. NHS England provided additional guidance to ICBs, National Health Service trusts and NHS foundation trusts on 1 April 2025. This letter is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/working-together-in-2025-26-to-lay-the-foundations-for-reform/

ICBs will continue to deliver their statutory responsibilities and will work with NHS England to ensure this is done effectively within the running costs allowance with savings reinvested in frontline services to deliver better care for patients.

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 impact of changes to Integrated Care Boards on patient care in South Suffolk.

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

As part of our 10-Year Health Plan, integrated care boards (ICBs) will become strategic commissioners with responsibility for using multi-year budgets to enhance local population health while achieving efficiencies. NHS England provided additional guidance to ICBs, National Health Service trusts and NHS foundation trusts on 1 April 2025. This letter is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/working-together-in-2025-26-to-lay-the-foundations-for-reform/

ICBs will continue to deliver their statutory responsibilities and will work with NHS England to ensure this is done effectively within the running costs allowance with savings reinvested in frontline services to deliver better care for patients.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the British Horseracing Authority on the potential impact of proposed gambling restrictions on the racing industry.

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

Future proposals on gambling duties are a matter for HM Treasury. Should changes to the tax regime be announced in the Autumn Statement, we expect them to be accompanied by tax and impact notes from HMT, as is standard practice.

Regular discussions are held between the BHA and DCMS on matters of importance to the horse racing industry. The Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling last met with the Chair of the BHA on 11 September. There is not currently any new gambling legislation being proposed that impacts horseracing.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that the proposed gambling legislation does not affect the long-term sustainability of horse racing.

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

Future proposals on gambling duties are a matter for HM Treasury. Should changes to the tax regime be announced in the Autumn Statement, we expect them to be accompanied by tax and impact notes from HMT, as is standard practice.

Regular discussions are held between the BHA and DCMS on matters of importance to the horse racing industry. The Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling last met with the Chair of the BHA on 11 September. There is not currently any new gambling legislation being proposed that impacts horseracing.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed gambling reforms on the financial viability of horse racing.

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

Future proposals on gambling duties are a matter for HM Treasury. Should changes to the tax regime be announced in the Autumn Statement, we expect them to be accompanied by tax and impact notes from HMT, as is standard practice.

Regular discussions are held between the BHA and DCMS on matters of importance to the horse racing industry. The Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling last met with the Chair of the BHA on 11 September. There is not currently any new gambling legislation being proposed that impacts horseracing.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department had discussions with Lord Mandelson on defence procurement contracts between 10 February and 11 September 2025.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

As Ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson met regularly with senior officials to discuss a range of issues across the UK-US relationship, including opportunities for closer collaboration on technology partnership, AUKUS and other ways to deepen the UK-US bilateral relationship.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to ban the use of electric shock collars.

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

The Government is currently considering available evidence around the use of hand-controlled e-collars and their effects on the welfare of animals.  We will be outlining more detail on next steps 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 support access to Enhertu for patients with secondary breast cancer.

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

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes independent, evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service in England on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded for eligible patients based on an evaluation of clinical and cost effectiveness.

NICE has recommended Enhertu, also known as trastuzumab deruxtecan, for use in the Cancer Drugs Fund for the treatment of women with HER2-positive secondary breast cancer and it is now available for the treatment of eligible patients while further data on its effectiveness is being collected that will inform a NICE decision on routine funding.

NICE published guidance in July 2024 on the use of Enhertu for the treatment of HER-2 low metastatic and unresectable breast cancer and was unfortunately unable to recommend it for routine NHS funding. I understand that NICE and NHS England have sought to apply as much flexibility as they can in their considerations of Enhertu for HER2-low breast cancer and have made it clear to the companies that their pricing of the drug remains the only obstacle to access.

Ministers met with the manufacturers of Enhertu, AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo in November 2024, to encourage them to re-engage in commercial discussions with NHS England. Despite NICE and NHS England offering unprecedented flexibilities, the companies were unable to offer Enhertu at a cost-effective price. NICE’s guidance published in July 2024 will therefore remain unchanged. NICE has reassured me that the door remains open for the companies to enter into a new NICE appraisal if they are willing to offer Enhertu at a cost-effective price.

