Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the internet blackout in Gaza on (a) the delivery of humanitarian aid and (b) civilian protection.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government has not conducted or published a formal assessment of the impact of internet blackouts in Gaza. However, we are closely monitoring the situation and are aware of the significant challenges these blackouts pose, including their hindrance to aid coordination. They also limit civilians' access to emergency services and vital information, increasing their vulnerability. These impacts are considered as part of our ongoing engagement with humanitarian partners and in our broader analysis of the situation in Gaza. The UK continues to advocate for the protection of civilians and the restoration of essential services, including communications infrastructure.

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 impact of recent Israeli military operations at and near aid distribution points in Gaza on the humanitarian situation.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK assesses that recent Israeli military operations near aid distribution points in Gaza have had a devastating impact on the humanitarian situation and risk further deterioration. We are appalled by repeated reports of mass civilian casualties, including near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites. These incidents highlight the desperate need for aid and the dangers civilians face to feed their families. We have called for an immediate, independent investigation. We continue urging Israel to lift restrictions and allow trusted partners to deliver humanitarian assistance safely and at scale across Gaza.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on UK's participation in the SAFE defence fund; and when he expects a decision to be made on the conditions under which UK defence firms can take part in that fund.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

As part of our recent Security and Defence partnership with the EU, we have agreed to explore closer co-operation and joint investment in our defence industrial base. In the first instance, the partnership creates a basis for broad consultations on defence readiness and defence industry and also means the UK now meets the criteria for discussing participation in common procurement under SAFE.

We have set an ambition with the EU to swiftly explore possibilities for mutually beneficial cooperation under the SAFE mechanism. We will work closely with our European partners to take this, and discussion on any further areas for defence industrial cooperation, forward, in accordance with the EU’s necessary processes.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with his counterparts in the (a) European Commission and (b) European Defence Agency on UK-EU defence industrial cooperation.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

As part of our recent Security and Defence partnership with the EU, we have agreed to explore closer co-operation and joint investment in our defence industrial base. In the first instance, the partnership creates a basis for broad consultations on defence readiness and defence industry and also means the UK now meets the criteria for discussing participation in common procurement under SAFE.

We have set an ambition with the EU to swiftly explore possibilities for mutually beneficial cooperation under the SAFE mechanism. We will work closely with our European partners to take this, and discussion on any further areas for defence industrial cooperation, forward, in accordance with the EU’s necessary processes.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Child Poverty Taskforce has had discussions with the Department for Education on family hubs.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Ministerial Child Poverty Taskforce is co-chaired by the Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions and Education. It has met nine times to discuss the critical issues that drive child poverty. One such meeting in January focused on the role of local services in reducing poverty, including family hubs.

The Taskforce will continue to explore all available levers to drive forward short and long-term action across government to reduce child poverty, including family hubs.

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 (a) increase and (b) ensure the ongoing availability of medical radioisotopes for NHS services.

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

The Department regularly engages with suppliers, specialist clinicians, the British Nuclear Medicine Society, and the UK Radiopharmacy Group to support the continued supply of medical radioisotopes for the National Health Service. The Department continues to work with the NHS and other parts of the Government to better understand future needs for medical radioisotopes.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with NATO counterparts on the potential impact of changes to US strategic priorities on Euro-Atlantic security; and what steps he is taking with his counterparts in European NATO countries to increase joint defence (a) planning and (b) capabilities.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Last week’s NATO Summit saw Allies reaffirm their ironclad commitment to collective defence and Euro-Atlantic Security. At the Summit, Allies committed to investing 5% of GDP annually on defence and security, composed of 3.5% core defence spending and 1.5% security and resilience spending, by 2035. This historic commitment on defence investment, underpinned by the recent agreement of ambitious new Capability Targets, demonstrates the collective and firm commitment of Allies to building and equipping a stronger, fairer and more lethal NATO to meet the threats we face.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he had at the NATO Summit on 24 and 25 June 2025 on (a) strengthening Europe's ability to take independent strategic decisions and (b) developing corresponding military capabilities in response to (i) Russia and (ii) global instability.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Last week’s NATO Summit saw Allies reaffirm their ironclad commitment to collective defence and Euro-Atlantic Security. At the Summit, Allies committed to investing 5% of GDP annually on defence and security, composed of 3.5% core defence spending and 1.5% security and resilience spending, by 2035. This historic commitment on defence investment, underpinned by the recent agreement of ambitious new Capability Targets, demonstrates the collective and firm commitment of Allies to building and equipping a stronger, fairer and more lethal NATO to meet the threats we face.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing funding for specialist advice services.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

We recognise the importance of access to justice and the key role that legal advice and support services play in helping people resolve their legal issues.

