Jayne Kirkham Portrait

Jayne Kirkham

Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth

8,151 (16.2%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 4th July 2024



Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Jayne Kirkham has voted in 107 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Jayne Kirkham Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Pat McFadden (Labour)
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
(4 debate interactions)
Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op))
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
(4 debate interactions)
Andrew George (Liberal Democrat)
(3 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
View all Jayne Kirkham's debates

Truro and Falmouth Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Jayne Kirkham has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Jayne Kirkham

11th November 2024
Jayne Kirkham signed this EDM on Monday 13th January 2025

Support for endometriosis care

Tabled by: Catherine Fookes (Labour - Monmouthshire)
That this House is concerned about the severe impact that endometriosis has on the physical and mental health of one in ten women in the UK; notes that this painful condition affects 1.5 million women causing chronic pain, and fatigue and, in some cases, an inability to conceive and that …
21 signatures
(Most recent: 14 Jan 2025)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 9
Plaid Cymru: 4
Independent: 3
Green Party: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Liberal Democrat: 1
17th July 2024
Jayne Kirkham signed this EDM on Thursday 18th July 2024

200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Tabled by: Helena Dollimore (Labour (Co-op) - Hastings and Rye)
That this House congratulates the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) on its 200th anniversary of saving lives at sea; thanks all crew members who have risked their lives to save over 140,000 lives at sea; and pays tribute to all volunteers past and present who support this vital work.
54 signatures
(Most recent: 30 Oct 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 39
Liberal Democrat: 6
Plaid Cymru: 4
Conservative: 2
Independent: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Scottish National Party: 1
View All Jayne Kirkham's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Jayne Kirkham, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Jayne Kirkham has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Jayne Kirkham has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

Jayne Kirkham has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Jayne Kirkham has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
2nd Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of the Fireworks Regulations 2004 at protecting (a) people and (b) animals from the negative impacts of fireworks.

Most people use fireworks in a responsible, safe, and appropriate manner and there are laws in place to address situations where fireworks are misused. The current regulatory framework is designed to support people to enjoy fireworks whilst lowering the risk of dangers and disruption to people, pets, and property.

To inform any future decisions the Government intends to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues and impacts of fireworks.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
18th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what body is responsible for (a) coordination and (b) delivery of floating wind farms in the Celtic Sea.

The Crown Estate’s Leasing Round 5 will bring forward up to 4.5GW of floating offshore wind capacity in the Celtic Sea in addition to the five Test and Demonstration projects currently in development.

The partnership between Great British Energy and The Crown Estate announced the potential to deploy up to a further 12GW of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, of which 4-10GW could be leased to developers by 2030.

The Government will work closely with developers and The Crown Estate to support the delivery of floating offshore wind projects across the UK, including in the Celtic Sea.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
18th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he plans to take to ensure that the delivery of floating offshore wind demonstration projects in the Celtic Sea.

The Government is working with industry to accelerate ways the Contracts for Difference scheme and other energy policies can be expanded to deliver the clean energy superpower mission. The Government recognises the important role that Test and Demonstration projects, including in the Celtic Sea, could play in securing learnings, developing infrastructure, and building sector confidence to enable cost-effective commercial scale floating offshore wind projects in future.

The Clean Industry Bonus further underscores the Government’s commitment to the technology, in particular the minimum budget to be set aside for investment in floating offshore wind supply chain to help drive investment into the sector.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
5th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of taking steps to encourage rural off-grid households to switch to hydrogenated vegetable oil in heating.

As sustainable biomass is a limited resource, the Government expects to prioritise its use in sectors like aviation, and potentially the small number of homes unsuitable for heat pumps, as these sectors have fewest options to decarbonise. The cost of renewable liquid heating fuels is currently much higher than other fuels available to off grid customers. Before taking decisions on whether to support the use of renewable liquid fuels, like hydrotreated vegetable oil, in heating, the Government would require stronger evidence on their affordability for consumers, and the availability of sustainable feedstocks.

