Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Guide to the Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) Scheme, published in January 2026, whether she has made an assessment of the long-term financial sustainability of freight flows supported by the scheme once grant funding ends.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) scheme assists companies with the operating costs associated with running rail or inland water freight transport operations instead of using road transport operations, where rail or inland waterway transport is more expensive. The department does not assess the long-term financial sustainability of freight flows through the scheme.

The department is currently evaluating the Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) scheme, with a view to determining how best to support freight and logistics businesses in shifting freight between transport modes once the scheme expires on 31 March 2027. Financial sustainability will be considered when determining this support.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with Alzheimer's Research UK on priorities for dementia research funding.

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

Government responsibility for delivering dementia research is shared between the Department of Health and Social Care, with research delivered via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation. The Government is investing in dementia research across all areas, from causes, diagnosis, and prevention, to treatment, care, and support, including for carers.

Between financial years 2020/21 and 2024/25, through the NIHR, the Department spent £183.1 million for new research projects and supporting infrastructure into dementia. This includes spending £53 million in financial year 2024/25 alone.

Officials meet regularly with a range of partners, including Alzheimer's Research UK to discuss research and to drive the maximum collective research impact on policy, practice, and individual lives. My Rt Hon. Friend, the current Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has not held discussions with Alzheimer's Research UK.

Whilst no assessment has been made of the adequacy of the funding allocated for research into dementia, the NIHR continues to welcome high quality applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including dementia. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to the public and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

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 adequacy of current levels of Government support for dementia research.

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

Government responsibility for delivering dementia research is shared between the Department of Health and Social Care, with research delivered via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation. The Government is investing in dementia research across all areas, from causes, diagnosis, and prevention, to treatment, care, and support, including for carers.

Between financial years 2020/21 and 2024/25, through the NIHR, the Department spent £183.1 million for new research projects and supporting infrastructure into dementia. This includes spending £53 million in financial year 2024/25 alone.

Officials meet regularly with a range of partners, including Alzheimer's Research UK to discuss research and to drive the maximum collective research impact on policy, practice, and individual lives. My Rt Hon. Friend, the current Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has not held discussions with Alzheimer's Research UK.

Whilst no assessment has been made of the adequacy of the funding allocated for research into dementia, the NIHR continues to welcome high quality applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including dementia. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to the public and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Guide to the Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) Scheme, published in January 2026, what assessment she has made of the potential for increased rail freight usage at East Tilbury as a result of the scheme; and the potential impact this will have on average daily gate downtime at East Tilbury train station.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport does not collect information about MSRS-supported freight movements via station. The scheme divides Great Britain into 18 zones. Zone 1 covers East Tilbury station.

The Department has not undertaken an assessment of capacity at, or the impact of MSRS-supported flows on, East Tilbury station. However, the published MSRS scheme guidance makes clear that there is scope to support eligible freight flows originating from or operating through Zone 1. Department officials will hold formal reviews with grant recipients over the financial year to assess the performance of each funded freight flow and whether adjustments to payments are needed; this includes taking into consideration route capacity issues raised by grant recipients.

The MSRS continues to support freight movement near East Tilbury station and London Gateway, with 10 freight flows supported in 2026/27 with a total grant award of £6.9m.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Guide to the Mode Shift Revenue Support Scheme, published in January 2026, what criteria are used to determine value for money in awarding grants; and how those criteria are weighted in funding decisions.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) grants are awarded through a competitive bid round process, and applications are prioritised based on their value for money using a cost-benefit ratio. Those schemes which deliver the greatest value are most likely to succeed.

Individual freight grants are capped by the estimated Mode Shift Benefit Values (MSBs) and by financial need. The MSBs are an estimate of the economic, environmental and other social benefits of removing one lorry mile of freight from the road and transferring it to rail or water. Financial need is the difference between the total cost of the rail or water-based solution and the total cost that would be incurred if the freight were moved by road.

The value of grant cannot exceed 30% of the total rail costs or the total cost of inland waterway transport. The grant also cannot exceed 50% of the environmental benefit.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to help improve coordination between police forces and local authorities to tackle criminal enterprises operating through high street businesses.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

We are fully committed to tackling criminality on the high street from illegitimate businesses. It is for this reason that the Home Office, working with the Ministry for Communities, Housing and Local Government, has established a cross-government Taskforce to develop a strategic policy response to money laundering and associated illegality on UK high streets. This effort is underpinned by £10 million per year for three years, as announced in the 2025 Autumn Budget. This funding will be used to enhance support for at least 45 additional law enforcement officers, and enhancements to Trading Standards. As part of this uplift the Taskforce is considering how to enhance police and local authority coordination.