This year we have invested over £6 million of grant funding to 60 organisations in 2025-26, via the Improving Outcomes Through Legal Support Grant and the Online Support and Advice Grant, to support the delivery of essential advice and support services.

We are also working with the advice sector to co-develop and implement a long-term strategy to make the legal support system more sustainable, effective and efficient. We have established the Legal Support Strategy Delivery Group, comprised of key stakeholders from across the advice sector, to support this work. The workplan focuses on three key themes: service delivery, data and evidence, and funding. The funding theme is exploring options for unlocking more sustainable and consistent funding streams for advice services, as well as how to drive more collaborative and joined-up funding of the advice sector across funders.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the £75 million budget allocated for financial reparations to LGBT veterans affected by the historic ban on homosexuality in the armed forces.

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

The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) continues to make progress with applications, with processing capacity expected to increase in the coming months. As of 23 June 2025, the FRS had made payments of £3.4 million to 69 applicants with life-limiting conditions or serious health concerns, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the Scheme going live. We are now processing applications based on date received.

The Independent Panel, responsible for reviewing and making fair and equitable determinations on applications, convened for its first sitting within days of their appointment on 13 May 2025, demonstrating a commitment to delivering the Scheme at pace. Further sittings have taken place since then, with several more sittings planned over the coming months.

We are reviewing payment systems to ensure that once applications are approved, payments are issued promptly and efficiently. While processing times may vary depending on the complexity of individual cases, we aim to provide regular updates on progress and remain committed to delivering this important recognition fairly, responsibly, and as swiftly as possible.

The eligibility criteria for the FRS can be found within the Scheme Rules, published on Gov.UK. The Scheme is open to individuals who served in the UK Armed Forces and were dismissed or discharged due to their sexual orientation, or who experienced other forms of harm or disadvantage as a result of the historic Ban. Applicants must provide supporting evidence for assessment against the Rules.

We recognise the importance of timeliness in delivering the FRS. While we are unable to provide a definitive timeline at this stage, we are committed to processing applications as quickly and efficiently as possible. Evidence gathering remains the most complex and time-consuming part of the process, requiring information to be retrieved from a variety of sources, including historical records. This work must be conducted thoroughly to ensure fair and accurate outcomes for applicants and the responsible management of public funds.

The design was informed by Fighting with Pride to ensure that the ‘most hurt’ were recognised appropriately and that timely payments were able to be made where evidence is most readily available. We continue to routinely engage with Fighting With Pride to ensure the voices of LGBT veterans are heard throughout the implementation of the Scheme and we take on their constructive feedback.

This Government listened to the concerns of veterans and increased the overall budget by 50% to up to £75 million. The Scheme’s two-payment design ensures that a broad range of experiences can be recognised and that payments are proportionate to the impact of the Ban. The Ministry of Defence has assessed the £75 million budget as sufficient to meet the anticipated demand based on current estimates of eligible applicants.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will outline a planned timeline for issuing financial reparations to all eligible LGBT veterans affected by the historic ban on homosexuality in the armed forces.

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

The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) continues to make progress with applications, with processing capacity expected to increase in the coming months. As of 23 June 2025, the FRS had made payments of £3.4 million to 69 applicants with life-limiting conditions or serious health concerns, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the Scheme going live. We are now processing applications based on date received.

The Independent Panel, responsible for reviewing and making fair and equitable determinations on applications, convened for its first sitting within days of their appointment on 13 May 2025, demonstrating a commitment to delivering the Scheme at pace. Further sittings have taken place since then, with several more sittings planned over the coming months.

We are reviewing payment systems to ensure that once applications are approved, payments are issued promptly and efficiently. While processing times may vary depending on the complexity of individual cases, we aim to provide regular updates on progress and remain committed to delivering this important recognition fairly, responsibly, and as swiftly as possible.