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
1st Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing incentives on the use of heat batteries similar to those on heat pumps.

Heat batteries are a promising electric heating technology, which can be charged off-peak to utilise cheaper electricity. However, they are less efficient than heat pumps and if a battery has insufficient storage capacity, it may need to draw electricity at peak times which can add to the burden on the electricity network. Consequently, policies like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, are currently focused on supporting heat pumps. However, my Department is exploring, through studies like the Homes for Net Zero trial, the role heat batteries could play in the future.

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
13th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to help support musical acts from Africa to perform in the UK.

The British Council supports a number of programmes that support cultural exchange between the UK and African music sector. Events such as The Great Escape and the Worldwide Music Expo connect African music professionals with UK platforms, promoters, and festivals such as Africa Oye. The British Council also supports talent development in sub-Saharan Africa, with programmes including Scripts and Bars in Zimbabwe.

Arts Council England (ACE) supports a number of organisations that promote African artists. The ACE National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) Africa Oye Limited receives £217,456 per annum, and delivers an annual festival in Liverpool’s Sefton Park that celebrates and champions African music and culture. Over the past 5 years the festival has brought many high profile African artists to the UK to perform. Yaram Arts Community Interest Company (CIC), another ACE NPO receiving £81,370 per annum, has promoted, presented and supported touring for hundreds of African and world music artists in the UK, Europe and Africa.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
8th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when her Department plans to re-establish the Tourism Industry Council; and whether she plans to include representatives from the cruise industry within its membership.

DCMS is keen to hear the views of and work with all parts of the visitor economy, including the cruise sector. Details of how Ministers will engage in this Parliament with stakeholders across what is a diverse and broad sector will be published shortly.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
10th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans that the short term lets licensing scheme will (a) allow local authorities to charge a fee to property owners to licence their property and (b) include a requirement to carry out fire and safety checks.

Parliament has legislated for a registration scheme for short-term lets in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. We are committed to the introduction of such a scheme as soon as possible.

The details of how the scheme will operate and who it will be administered by will be confirmed in our full consultation response. This includes how costs for the service will be established and maintained through the recovery of fees charged to the property owner or provider(s) of the short-term let(s). It is not intended that the scheme would raise revenue above and beyond cost recovery (including for set-up and delivery).

The registration scheme will be designed to ensure that all providers of short-term lets are aware of their legal responsibilities to ensure health and safety standards, including fire and relevant safety checks, are met in their properties.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
3rd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to bring forward legislation on short term lets licensing.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 is already in place. This will enable us to reap the benefits of a thriving visitor economy whilst protecting the spirit and fabric of communities, including by giving local authorities valuable data on short-term lets in their area to help address possible housing impacts. We will set out further detail on how the scheme will work as soon as practicable.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
7th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure funding is made available for skills programmes that provide pre-engineering training for young people.

All young people should have access to high-quality education and training that meets their needs and provides them with opportunities to thrive.

Over £7 billion of 16-19 programme funding will be invested during academic year 2024/25, to ensure there is a place in education or training for every 16- to 18-year-old who wants one. The department calculates the basic funding for institutions using lagged student volumes and funding rates, which depend on the size of their students’ study programmes or T Levels. These rates are regardless of which type of institution they study at or what they study.

The Adult Skills Fund (ASF) is worth £1.34 billion this year, and funds education and skills training for those 19 and above to help them gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning. Learners aged 19-23 can get their first full level 2 and level 3 fully funded under the ASF legal entitlements.

For the 2024/25 academic year we have introduced five new funding rates that apply to the ESFA funded ASF. Under these new funding rates, 78% of qualifications are seeing an increase in funding.

The government’s reformed growth and skills levy will deliver greater flexibility for learners and employers, including through new foundation apprenticeships that will give more young people a foot in the door and will support clear pathways into work-based training and employment.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
7th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a requirement for local authorities to have a local offer for kinship care on the lines of those that required for care leavers and disabled children.