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 corridor care for patients requiring orthopaedic treatment on safety.

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

The Department has made no specific assessment of the potential impact of corridor care on patient safety for patients requiring orthopaedic treatment.

NHS England has published updated guidance in December 2025 to support trusts to deliver care in non-designated clinical spaces safely, ensuring dignity and privacy is maintained, which applies across all specialities, including orthopaedics, and which is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/principles-for-providing-patient-care-in-corridors/

Patients are to be seen based on clinical need, not location, with a senior clinical risk assessment and named nursing oversight.

The delivery of care in non-designated clinical areas in hospital departments experiencing patient crowding is not acceptable and should not be considered as standard. NHS England has been working with trusts to put in place new reporting arrangements related to the use of corridor care, to drive improvement. In March this year, NHS England set out a clear national definition of corridor care alongside further actions for trusts and integrated care boards, establishing the first consistent national standard and ensuring clarity of patients, staff, and providers, and setting clear expectations for immediate action. Daily reporting using the new definition began in March 2026, giving real-time visibility of pressures and allowing targeted action.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with NHS England on standardising miscarriage care pathways across England.

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

No discussions on this issue have taken place to date between NHS England and my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. However, we remain committed to driving improvement in the care received by women and families through the pending national action plan, overseen by the Government’s maternity and neonatal taskforce.

We welcome the report from Tommy’s Miscarriage Centre at Birmingham Women and Children’s Hospital on the effectiveness of their graded model of sporadic or recurrent miscarriage care pilot. In the Women’s Health Strategy, we have committed to carefully considering their findings, working closely with our partners.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department provides on the treatment of orthopaedic patients in non-designated clinical areas.

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

The Department has made no specific assessment of the potential impact of corridor care on patient safety for patients requiring orthopaedic treatment.

NHS England has published updated guidance in December 2025 to support trusts to deliver care in non-designated clinical spaces safely, ensuring dignity and privacy is maintained, which applies across all specialities, including orthopaedics, and which is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/principles-for-providing-patient-care-in-corridors/

Patients are to be seen based on clinical need, not location, with a senior clinical risk assessment and named nursing oversight.

The delivery of care in non-designated clinical areas in hospital departments experiencing patient crowding is not acceptable and should not be considered as standard. NHS England has been working with trusts to put in place new reporting arrangements related to the use of corridor care, to drive improvement. In March this year, NHS England set out a clear national definition of corridor care alongside further actions for trusts and integrated care boards, establishing the first consistent national standard and ensuring clarity of patients, staff, and providers, and setting clear expectations for immediate action. Daily reporting using the new definition began in March 2026, giving real-time visibility of pressures and allowing targeted action.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Ministers rip up consultation culture, published on 26 March 2026, which government department were consulted on a change to producing annual report.

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

The Department for Health and Social Care is the government department referred to in the press release entitled Ministers rip up consultation culture published 26 March, that consulted on a change to how it produces its Annual Report.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Ministers rip up consultation culture, published on 26 March 2026, whether the new accountability framework for Permanent Secretaries will result in a reduction in responsibilities for other cabinet ministers.

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

The new accountability framework for Permanent Secretaries does not change the responsibilities of cabinet ministers.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of police resources dedicated to tackling organised crime operating through small retail businesses.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

We are fully committed to tackling criminality on the high street from illegitimate businesses. It is for this reason that the Home Office, working with the Ministry for Communities, Housing and Local Government, has established a cross-government Taskforce to develop a strategic policy response to money laundering and associated illegality on UK high streets. This effort is underpinned by £10 million per year for three years, as announced in the 2025 Autumn Budget. This funding will be used to enhance support for at least 45 additional law enforcement officers, and enhancements to Trading Standards. As part of this uplift the Taskforce is considering how to enhance police and local authority coordination.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Guide to the Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) Scheme published in January 2026, what proportion of applications to the scheme were (a) successful and (b) rejected in the most recent application round; and for what reasons applications were rejected.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In the February 2026 MSRS bid round, the Department for Transport received 53 eligible bids with a total value of £22.9m (England only). The Department awarded 42 bids with a total value of £20m. The MSRS budget for 2026/27 is £20m.