The eligibility criteria for the FRS can be found within the Scheme Rules, published on Gov.UK. The Scheme is open to individuals who served in the UK Armed Forces and were dismissed or discharged due to their sexual orientation, or who experienced other forms of harm or disadvantage as a result of the historic Ban. Applicants must provide supporting evidence for assessment against the Rules.

We recognise the importance of timeliness in delivering the FRS. While we are unable to provide a definitive timeline at this stage, we are committed to processing applications as quickly and efficiently as possible. Evidence gathering remains the most complex and time-consuming part of the process, requiring information to be retrieved from a variety of sources, including historical records. This work must be conducted thoroughly to ensure fair and accurate outcomes for applicants and the responsible management of public funds.

The design was informed by Fighting with Pride to ensure that the ‘most hurt’ were recognised appropriately and that timely payments were able to be made where evidence is most readily available. We continue to routinely engage with Fighting With Pride to ensure the voices of LGBT veterans are heard throughout the implementation of the Scheme and we take on their constructive feedback.

This Government listened to the concerns of veterans and increased the overall budget by 50% to up to £75 million. The Scheme’s two-payment design ensures that a broad range of experiences can be recognised and that payments are proportionate to the impact of the Ban. The Ministry of Defence has assessed the £75 million budget as sufficient to meet the anticipated demand based on current estimates of eligible applicants.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what feedback he has received from LGBT veterans’ organisations on the implementation of the financial reparations scheme for LGBT veterans affected by the historic ban on homosexuality in the armed forces.

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

The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) continues to make progress with applications, with processing capacity expected to increase in the coming months. As of 23 June 2025, the FRS had made payments of £3.4 million to 69 applicants with life-limiting conditions or serious health concerns, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the Scheme going live. We are now processing applications based on date received.

The Independent Panel, responsible for reviewing and making fair and equitable determinations on applications, convened for its first sitting within days of their appointment on 13 May 2025, demonstrating a commitment to delivering the Scheme at pace. Further sittings have taken place since then, with several more sittings planned over the coming months.

We are reviewing payment systems to ensure that once applications are approved, payments are issued promptly and efficiently. While processing times may vary depending on the complexity of individual cases, we aim to provide regular updates on progress and remain committed to delivering this important recognition fairly, responsibly, and as swiftly as possible.

The eligibility criteria for the FRS can be found within the Scheme Rules, published on Gov.UK. The Scheme is open to individuals who served in the UK Armed Forces and were dismissed or discharged due to their sexual orientation, or who experienced other forms of harm or disadvantage as a result of the historic Ban. Applicants must provide supporting evidence for assessment against the Rules.

We recognise the importance of timeliness in delivering the FRS. While we are unable to provide a definitive timeline at this stage, we are committed to processing applications as quickly and efficiently as possible. Evidence gathering remains the most complex and time-consuming part of the process, requiring information to be retrieved from a variety of sources, including historical records. This work must be conducted thoroughly to ensure fair and accurate outcomes for applicants and the responsible management of public funds.

The design was informed by Fighting with Pride to ensure that the ‘most hurt’ were recognised appropriately and that timely payments were able to be made where evidence is most readily available. We continue to routinely engage with Fighting With Pride to ensure the voices of LGBT veterans are heard throughout the implementation of the Scheme and we take on their constructive feedback.

This Government listened to the concerns of veterans and increased the overall budget by 50% to up to £75 million. The Scheme’s two-payment design ensures that a broad range of experiences can be recognised and that payments are proportionate to the impact of the Ban. The Ministry of Defence has assessed the £75 million budget as sufficient to meet the anticipated demand based on current estimates of eligible applicants.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria his Department is using to determine eligibility for financial reparations for LGBT veterans affected by the historic ban on homosexuality in the armed forces.

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

The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) continues to make progress with applications, with processing capacity expected to increase in the coming months. As of 23 June 2025, the FRS had made payments of £3.4 million to 69 applicants with life-limiting conditions or serious health concerns, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the Scheme going live. We are now processing applications based on date received.