Local authorities have been expected to publish a policy detailing their approach towards meeting the needs and supporting children living in kinship care since the Family and Friends Care guidance was published in 2011. The department will soon be releasing updated guidance, called Kinship Care statutory guidance, which will restate that requirement.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
7th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to ensure a consistent approach to calculating special guardianship allowances.

The department recognises the valuable and important role that kinship carers, including special guardians, play in caring for some of the most vulnerable children. The government is committed to working with local government to support children in care, including through kinship arrangements.

Statutory guidance issued to local authorities makes it clear that children and young people should receive the support that they and their carers need to safeguard and promote their welfare. There is no limit on the level of support, including financial support, that local authorities can provide.

Financial support is paid at the discretion of the local authority and in accordance with their model for assessing support needs. All local authorities should have in place clear eligibility criteria in relation to the provision of support services.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
13th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the financial viability of National Landscapes.

This Government is committed to empowering Protected Landscapes to become greener, wilder, and more accessible to all. We understand the uncertainty around resourcing remains a challenge for Protected Landscapes bodies like National Landscapes. Defra business planning is ongoing and we will communicate the outcomes of this as soon as possible.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
6th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his timetable is for proposed reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013.

Defra and the Welsh Government have concluded a six-week consultation on proposed reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, which closed on 23 December. In this consultation, we asked for responses to three core reforms and nine technical amendments and called for evidence on two wider reforms for potential future development. We encouraged all parties to respond to the consultation to ensure a balanced and representative response. A Government response, outlining next steps, will be issued in due course following the analysis of responses.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
18th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will (a) bring forward legislative proposals to (i) formally recognise, (ii) protect and (iii) otherwise support the management of Cornish hedges and (b) provide funding for such hedges in the form of (A)Sustainable Farming Incentives and (B) capital grants.

Certain hedgerows are protected from removal under the Hedgerows Regulations 1997 if they meet specific criteria. The Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024 introduced management rules into domestic legislation to protect hedgerows on land used for agriculture in England.

The Sustainable Farming Incentive was developed to recognise the large variety of locally and nationally important hedges and hedgerows we see across England. In 2023, the hedgerow offer was launched and expanded in 2024. This includes an offer to maintain earth banks or stone-faced hedge banks (BND2). Those with Cornish hedges will be eligible to apply for both offers to ensure their hedgerow is maintained. We will continue to review what additional policies may be required to protect and enhance the ecological and cultural value of hedges and hedgerows in England.

Grants have been made available to support Cornish hedges under the Capital Grants offer. In 2024 the scheme supported agreements to plant over 4,000 miles of new hedgerows across England, creating essential habitats for at-risk species of birds and mammals. In November, the Capital Grants scheme was closed to new agreements following unprecedented demand this Autumn. We are forecast to spend more on capital grants this year than ever before. We currently are reviewing the Capital Grants offer to ensure funding goes further to improve outcomes for food security and nature conservation and will provide an update in early 2025. We have allocated the largest ever budget for sustainable food production through the farming budget.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of (a) hunting with hounds and (b) trail hunting on rural communities.

This is a devolved matter with regard to Scotland and Northern Ireland; hunting with dogs is a reserved matter with respect to Wales and therefore, the information provided relates to England and Wales only.

The Government is committed to banning trail hunting as part of a wider drive to introduce ambitious plans to improve animal welfare. Work to determine the best approach for doing so is ongoing and, to date, no assessment has been made on either the impact of hunting with hounds or trail hunting on rural communities.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will review the use of exemptions within the Hunting Act 2004 for stag hunting.

This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans in a generation to improve animal welfare and that is exactly what we will do. The Government has already committed to a ban on trail hunting which will provide significant protections to wild animals including foxes and hares. Work to determine the best approach for doing so is ongoing and further announcements will be made in due course.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
3rd Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to (a) reopen and (b) create new (i) Sustainable Farming Incentives and (ii) capital grants to replace previous ones for (A) herbal lays, (B) fencing and (C) hedgerows.

