Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for people waiting to be matched with a guide dog.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The UK government recognises the invaluable role guide dogs play in enhancing the independence and quality of life for individuals with visual and hearing loss.
Assistance dogs are not funded or provided by the government. Direct provision of guide dogs is primarily handled by charitable organisations. Organisations like Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK), an umbrella coalition for well established dog training organisations, offer information and advice on how to apply for an assistance dog.
We are aware of issues around shortages of assistance dogs since the pandemic and there has been dialogue with assistance dogs' charities. Guide Dogs UK have assured us that they are on course to return to pre-pandemic supply levels soon and are working hard to reduce waiting times.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure an adequate number of working guide dogs.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The UK government recognises the invaluable role guide dogs play in enhancing the independence and quality of life for individuals with visual and hearing loss.
Assistance dogs are not funded or provided by the government. Direct provision of guide dogs is primarily handled by charitable organisations. Organisations like Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK), an umbrella coalition for well established dog training organisations, offer information and advice on how to apply for an assistance dog.
We are aware of issues around shortages of assistance dogs since the pandemic and there has been dialogue with assistance dogs' charities. Guide Dogs UK have assured us that they are on course to return to pre-pandemic supply levels soon and are working hard to reduce waiting times.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to publish the Schools White Paper.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
This government is determined to deliver reform that stands the test of time and rebuilds the confidence of families, which is why we’re launching a further period of listening and engagement – testing our proposals with parents, teachers and experts in every region of the country, so that lived experience and partnership are at the heart of our solutions.
We know that families are crying out for change, and that is exactly why it is critical we get this right. We will set out the full Schools White Paper in the new year, building on the work we’ve already done to create a system that’s rooted in inclusion, where children receive high-quality support early on and can thrive at their local school.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to support (a) Shadi Khoury and (b) other Palestinian (i) children and (ii) young people.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 13 October to Question 76963.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure full mobile phone signal in (a) Upper Dicker and (b) other rural areas in Lewes constituency.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In Ofcom’s Connected Nations Spring Update, published on 8 May 2025, it is reported that 4G is available across 93% of rural areas in the Lewes constituency from all four mobile network operators (MNOs), while 5G is available outside 74% of rural premises in the constituency from at least one operator.
Our ambition is for all populated areas, including rural areas, to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. Government continues to work closely with the MNOs, ensuring that we have the right policy and regulatory framework in place to support investment into mobile networks and competition in the market. This includes removing barriers to deployment where they exist.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria his Department uses to determine which conditions should receive a modern service framework; and whether respiratory health meets these criteria.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Everyone in the National Health Service is responsible for delivering high-quality care. As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan, as well as an overall quality strategy, the National Quality Board will oversee the development of a new series of service frameworks to accelerate progress in conditions where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity.
Early priorities will include cardiovascular disease, severe mental illness, and the first ever service framework for frailty and dementia. The Government will consider other long-term conditions with significant health and economic impacts for future waves of modern service frameworks.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to help (a) increase capacity and (b) tackle inequalities in accessing a respiratory diagnosis.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to increasing the capacity of respiratory services and is improving access to these services through new community diagnostic centres (CDCs).
All standard and large CDCs are required to offer diagnostic respiratory tests such as spirometry and full lung function tests as part of their core testing offer.
The 2025/26 capital guidance confirmed that £1.65 billion of capital funding is being allocated to support National Health Service performance across secondary and emergency care across 2025/26 more broadly. This includes funding to enable the completion of 2024/25 CDC schemes, as well as to expand existing and build new CDCs.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to help reduce the impact of chronic respiratory conditions on the NHS in winter 2025-26.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England, working with the Department, the UK Health Security Agency, and other partners, is taking action to reduce the impact of respiratory conditions on the National Health Service this winter. This includes robust, consistent infection prevention and control measures, and a campaign to encourage eligible people to get their winter vaccinations. Further information on the actions being taken to reduce the demand on acute services during winter is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/urgent-and-emergency-care-plan-2025-26/
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to prevent parental alienation.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government does not recognise the concept of “parental alienation” syndrome and does not think it is capable of diagnosis.
When proceedings involve allegations of this nature, the family court has processes to follow. Case law is clear that the court’s focus should be on identifying particular behaviour that is found to have taken place and the impact that behaviour may have had on the relationship with the child, rather than seeking to apply the label of “parental alienation”.
In December 2024 the Family Justice Council published guidance on “responding to a child’s unexplained reluctance, resistance or refusal to spend time with a parent and allegations of alienating behaviour”. The guidance is clear that where domestic abuse is found the victim cannot be found to have “alienated” the child. It provides a comprehensive overview of the reasons a child may reject a parent, including harmful parenting, and provides a clear framework for assessing whether alienating behaviours are present. Where alienating behaviours are found the guidance provides clear next steps.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to help protect victims of predatory marriages.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government takes the issue of predatory marriage very seriously. Causing a person who lacks mental capacity to enter into a marriage is a criminal offence of forced marriage under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. In cases involving some vulnerable adults who lack the capacity to consent, coercion or pressure is not required for a marriage to be considered forced. The offence of forcing someone into a marriage carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment. Where it is suspected that a person is not entering into a marriage of their own free will or lacks the mental capacity to understand the nature of the marriage contract and to consent to it, proceedings will be stopped or deferred until the registrar is satisfied that the individual has the capacity to make an informed decision to marry.
The Government is giving careful consideration to recommendations for the reform of the law of wills following a report by the Law Commission published in May. This included measures that would help prevent predatory marriage, such as repealing the law that marriage has the effect of revoking an existing will.