MSRS grants are awarded through a competitive bid round process, and applications are prioritised based on their value for money using a cost-to-benefit ratio. Freight movements which deliver the greatest value are most likely to succeed, but are subject to the available budget.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the level of money laundering through high street cash-intensive businesses.

Answered by Rachel Blake - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

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 adequacy of the availability of a) minor injuries and b) urgent care services in South Essex; and what plans he has to expand the range of these services at Orsett Hospital.

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

Responsibility for commissioning urgent care services, including minor injury services, sits with local National Health Service integrated care boards (ICBs), which assess and respond to the needs of their populations. In South Essex, NHS Essex ICB is working with local partners to assess current provision and future needs.

There are no current plans to expand urgent care services at Orsett Hospital. In the wider area, a new community diagnostic centre (CDC) is now providing diagnostic services in Thurrock, and is located near the Orsett site. The impact of the new CDC on patient flow is being assessed with further data expected over summer 2026. This will inform any next steps to improve access and services.

In parallel, the ICB is evaluating the potential for a neighbourhood health centre near the CDC, while Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is reviewing activity at Orsett Hospital to ensure services continue to be delivered closer to patients’ homes.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the reasons why victims may not report anti-social behaviour to the police.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Tacking anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. As well as tackling the causes of ASB, we know that more must be done to help its victims. That is why the Government committed in its manifesto to ensuring that victims of ASB can access the information and support they need, and we are carefully considering how best to achieve this.

We collect data bi-annually on the reasons why victims have not reported their experience of anti-social behaviour (ASB) to a relevant agency (the police, their local authority or housing association) through the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW). We have also published various pieces of qualitative research to understand in depth the factors that influence decisions on whether to report ASB which can be found on the gov.uk website.

These pieces of research have indicated that there are many factors which influence a victim’s decision on whether to report ASB. Notable factors include the type of ASB experienced, awareness of different reporting routes and the victim’s perceived severity of the incident.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions his Department have had with Local Authority Trading Standards teams regarding enforcement activity against online sales of asbestos-containing products following the enactment of the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) in my Department is coordinating the regulatory response to product safety concerns regarding asbestos, supporting Local Authorities who are leading regulatory activity with businesses in their areas, including those supplying online in line with its published incident management plan.

OPSS works with LAs providing tools they need to ensure businesses comply with the law and take necessary steps to keep the public safe, including briefing to local authorities on issues related to asbestos in sand, updates in weekly communications, and information materials and online resources to support their enforcement activity.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve early identification of children with Developmental Language Disorder in early years settings.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Effective early identification and intervention are vital to improving outcomes for children with special educational needs and disabilities, including developmental language disorder.

To spread best practice, the department is strengthening the evidence base and providing clearer guidance to support practitioners in identifying and responding to children’s needs. An independent expert panel will develop National Inclusion Standards, setting out evidence-informed tools to help identify and meet additional needs effectively.

We are also investing over £200 million to ensure every Best Start Family Hub has a family facing practitioner to support early identification and joined-up care for children and families. We will introduce a fast track for Specialist Provision Packages and education, health and care plan for children under five with complex needs.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions his Department has had with the Health and Safety Executive regarding progress in tackling the online sale of asbestos-containing products since the enactment of the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Existing product safety rules make businesses responsible for the safety of the products they place on the UK market. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) in my Department is working with HSE, departments and agencies across UK Government to effectively tackle the sale of asbestos-containing products, whether online or through physical stores, in line with its published incident management plan.

OPSS has led and coordinated the wider government response, bringing together experts to ensure a coherent approach to keeping people safe. Specific resources have been developed by OPSS, HSE and partners for consumers, businesses and schools.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to address variation in the use of fixed penalty notices for a) littering and b) graffiti between local authorities.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has not assessed the consistency of enforcement action by local authorities (LAs) or whether LAs have sufficient resources for enforcement in relation to littering or graffiti offences.

LAs have legal powers to take enforcement action against offenders. Anyone caught littering or doing graffiti may be prosecuted in a magistrates’ court, which can lead to a criminal record and fines of up to £2,500 on conviction. Instead of prosecuting, LAs can issue a fixed penalty (on-the-spot fine) of up to £500.