Since January 2022, NICE has recommended all but one of the treatments for breast cancer that it has assessed. These treatments are now available to eligible National Health Service patients.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will publish a list of inquests that could be reopened as a result of repealing the Northern Ireland Legacy Act 2023 and replacing it with the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill 2025.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Under the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill those inquests that had started and were halted by the Legacy Act, of which there are 9, will be able to resume.

All other cases which were in the coronial system but had not commenced (24 in total) will be subject to a decision by the Solicitor General having regard to the statutory criteria as to whether they progress via the coronial system or within the Commission.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the number of civil cases expected to be reopened as a result of repealing the Northern Ireland Legacy Act 2023 and replacing it with the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill 2025.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The 2023 Legacy Act did not prohibit Troubles-related civil cases from proceeding, meaning that over 700 cases remain in the judicial system. The Legacy Act’s retrospective bar on new civil cases was found to be incompatible with our human rights obligations, and is being removed via a Remedial Order under the Human Rights Act. It is impossible to predict future proceedings.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the levels of palm oil used in food products sold in the UK on farmers in South Suffolk.

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

The Government is committed to supporting sustainable production, trade, and use of palm oil, not reducing it.

Leading by example, The Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services (GBSF) require in-scope public sector procurers to ensure that all palm oil (including palm kernel oil and products derived from palm oil) used for cooking and as an ingredient in food must be sustainably produced.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department has provided to food manufacturers on local alternatives to palm oil.

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

The Government is committed to supporting sustainable production, trade, and use of palm oil, not reducing it.

Leading by example, The Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services (GBSF) require in-scope public sector procurers to ensure that all palm oil (including palm kernel oil and products derived from palm oil) used for cooking and as an ingredient in food must be sustainably produced.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to reduce the use of palm oil in food products sold in the UK.

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

The Government is committed to supporting sustainable production, trade, and use of palm oil, not reducing it.

Leading by example, The Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services (GBSF) require in-scope public sector procurers to ensure that all palm oil (including palm kernel oil and products derived from palm oil) used for cooking and as an ingredient in food must be sustainably produced.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to paragraph 20 of the Explanatory Notes to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, whether the requirement for the Legacy Commission and coroners to consider the welfare of witnesses when requesting or requiring them to give evidence will include alleged members of paramilitary organisations.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill includes strong safeguards for veterans that were not included in the 2023 Act, and that respond directly to the concerns expressed during engagements that the Government has undertaken. The Government is also taking forward some measures on a non-legislative basis. All of the measures that the Government has announced are being introduced in order to protect and ensure fair treatment of any veteran who is asked to engage with legacy mechanisms.

Some measures will apply only to veterans, including the protection from cold calling and the new safeguard that ensures veterans from giving unnecessary evidence on historical context and general operational details.

Other measures, including the right to give evidence remotely and having regard to the welfare of witnesses, will necessarily apply to others. This will ensure, for example, that former police officers are able to avail of these measures.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to paragraph 20 of the Explanatory Notes to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, whether seeking anonymity when giving evidence remotely to the Legacy Commission will include alleged members of paramilitary organisations.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill includes strong safeguards for veterans that were not included in the 2023 Act, and that respond directly to the concerns expressed during engagements that the Government has undertaken. The Government is also taking forward some measures on a non-legislative basis. All of the measures that the Government has announced are being introduced in order to protect and ensure fair treatment of any veteran who is asked to engage with legacy mechanisms.

Some measures will apply only to veterans, including the protection from cold calling and the new safeguard that ensures veterans from giving unnecessary evidence on historical context and general operational details.

Other measures, including the right to give evidence remotely and having regard to the welfare of witnesses, will necessarily apply to others. This will ensure, for example, that former police officers are able to avail of these measures.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to paragraph 20 of the Explanatory Notes to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, whether right to give evidence remotely will include alleged members of paramilitary organisations.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill includes strong safeguards for veterans that were not included in the 2023 Act, and that respond directly to the concerns expressed during engagements that the Government has undertaken. The Government is also taking forward some measures on a non-legislative basis. All of the measures that the Government has announced are being introduced in order to protect and ensure fair treatment of any veteran who is asked to engage with legacy mechanisms.