We have not closed the Sustainable Farming Incentive schemes, in fact there are over 60,000 live applications currently open. Due to an overwhelming demand for some capital items, applications for standalone capital grants were temporarily closed to new applications on 27 November. An update will be provided in early 2025.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
31st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding schemes to reintroduce beavers into the wild.

This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Yes, assessments of the potential merits of beaver reintroductions in England have been made.

Most notably, beginning in 2015, a 5-year trial for beaver wild release took place on the River Otter in Devon. In 2020, Natural England published assessment results for the trial. The trial was found to be successful, having brought many benefits to local ecology and communities, including creating wetland habitat and reducing downstream flood risk for housing.

Following successful completion of the trial, the Government conducted a public consultation on the approach to beaver reintroduction and management in England. In 2022, the Government published its response to this consultation. Work with Natural England to develop our approach to beaver reintroductions in England is continuing, including on wild release.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
15th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 7677 on Shellfish, what his planned timeline is for making this decision.

Defra is currently reviewing Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA’s) proposal to increase the minimum landing size of native oysters under the Fal Fishery Order 2016. A decision will be made once the review is complete.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to increase the minimum landing size of Fal oysters from 67 to 72mm.

The Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority have written to the Defra asking for approval of their request to increase the minimum landing size of native oysters under the Fal Fishery Order 2016. This request and the evidence for making the change is being considered by the Defra.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
5th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to reduce the levels of fipronil and imidacloprid in UK waters.

The Government and Regulators are engaging with pharmaceutical companies to improve information on use and disposal of their products to help minimise the risk to the environment and human health.

The Environment Agency (EA) is also working with the Royal Veterinary College to investigate levels of these pharmaceuticals in waters where dogs swim, and to improve pet owners’ understanding of their environmental risks.

The EA is a member of the cross-Government Pharmaceuticals in the Environment Group. Fipronil and imidacloprid in UK surface waters has been a priority for this group since April 2023. The group has focused on identifying the sources of fipronil and imidacloprid detected in UK surface waters to work towards reducing these levels.

The EA is actively involved in monitoring, research, educational outreach, and engagement with multiple stakeholders to address environmental concerns about these pharmaceuticals.

More monitoring data and research are needed to better understand the potential environmental hazards and risks of alternative treatments to imidacloprid and fipronil spot-on products and inform options for taking further action.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
5th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that (a) vets and pet owners have access to advice on the responsible use of pet parasiticides and (b) the (i) packaging, (ii) usage guidance and (iii) point of sale advice for flea and tick pet treatments warn pet owners of the danger to aquatic life of those products entering watercourses.

The packing for the product and supporting product literature for veterinary medicines includes information on how to use the product as well as comprehensive safety information, including environmental safety, to ensure all potential risks are clearly communicated to users, supporting the safe and responsible use of the product. In addition, the VMD and the Pharmaceuticals in the Environment cross-government group are working with stakeholders, including industry and veterinary professionals, to initiate industry-led stewardship to promote the responsible use of pet parasiticides. This initiative will prioritise communication on raising awareness around the appropriate use of these products.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
5th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to prevent the use of neonicotinoid pesticides in off-the-shelf pet treatments.

Whilst these substances have been authorised for pesticide use, their use in animals requires authorisation as veterinary medicinal products under a different legislative framework with differing factors coming into consideration. Parasiticides, such as those containing imidacloprid, play an essential role in protecting both animal and human health against fleas and ticks and their associated vector-borne diseases. The VMD also recognise the concerns regarding the potential contribution of flea and tick treatments to the levels of imidacloprid currently being detected in UK surface waters. The VMD is currently gathering evidence around this issue and has led on the formation of a cross-governmental Pharmaceuticals in the Environment (PiE) Group, with the aim is to develop a co-ordinated strategy to reduce the impacts of pharmaceuticals on the environment.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
8th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of enabling local authorities to apply to use ANPR to enforce designated pedestrian zones.

Moving traffic contraventions, including entry into a designated pedestrian zone, may be civilly enforced by designated local authorities using CCTV prescribed by regulations made under the Traffic Management Act 2004.