To support LAs to consistently, proportionately and effectively use litter enforcement powers, including fixed penalty notices, the Government has recently published new Statutory Guidance, Litter enforcement powers: when and how to use them. LAs will need to have regard to this guidance when using their powers.

Advisory guidance on managing graffiti and flyposting for LAs and businesses is available here. The guidance outlines the options available for tackling these issues with examples of good practice.

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 whether local authorities have sufficient resources to enforce powers relating to a) littering and b) graffiti.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has not assessed the consistency of enforcement action by local authorities (LAs) or whether LAs have sufficient resources for enforcement in relation to littering or graffiti offences.

LAs have legal powers to take enforcement action against offenders. Anyone caught littering or doing graffiti may be prosecuted in a magistrates’ court, which can lead to a criminal record and fines of up to £2,500 on conviction. Instead of prosecuting, LAs can issue a fixed penalty (on-the-spot fine) of up to £500.

To support LAs to consistently, proportionately and effectively use litter enforcement powers, including fixed penalty notices, the Government has recently published new Statutory Guidance, Litter enforcement powers: when and how to use them. LAs will need to have regard to this guidance when using their powers.

Advisory guidance on managing graffiti and flyposting for LAs and businesses is available here. The guidance outlines the options available for tackling these issues with examples of good practice.

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 effectiveness of existing statutory guidance on litter and graffiti enforcement in improving public perceptions of safety.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has not made an assessment of the effectiveness of existing statutory guidance on litter and graffiti enforcement in improving public perceptions of safety. The Government recognises that litter and graffiti can have a detrimental impact on local environmental quality and can affect how safe people feel in their communities.

Local councils are responsible for keeping their public land clear of litter, refuse and graffiti.

Advisory guidance on managing graffiti for local councils and businesses is available here.

The guidance outlines the options available to local councils and others for tackling these issues with examples of good practice.

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 consistency of enforcement action taken by local authorities in relation to a) littering and b) graffiti offences.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has not assessed the consistency of enforcement action by local authorities (LAs) or whether LAs have sufficient resources for enforcement in relation to littering or graffiti offences.

LAs have legal powers to take enforcement action against offenders. Anyone caught littering or doing graffiti may be prosecuted in a magistrates’ court, which can lead to a criminal record and fines of up to £2,500 on conviction. Instead of prosecuting, LAs can issue a fixed penalty (on-the-spot fine) of up to £500.

To support LAs to consistently, proportionately and effectively use litter enforcement powers, including fixed penalty notices, the Government has recently published new Statutory Guidance, Litter enforcement powers: when and how to use them. LAs will need to have regard to this guidance when using their powers.

Advisory guidance on managing graffiti and flyposting for LAs and businesses is available here. The guidance outlines the options available for tackling these issues with examples of good practice.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department has taken since the enactment of the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 to strengthen enforcement against the online sale of prohibited asbestos-containing products.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), in my department, is coordinating the regulatory response to asbestos-contaminated consumer products, working closely with Local Authorities to enforce the regulations and monitor ongoing product recalls to ensure businesses are acting.

OPSS is in regular contact with businesses, including online marketplaces, to ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities and take appropriate action.

The Government is currently consulting on a range of proposals to modernise and strengthen the UK’s product safety enforcement framework, including online, following royal assent of the PRAM Act 2025.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he has been taken against online sellers offering asbestos-containing products for sale since the enactment of the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), in my department, is coordinating the regulatory response to asbestos-contaminated consumer products, working closely with Local Authorities to enforce the regulations and monitor ongoing product recalls to ensure businesses are acting.

OPSS is in regular contact with businesses, including online marketplaces, to ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities and take appropriate action.

The Government is currently consulting on a range of proposals to modernise and strengthen the UK’s product safety enforcement framework, including online, following royal assent of the PRAM Act 2025.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress has been made on developing new requirements for online marketplaces under powers contained in the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, including with regard to the sale of products containing asbestos.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

UK law is clear that products must be safe, including those sold online. Despite this, we recognise that non-compliant products remain available to consumers.

On 31 March, the Government launched a major package of consultations on updating the product safety legislative framework. These include proposals for strong and clear duties on online marketplaces to be proactive in ensuring that the products and sellers on their sites are safe and abide by the law.