The Independent Panel, responsible for reviewing and making fair and equitable determinations on applications, convened for its first sitting within days of their appointment on 13 May 2025, demonstrating a commitment to delivering the Scheme at pace. Further sittings have taken place since then, with several more sittings planned over the coming months.

We are reviewing payment systems to ensure that once applications are approved, payments are issued promptly and efficiently. While processing times may vary depending on the complexity of individual cases, we aim to provide regular updates on progress and remain committed to delivering this important recognition fairly, responsibly, and as swiftly as possible.

The eligibility criteria for the FRS can be found within the Scheme Rules, published on Gov.UK. The Scheme is open to individuals who served in the UK Armed Forces and were dismissed or discharged due to their sexual orientation, or who experienced other forms of harm or disadvantage as a result of the historic Ban. Applicants must provide supporting evidence for assessment against the Rules.

We recognise the importance of timeliness in delivering the FRS. While we are unable to provide a definitive timeline at this stage, we are committed to processing applications as quickly and efficiently as possible. Evidence gathering remains the most complex and time-consuming part of the process, requiring information to be retrieved from a variety of sources, including historical records. This work must be conducted thoroughly to ensure fair and accurate outcomes for applicants and the responsible management of public funds.

The design was informed by Fighting with Pride to ensure that the ‘most hurt’ were recognised appropriately and that timely payments were able to be made where evidence is most readily available. We continue to routinely engage with Fighting With Pride to ensure the voices of LGBT veterans are heard throughout the implementation of the Scheme and we take on their constructive feedback.

This Government listened to the concerns of veterans and increased the overall budget by 50% to up to £75 million. The Scheme’s two-payment design ensures that a broad range of experiences can be recognised and that payments are proportionate to the impact of the Ban. The Ministry of Defence has assessed the £75 million budget as sufficient to meet the anticipated demand based on current estimates of eligible applicants.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress his Department has made on delivering financial reparations to LGBT veterans affected by the historic ban on homosexuality in the armed forces.

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

The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) continues to make progress with applications, with processing capacity expected to increase in the coming months. As of 23 June 2025, the FRS had made payments of £3.4 million to 69 applicants with life-limiting conditions or serious health concerns, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the Scheme going live. We are now processing applications based on date received.

The Independent Panel, responsible for reviewing and making fair and equitable determinations on applications, convened for its first sitting within days of their appointment on 13 May 2025, demonstrating a commitment to delivering the Scheme at pace. Further sittings have taken place since then, with several more sittings planned over the coming months.

We are reviewing payment systems to ensure that once applications are approved, payments are issued promptly and efficiently. While processing times may vary depending on the complexity of individual cases, we aim to provide regular updates on progress and remain committed to delivering this important recognition fairly, responsibly, and as swiftly as possible.

The eligibility criteria for the FRS can be found within the Scheme Rules, published on Gov.UK. The Scheme is open to individuals who served in the UK Armed Forces and were dismissed or discharged due to their sexual orientation, or who experienced other forms of harm or disadvantage as a result of the historic Ban. Applicants must provide supporting evidence for assessment against the Rules.

We recognise the importance of timeliness in delivering the FRS. While we are unable to provide a definitive timeline at this stage, we are committed to processing applications as quickly and efficiently as possible. Evidence gathering remains the most complex and time-consuming part of the process, requiring information to be retrieved from a variety of sources, including historical records. This work must be conducted thoroughly to ensure fair and accurate outcomes for applicants and the responsible management of public funds.

The design was informed by Fighting with Pride to ensure that the ‘most hurt’ were recognised appropriately and that timely payments were able to be made where evidence is most readily available. We continue to routinely engage with Fighting With Pride to ensure the voices of LGBT veterans are heard throughout the implementation of the Scheme and we take on their constructive feedback.

This Government listened to the concerns of veterans and increased the overall budget by 50% to up to £75 million. The Scheme’s two-payment design ensures that a broad range of experiences can be recognised and that payments are proportionate to the impact of the Ban. The Ministry of Defence has assessed the £75 million budget as sufficient to meet the anticipated demand based on current estimates of eligible applicants.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the potential impact of the expanded Warm Homes Plan on average annual household spending.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The recently announced expansion of the Warm Home Discount means all households where a person or their partner is named on the energy bill and is on a qualifying means tested benefit will be eligible for the £150 Discount. This will bring around 2.7 million households into the scheme – pushing the total number of households that will receive the discount next winter up to around 6 million.