By using these cameras local authorities are able to capture not just the number plate and location, but the wider context, to establish whether a contravention has occurred.

In the Department’s view, ANPR technology could not in isolation provide the functionality needed for fair and effective civil enforcement.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
28th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that local SME bus operators are able to participate in future bus franchising schemes.

The Bus Services Act 2017 already requires an authority to make a statement on how they will facilitate SMEs in service provision as part of the franchising process.

On 9 September 2024, the Department consulted on updates to bus franchising guidance, these updates aim to reduce the technical barriers to franchising and support safer, more accessible services. The Department is currently reviewing the feedback received, including valuable insights from bus operators and organisations representing small-to-medium-sized operators, and will respond shortly.

The Department will continue working with local authorities to develop different franchising models that could be smaller scale, require less financial commitment and support SME participation.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
29th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support her Department provides for people who have had their PIP suspended and are awaiting an appeal hearing.

There are nine possible award outcomes on a claim to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), ranging from a nil award through to an award of the enhanced rate of both the daily living and mobility component. The decision on a claim to, or an existing award of, PIP persists in law until such time as a new decision is made. As such, a claimant appealing against their decision will continue to receive the level of award, if any, that the decision entitles them to until such time as a new decision is made by the tribunal. Payment of that existing award will only be suspended in cases where there is evidence to suggest the award in place is incorrect, such as in cases of suspected fraud.

Claimants to PIP, whether they are appealing against a decision or not, can be entitled to a range of additional support depending on their circumstances, including benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
28th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that staff administering Disability Living Allowance claims provide claimants with a complete understanding of the benefits they are entitled to receive.

All Disability Living Allowance (DLA) staff receive extensive training in the DLA customer journey and have an awareness of other benefits. When claiming Disability Living Allowance, a detailed notification and an additional leaflet are also issued to the customer which explain wider benefit entitlement options and we also encourage customers to visit the Gov.uk website which provides details of additional benefits they may be entitled to.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
28th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure the accuracy of PIP assessment decisions.

PIP assessment accuracy and quality is a priority for both suppliers and the department. The department works extensively with suppliers to make improvements to guidance, training, and audit procedures to ensure a quality service. A high standard is always maintained through an independent audit function that continually monitors performance and provides feedback to its suppliers.

DWP have a comprehensive and on-going quality assurance process in the decision-making journey and work closely with colleagues in Dispute Resolution Service (DRS), who are responsible for reconsiderations and appeals, to understand and learn from decisions that are changed. This also helps to maintain standards and consistency.

The Health Transformation Programme (HTP) is modernising Health and Disability benefit services to create a more efficient service and an improved claimant experience, building trust in our services and decisions. The HTP Evaluation Strategy, published here on GOV.UK, provides an overview of our plans to evaluate the Programme.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
28th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure (a) the accuracy of Child Maintenance Service calculations and (b) that the process of correcting mistakes in those calculations is (i) faster and (ii) easier.

In the year to June 2024 there were 138,000 new applications to the CMS, an increase of 10% from the year to June 2023.

To ensure calculations are accurate the department continues to build on its already proportionate and cost-effective controls, such as:

  • use of verified income from HMRC and benefit systems as outlined in legislation and a principal part of service design.
  • use of child benefit systems to verify qualifying child(ren).
  • procedures and policy to request additional verification.
  • a dedicated Financial Investigation Unit who addresses allegations of misrepresentation and fraud.
  • a robust mandatory reconsideration (MR) and appeals process.
  • a robust 3 Tier Quality Framework.

CMS are wholly committed to delivering the best possible service to all customers within our growing caseload.

Where a single accidental error relating to the maintenance calculation is made, a challenge can be raised by a parent or their representative within time, and corrections can be applied without the need for a review of the decision (MR).

The Department for Work and Pensions and CMS rigorously monitors accuracy as part of our service ambition to further reduce error and increase our accuracy levels. The National Audit Office set a target of monetary value errors under 1%. This standard is consistently met.