Following consultation, Government intends to bring forward legislation to implement these proposals using powers in the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with online marketplace operators regarding the removal of asbestos-containing products since the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 received Royal Assent.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), in my department, holds regular meetings with a range of online marketplaces operating in the UK. OPSS engages to ensure platforms deliver their obligations for preventing the supply of unsafe products, and holds them to account for the sellers and products available on their sites.

OPSS has raised the issue of asbestos in sand-containing products in recent meetings to ensure online marketplaces take swift action to remove recalled products, and to check the compliance of similar products. This has resulted in hundreds of online listings being removed across all major platforms.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what data his Department holds on the number of asbestos-containing product listings removed by online marketplaces since the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 came into force.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), in my department, holds regular meetings with a range of online marketplaces operating in the UK. OPSS engages to ensure platforms deliver their obligations for preventing the supply of unsafe products, and holds them to account for the sellers and products available on their sites.

OPSS has raised the issue of asbestos in sand-containing products in recent meetings to ensure online marketplaces take swift action to remove recalled products, and to check the compliance of similar products. This has resulted in hundreds of online listings being removed across all major platforms.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of current early language interventions in supporting children with developmental language disorder.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Following our investment of £3.4 million this academic year to extend the Early Language Support for Every Child ‘test and learn’ programme, an interim independent evaluation was published in January. The final evaluation is due this autumn, providing insights into the effectiveness of delivery at a local level. This programme trials new ways of working to better identify and support children with speech, language and communication needs in early years settings and primary schools.

We are investing around £1.8 billion over the next three years for local area partnerships, including local authorities and integrated care boards, to develop a new Experts at Hand offer. This will strengthen mainstream education through access to health and specialist education support, allowing all children and young people to achieve and thrive.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with local NHS bodies on improving dementia care pathways in Essex.

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

While we have had no specific discussions on improving dementia care pathways in Essex, we published the D100: Assessment Tool Pathway programme, which brings together multiple resources into a single, consolidated tool to help simplify best practice for system leaders and help create communities and services where the best possible care and support is available to those with dementia.

This Population Health Improvement Plan for the NHS Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) includes a plan for the development of a response to the ICB’s D100 self-assessment.

The plan was shared with and discussed with partners and, under the ‘Age Well’ ambition, NHS Essex ICB specifically aims to maintain dementia diagnosis rates in line with national targets.

The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local ICBs. We expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps his Department has taken to improve rates of early dementia diagnosis.

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

The average waiting time for dementia assessment waits varies between local memory clinics, local services and, at times, individual needs. Current performance data denotes a wait between six and nine weeks for those with a multidisciplinary team diagnostic formulation of dementia to 18 weeks and over in areas with higher demand or workforce pressure.

We remain committed to recovering the dementia diagnosis rate to the national ambition of 66.7%. 66.3% of patients aged 65 years or over who are estimated to have dementia had a recorded diagnosis of dementia on 31 March 2026. This is an increase from 66.1% on 28 February 2026. The dementia diagnostic diagnosis rate in Essex is currently at 69.20%.

To support recovery of the dementia diagnosis rates and implementation of the Dementia Care Pathway, we have developed a memory service dashboard for management information purposes. The aim is to support commissioners and providers with appropriate data and enable targeted support where needed.

We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, which is expected this year.

The framework will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia, and it will set national standards for dementia care and redirect National Health Service priorities to provide the best possible care and support. As part of this exercise, we will consider what interventions should be supported to improve diagnosis waiting times, which we know are too long in many areas. We are considering all options to help reduce variation, including reviewing metrics and targets.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time is for a dementia assessment in Essex.

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

The average waiting time for dementia assessment waits varies between local memory clinics, local services and, at times, individual needs. Current performance data denotes a wait between six and nine weeks for those with a multidisciplinary team diagnostic formulation of dementia to 18 weeks and over in areas with higher demand or workforce pressure.

We remain committed to recovering the dementia diagnosis rate to the national ambition of 66.7%. 66.3% of patients aged 65 years or over who are estimated to have dementia had a recorded diagnosis of dementia on 31 March 2026. This is an increase from 66.1% on 28 February 2026. The dementia diagnostic diagnosis rate in Essex is currently at 69.20%.

To support recovery of the dementia diagnosis rates and implementation of the Dementia Care Pathway, we have developed a memory service dashboard for management information purposes. The aim is to support commissioners and providers with appropriate data and enable targeted support where needed.