Some measures will apply only to veterans, including the protection from cold calling and the new safeguard that ensures veterans from giving unnecessary evidence on historical context and general operational details.

Other measures, including the right to give evidence remotely and having regard to the welfare of witnesses, will necessarily apply to others. This will ensure, for example, that former police officers are able to avail of these measures.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to paragraph 20 of the Explanatory Notes to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, whether protection from repeated investigations will include alleged members of paramilitary organisations.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill includes strong safeguards for veterans that were not included in the 2023 Act, and that respond directly to the concerns expressed during engagements that the Government has undertaken. The Government is also taking forward some measures on a non-legislative basis. All of the measures that the Government has announced are being introduced in order to protect and ensure fair treatment of any veteran who is asked to engage with legacy mechanisms.

The Commission’s duty to avoid duplication unless it is considered essential will apply to all of its investigations. This will ensure that the Commission’s investigations are effective, efficient, and focused on getting answers for families, whilst also protecting veterans from having to unnecessarily provide information previously covered.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to paragraph 20 of the Explanatory Notes to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, whether the statutory advisory group that will provide an opportunity for the voices of victims and survivors of the Troubles to be heard will include alleged members of paramilitary organisations.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill requires appointments to the Victims and Survivors Advisory Group to be made following consultation with relevant individuals, in order to inform the appointments process. I will publish details of who will be consulted. I have already committed to a publicly advertised application process for members of the Advisory Group.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's recruitment targets for each branch of the armed forces are for (a) 2025-26 and (b) 2026-27.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) 2025 is clear that Defence must now meet the longstanding challenge of recruiting and retaining new generations with different requirements. We are committed to the vision that long-term success depends on reconnecting society with the Armed Forces and the purpose of Defence, and for recruitment the focus should be on speed, drastically shortening the period between applicants expressing interest and joining. We have already implemented conditional offers of employment in 10 days from a candidate’s application, and provisional training start dates in 30 days if they desire it.

To provide a response regarding the period 2025-26, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 7 April 2025 to Question 43215 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge).

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-04-01/43215

We are currently engaged in planning activity to determine recruitment targets for 2026-27

From Full-Service Implementation in 2027, the previously announced Armed Forces Recruiting Service (AFRS) will deliver against annual recruitment targets and demand, which will be set by the three Services via the Command Recruiting Support Plan (CRSP). The CRSP is generated and approved in conjunction with the single Services, with AFRS containing a mechanism to adjust demand during each Recruiting Year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 88 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on organising public engagement days.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 September 2025 to Question 70737 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr James Cartlidge).

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recommendation 32 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, which Departments are involved in the implementation of the nuclear deterrent.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 September 2025 to Question 70755 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge).

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recommendation 35 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what progress he has made on developing mechanisms for the enhanced parliamentary scrutiny of the UK’s nuclear deterrent spending.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 September 2025 to Question 70759 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge).

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 90 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on exploring the development of a new force modelled on the reserves which connects local communities with defence.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 September 2025 to Question 70739 to the hon. Member for Gravesham (James Cartlidge).

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 70 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what recent progress he has made on gathering recommendations for independent oversight of his plan to tackle (a) structural, (b) behavioural and (c) leadership barriers within the workforce.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 September 2025 to Question 70723 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge).

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 114 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what assessment he has made of the opportunities for cost-sharing with NATO Allies in procuring more E-7 Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question 70763 on 8 September 2025 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge).

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 118 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made on re-establishing a Cabinet sub‑Committee or equivalent ministerial group to set the UK’s strategic approach to space.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry (Luke Pollard) on 6 September 2025 to Questions 70660, 70661, 70682 and 70659 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge) and on 23 July 2025 to Question 68516 to the hon. Member for Solihull West and Shirley (Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst).

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recommendation 46 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what assessment he has made of how a mix of F-35A and B models provide value for money.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave to Question 64538 on 10 July 2025 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge).

The procurement of 12 F-35A rather than 12 F-35B is expected to deliver a saving of up to 25% per aircraft. Final prices will be identified during contract negotiation.