We have not assessed the impact on average household spending. Further information on impacts can be found in the published Impact Assessment.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of withdrawing postgraduate-level apprenticeship funding on (a) recruitment and (b) retention in the independent advice sector.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Rushcliffe to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57098.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will consider ring-fenced funding for adult learners of all ages to access accredited (a) training and (b) qualifications in social-welfare advice.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department will provide approximately £1.4 billion in funding for the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) in the 2025/26 academic year. The ASF fully funds or co-funds education and skills training for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to help them gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning.

Currently, 62% of the ASF is devolved to nine mayoral strategic authorities and the Greater London Authority. These authorities are responsible for the provision of ASF-funded adult education for their residents and allocation of the ASF to learning providers. The department is responsible for the remaining ASF in non-devolved areas.

Colleges and grant funded providers in non-devolved areas have the freedom and flexibility to determine how they use their ASF, in line with the funding rules, and work with local stakeholders to determine what provision best meets local needs.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to ensure that all local authorities provide family hubs in their community.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

On 11 June, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, set out plans for spending and public sector reforms through the Spending Review 2025. This announcement confirmed departmental budgets for 2026/27 onwards and committed the government will continue to invest in and expand the Family Hubs programme, working with parents to help give children the best start in life.

This builds upon my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, published in December 2024, which outlined the ambition to give children the best start in life by strengthening and joining up family services to improve support through pregnancy and early childhood.

We are working within the department and alongside the Department for Health and Social Care to share further information about what the Spending Review settlement means for the continuation and expansion of the programme. We recognise the importance of providing local authorities with certainty of future funding across the whole programme and we will share further information when we are able to.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of developing a national outcomes framework for family hubs.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

On 11 June, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, set out plans for spending and public sector reforms through the Spending Review 2025. This announcement confirmed departmental budgets for 2026/27 onwards and committed the government will continue to invest in and expand the Family Hubs programme, working with parents to help give children the best start in life.

This builds upon my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, published in December 2024, which outlined the ambition to give children the best start in life by strengthening and joining up family services to improve support through pregnancy and early childhood.

We are working within the department and alongside the Department for Health and Social Care to share further information about what the Spending Review settlement means for the continuation and expansion of the programme.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how her Department plans to monitor the effectiveness of the Crisis and Resilience Fund for reducing reliance on emergency food parcels.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The new Crisis and Resilience Fund will be introduced from 1 April 2026. This represents the first ever multi-year settlement for locally delivered crisis support. This longer-term funding approach enables local authorities to provide preventative support to communities, and to support our ambition to end mass dependence on emergency food parcels.

We will be working closely with local authorities and external stakeholders on the detailed design of the Crisis and Resilience Fund, including on how we monitor effectiveness of the scheme. We will issue further information on our planned approach in due course.

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 merits of enabling dental assistants to perform dental procedures under supervision.

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

We support making the best use of the range of skills held by dental teams so that they work to their full scope of practice. This enables clinicians to deliver more complex care and reduce delays for patients.

The General Dental Council’s (GDC) Scope of Practice guidance sets out the areas in which dental professionals have the knowledge, skills, and experience to practise safely and effectively in the best interests of patients. NHS England’s guidance of January 2023 further sets out that dental therapists and dental hygienists can open and close National Health Service courses of treatment and provide direct access to NHS care within the GDC’s guidance.

We are holding a roundtable with dental care professionals on 10 July 2025 where we will listen to feedback about the implementation of recent reforms to increase the scope of practice for dental therapists and hygienists, and the potential for making better use of their skills in future.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of appointments in (a) Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, (b) the East Midlands and (c) the UK that have been delayed due to a lack of availability of medical radioisotopes in 2025 to date.

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

While we do not typically hold this information centrally, the Department is aware that the number of appointments delayed related to radioisotope supply issues at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust for the period of January 2025 to May 2025 consist of:

- 68 patients delayed for a fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan;

- 48 patients delayed for a F-18 FDG, prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan; and

- 57 patients delayed across multiple nuclear medicine tests.