We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, which is expected this year.

The framework will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia, and it will set national standards for dementia care and redirect National Health Service priorities to provide the best possible care and support. As part of this exercise, we will consider what interventions should be supported to improve diagnosis waiting times, which we know are too long in many areas. We are considering all options to help reduce variation, including reviewing metrics and targets.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent funding his Department has allocated to improve dementia diagnosis and care services in Essex.

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

The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). We expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

NHS Essex ICB uses a population health approach to determine how National Health Service funding is allocated across Essex, with funding decisions shaped by local population need, deprivation, inequalities, demand trends, and clinical outcomes. In practice, as part of developing its commissioning intentions, the ICB uses analysis of the following to support decision making of funding:

• prevalence of physical and mental health conditions;
• levels of depravation and health inequalities;
• demographic growth and aging populations; and
• access gaps between communities.

The dementia diagnostic diagnosis rate in Essex is currently at 69.20%, which is above the estimated diagnostic rate of 66.7% (national target), and above 66.30%, which is the current England average performance.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with stakeholders on the timely delivery of Stanford-Le-Hope train station.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The redevelopment works at Stanford-le-Hope are being delivered by Thurrock Council. Most of the funding for the works has come from the Local Growth Deal, with seed funding from Thames Freeport, the National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP) and planning obligation funding from DP World. c2c is a strategic partner of the project in regular dialogue with the council on progress and update the Department's representatives periodically.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many households were placed in temporary accommodation outside their home local authority area in each of the last five years.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Accredited official statistics on statutory homelessness, including the number of households who are owed a temporary accommodation duty who are in another local authority are published in the financial year and quarterly homelessness statistics on gov.uk. The financial year tables, which provide a quarterly timeseries for England, can be accessed in the Statutory homelessness England Level time series “live tables”, Table TA1, column AE. This will include those households owed a temporary accommodation duty who are in another local authority, but have not had accommodation secured for them, including those who have made their own temporary arrangements, such as staying with friends and family.

At 31 December 2025, within the total homeless households living out of area, 190 households were living out of area, but not placed into temporary accommodation. This and further information about households owed a temporary accommodation duty who are in another local authority are available in the detailed local authority level tables (tables TA9 onwards) on gov.uk here.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve (a) public and (b) clinical awareness of development language disorder.

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

The Government is committed to creating a more inclusive society where everyone, including those with developmental language disorder, is supported to thrive.

Access to support should not be dependent on a child or young person having a diagnosis, and a diagnosis alone does not help a teacher know what strategies to use to support that child in the classroom. To ensure teachers can support children before needs escalate, the Department for Education will develop National Inclusion Standards that set out evidence-informed tools, strategies, and approaches for educators across the zero to 25 system to draw on to identify and support children and young people with additional needs.

The Government is currently consulting on our proposals to reform the special educational needs and disabilities system. We will create a new offer for children who need additional support, called Targeted and Targeted Plus layers. Children in early years settings, mainstream schools, and colleges can benefit from education and health professionals without long waits for assessments. For children and young people with complex needs, we are developing new Specialist Provision Packages, designed with experts and tested with parents to set out exactly what support and resources are required for specific needs.

Speech and language therapists (SLTs) assess and diagnose developmental language disorders and develop therapy plans that actively involve parents and carers. NHS SLT services routinely deliver workshops, webinars, and advice sessions for families focusing on practical strategies to support communication at home. Many services provide freely accessible resources, including advice sheets and toolkits published by local National Health Service providers.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Answer of 24th April 2026 to Question 127931, what measures the National Energy System Operator uses regarding renewable intermittency when advising on required Capacity Market volumes.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

For the purposes of the Capacity Market and advising on the capacity required to ensure security of electricity supply in Great Britain, the National Energy System Operator (NESO) considers the de-rated capacity of technologies, the portion of capacity considered reliably available to reflect their expected contribution to security of electricity supply during times of system stress.

The intermittency risks associated with renewable technologies is reflected in the de-rating factor applied.  These de-rating factors are determined by the NESO and are detailed in their annual Electricity Capacity Report.

NESO are able to help with questions on the methodologies used in the ECR.

AI content labelling

Conviction for speech within a safe access zone

Energy Conservation

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

Found: WRP0024 - Written Parliamentary Questions James McMurdock Written Evidence