Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of pausing Midland Main Line electrification on rail supply chain companies in the East Midlands.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
I am aware that a clear pipeline of infrastructure investment supports the supply chain in planning resources effectively and ensures skilled workers can be retained. While further electrification of the Midland Main Line has been paused, there is still significant investment being made in rail. The Spending Review has ensured an affordable and credible network-wide programme of works has been established to support the Government’s mission to improve the railway for passengers and freight operators.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled Fit for the future: 10 year health plan for England, published in July 2025, when he expects David Lock KC’s review of clinical-negligence costs to (a) commence and (b) publish its findings.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
David Lock KC was appointed on 30 June 2025 to provide expert advice on the rising legal costs of clinical negligence, and on how to improve patients’ experiences of claims, ahead of a review by the Department in the autumn. He has commenced work on this review and expects to be in a position to provide advice to ministers in the early autumn. No decisions have yet been made as to whether any review will be published.
Details of the outcome of the Department’s review will be announced at the earliest opportunity.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he plans to take to ensure that the Government meets its international climate-finance pledge by March 2026.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains committed to providing International Climate Finance now and in the future, and to playing our part alongside other developed countries and climate finance providers to deliver our international obligations. It remains our ambition to deliver £11.6 billion of International Climate Finance between April 2021 and March 2026. Climate and nature are top priorities for the UK's Official Development Assistance budget, alongside humanitarian and health.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to NHS England's website entitled Health and wellbeing programmes, what steps he is taking to improve (a) rest areas and (b) catering facilities for NHS staff.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The NHS Health and Wellbeing Framework highlights the importance of getting the basics right, such as providing access to good quality rest areas, food, and drink options. Through the Independent Review of NHS Hospital Food, officials have had, and continue to have, discussions in relation to improving catering for National Health Service staff in NHS hospital settings. The NHS Food and Drink Standards also contains detailed information for catering managers about sourcing and serving high quality, nutritious food to patients and staff.
As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will work with the Social Partnership Forum to introduce a new set of staff standards for modern employment, covering issues such as access to healthy meals and support to work healthily and flexibly.
The New Hospital Programme will mandate that staff welfare spaces must occupy at least 6% to 7% of the total net internal area footprint for schemes that are fully compliant with the new standardised designs. This 6% to 7% minimum allocation will continue to be protected and maintained through the full life cycle of the building.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to extend funding for the NHS Practitioner Health programme beyond March 2026.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Looking after the mental health of our hardworking National Health Service staff is a priority for the Government.
The NHS Practitioner Health programme is funded until March 2026, and more recently the 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out Staff Treatment Hubs. These hubs will provide a high-quality occupational health service for all NHS staff, which includes support for mental health issues.