We do not hold the information for the East Midlands more widely, or for the United Kingdom as a whole. The Department regularly engages with suppliers, specialist clinicians, the British Nuclear Medicine Society, and the UK Radiopharmacy Group to support the continued supply of medical radioisotopes for National Health Services. The Department continues to work with the NHS and other parts of the Government to better understand future need for medical radioisotopes.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people are affected by the Loan Charge that have open pre-2010 enquiries.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of people impacted by the Loan Charge Scandal.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have settled with HMRC to avoid the Loan Charge.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the revenue to the public purse from the taxes paid by British National (Overseas) visa holders since 2021.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

An estimate of the revenue to the public purse from the taxes paid by British National (Overseas) visa holders since 2021 is not available, as the information is not held.

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 ensure that people with incurable secondary breast cancer have access to world-leading treatments.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England announced in April 2025 that eligible women with secondary breast cancer could soon have access to a new targeted treatment, capivasertib, used alongside fulvestrant, on the National Health Service.

In May, NHS England announced the world’s first roll out of liquid biopsy testing, which is now available for all eligible breast cancer patients, and which aims to speed up diagnosis and inform better treatment options for those with breast cancer.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has considered secondary sanctions on UK-based financial institutions that continue to (a) underwrite, (b) trade and (c) market securities issued by Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps subsidiaries listed in Hong Kong.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In March 2021, the UK, along with international partners, imposed sanctions relating to human rights abuses in Xinjiang, including sanctions against Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. 'Secondary sanctions' can be understood in different ways. UK sanctions apply and are enforced only in relation to UK nationals and entities (wherever they are in the world) and to any activity in the UK or its territorial sea. Consistent with this approach, and across diverse contexts, we continue to keep any potential future sanctions under review.

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 implications for his Department’s policies of maintaining the BN(O) visa scheme with a five-year pathway to indefinite leave to remain.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future. As the Foreign Secretary stated in the latest Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong, our commitment to the BN(O) visa route remains steadfast.

Further details of all measures announced in the Immigration White Paper will be set out in the normal way in due course, and where necessary, will be subject to consultation.

We regularly engage with representatives of the Hong Kong diaspora in the UK on issues related to the BN(O) visa.

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 with manufacturers of blood transfusion sampling bottles to improve their design.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for collecting and processing blood donations across England, to meet hospital demand for treating patients.

Blood collection tubes are used to collect blood samples at the time of blood donation. These samples are used to perform mandatory and discretionary infectious disease marker screening and blood grouping at every donation. Additional samples are taken from apheresis donors for tests such as haemoglobin levels, total protein testing. Sample tubes are also used for quality monitoring of components.

NHSBT is not aware of any issues surrounding the current containers and is therefore not actively working with manufacturers of blood transfusion sampling bottles, as the current design meets their needs.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to recognise overseas professional qualifications held by British National (Overseas) migrants.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The government recognises that many British National Overseas (BNO) visa holders have valuable professional qualifications. Recognition of overseas professional qualifications is determined by independent occupational regulators, many of which accept qualifications from Hong Kong.

The government understands the recognition process can be challenging for BNO visa holders and refugees. DBT has worked with regulators to develop the Regulated Professions Register, which Hongkongers can use to access information on entry requirements and relevant regulators. DBT has also published guidance on GOV.UK to support refugees navigating the recognition process. DBT continues to work with regulators to develop further profession-specific guidance.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on implementing the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Family Hubs and Start for Life programme is now in its fourth year of delivery, and we are seeing important progress. 75 local authorities have established a network of family hubs and are providing universal, preventative services that benefit babies, children, and their families. Local authorities are developing services based on local need to improve health and educational outcomes, delivered through integrated, multi-agency workforces. Through Start for Life funding, families with babies can access support for perinatal mental health, parent-infant relationships, and infant feeding.

The effectiveness of the programme will take time to be realised, as long-term evaluation is required. The programme is subject to two national, independent evaluations to understand its implementation and impact. We are already seeing evidence of promising progress as demonstrated by the thematic review undertaken by the Care Quality Commission and Ofsted.

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 family hubs on (a) neighbourhood health and (b) the effectiveness of the delivery of integrated community-based health services.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are committed to moving towards a Neighbourhood Health Service, with more care delivered locally to create healthier communities, spot problems earlier, and support people to stay healthier and maintain their independence for longer.

The Family Hubs and Start for Life programme supports the three reform shifts set out in the Government’s Health Mission, including the shift from hospital to community. It is already delivering a community-based model to transform health outcomes for babies, children, and their families.

The effectiveness of the programme will take time to be realised, as long-term evaluation is required. The programme is subject to two national, independent evaluations to understand its implementation and impact.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of extending the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain for British National (Overseas) visa holders on the number of young people who (a) hold those visas and (b) are dependents of those visa holders who will be ineligible for (i) home fee status and (ii) student finance support at university.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The creation of a bespoke immigration route for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)), which is a pathway to settlement, reflects the unique and unprecedented circumstances in Hong Kong and the UK’s historic and moral commitment to BN(O) citizens. Subject to meeting the normal eligibility requirements, Hong Kong BN(O) status holders will be able to qualify for student finance and home fee status once they have acquired settled status in the UK. There are no plans to amend the eligibility requirements for these persons given that they are in line with those that apply to most other persons on routes to settlement.

The Student Loans Company publishes guidance about the eligibility requirements for accessing student finance.

The department has not made an estimate of the number of BN(O) visa holders or their dependents who are excluded from home fee status.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the number of British National (Overseas) visa holder dependent school pupils who are excluded from home fee status.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The creation of a bespoke immigration route for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)), which is a pathway to settlement, reflects the unique and unprecedented circumstances in Hong Kong and the UK’s historic and moral commitment to BN(O) citizens. Subject to meeting the normal eligibility requirements, Hong Kong BN(O) status holders will be able to qualify for student finance and home fee status once they have acquired settled status in the UK. There are no plans to amend the eligibility requirements for these persons given that they are in line with those that apply to most other persons on routes to settlement.

The Student Loans Company publishes guidance about the eligibility requirements for accessing student finance.

The department has not made an estimate of the number of BN(O) visa holders or their dependents who are excluded from home fee status.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her Department's planned timetable is for issuing guidance to dependents of BN(O) visa holders who plan to start university in 2026 on whether they will be eligible for home fee status.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The creation of a bespoke immigration route for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)), which is a pathway to settlement, reflects the unique and unprecedented circumstances in Hong Kong and the UK’s historic and moral commitment to BN(O) citizens. Subject to meeting the normal eligibility requirements, Hong Kong BN(O) status holders will be able to qualify for student finance and home fee status once they have acquired settled status in the UK. There are no plans to amend the eligibility requirements for these persons given that they are in line with those that apply to most other persons on routes to settlement.

The Student Loans Company publishes guidance about the eligibility requirements for accessing student finance.

The department has not made an estimate of the number of BN(O) visa holders or their dependents who are excluded from home fee status.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has considered granting British National (Overseas) visa holders parity with EU nationals who retain a five-year route to settled status under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future.

Further details of all measures announced in the Immigration White Paper will be set out in due course.

We regularly engage with representatives of the Hong Kong diaspora in the UK on issues related to the BN(O) visa and will continue to do so.

Found: V: James Naish.

Found: Charlotte Nichols Irene Campbell Siân Berry Ellie Chowns Dawn Butler Adrian Ramsay Carla Denyer James Naish

Found: Charlotte Nichols Irene Campbell Siân Berry Ellie Chowns Dawn Butler Adrian Ramsay Carla Denyer James Naish

Found: Withdrawn after debate_NC5 Siân Berry James Naish .

Found: _NC5 Siân Berry James Naish .

Found: of Commons CC: Tulip Siddiq, Member of Parliament for Hampstead and Highgate, Siân Berry MP , James Naish

Found: Not called_NC99 Sarah Champion Monica Harding Apsana Begum Zarah Sultana James Naish Richard Burgon

Submit Evidence (by 25 Aug 2025)

Nigeria was the sixth largest recipient of UK Official Development Assistance in 2023 with over £100m allocated. This was a reduction from third place in 2022 when it received £110m. As of 2024, Nigeria had by far the largest population in Africa and one of the highest population growth rates. Nigeria is the fourth largest economy in Africa and has a diaspora numbering hundreds of thousands living in the UK.