Andrew Western
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
14th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that all healthcare professionals have adequate training and awareness of endometriosis.

The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health and improving the diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care for gynaecological conditions including endometriosis. Several measures are in place to raise awareness of endometriosis among clinicians and support diagnosis and care.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines support healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat conditions. In November 2024, NICE published updated recommendations on the diagnosis, management and treatment of endometriosis. This is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng73

Endometriosis is included in the core curriculum for general practitioners, and for obstetricians and gynaecologists. The General Medical Council is introducing the Medical Licensing Assessment for most incoming doctors, including all medical students graduating from academic year 2024/25 and onwards. Within this assessment are several topics relating to women’s health, including endometriosis. This will encourage a better understanding of endometriosis among doctors as they start their careers in the United Kingdom.

We will continue to keep opportunities for training and further awareness raising about endometriosis under review.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
9th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the proportion of patients (a) transferred, (b) admitted and (c) discharged within four hours at the Emergency Department in Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Government has committed to supporting the National Health Service to improve performance, including at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT), and achieving the standards set out in the NHS Constitution, which includes that 95% of patients attending accident and emergency are admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours.

We are also committed to improving accident and emergency waiting times for patients waiting over 12 hours to be admitted, transferred, or discharged through increasing bed capacity and improving hospital discharge, both nationally and at the RCHT.

The Government appointed the Professor Lord Darzi to lead an independent investigation of NHS performance. The investigation’s findings were published on 12 September 2024 and will feed into the Government’s work on a 10-year plan to radically reform the NHS and build a health service that is fit for the future.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
9th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the proportion of attendees who waited 12 hours or more from their time of arrival to be (a) transferred, (b) admitted and (c) discharged from Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust Emergency Department.

The Government has committed to supporting the National Health Service to improve performance, including at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT), and achieving the standards set out in the NHS Constitution, which includes that 95% of patients attending accident and emergency are admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours.

We are also committed to improving accident and emergency waiting times for patients waiting over 12 hours to be admitted, transferred, or discharged through increasing bed capacity and improving hospital discharge, both nationally and at the RCHT.

The Government appointed the Professor Lord Darzi to lead an independent investigation of NHS performance. The investigation’s findings were published on 12 September 2024 and will feed into the Government’s work on a 10-year plan to radically reform the NHS and build a health service that is fit for the future.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
9th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the hours lost to handover delays by South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust.

Ambulance services experiencing long delays when handing over patients to hospitals is a priority for the National Health Service to address, because it holds up ambulances that could be responding to further 999 calls.

The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Cornwall Hospital are working on improving ambulance handover times by supporting patients flow through the health and care system.

To support longer term urgent and emergency care performance, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, appointed Professor Lord Darzi to lead an independent investigation of the NHS’ performance. The investigation’s findings were published on 12 September and will feed into the Government’s work on a 10-Year Health Plan to radically reform the NHS and build a health service that is fit for the future.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
9th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce ambulance hand over times at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.

Ambulance services experiencing long delays when handing over patients to hospitals is a priority for the National Health Service to address, because it holds up ambulances that could be responding to further 999 calls.

The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Cornwall Hospital are working on improving ambulance handover times by supporting patients flow through the health and care system.

To support longer term urgent and emergency care performance, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, appointed Professor Lord Darzi to lead an independent investigation of the NHS’ performance. The investigation’s findings were published on 12 September and will feed into the Government’s work on a 10-Year Health Plan to radically reform the NHS and build a health service that is fit for the future.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
14th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the NHS Bursary living allowance to match the Student Finance England maintenance loan.

The NHS Bursary funding arrangements are reviewed annually ahead of the start of each academic year.

We have applied an uplift of 2% to all NHS Bursary maintenance grants and allowances for the academic year 2024/25. This is the first time the maintenance grant has been uplifted since 2015.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
14th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing medical students in all years of the course to access the Learning Support Fund.

Funding arrangements for students are reviewed annually ahead of the start of each academic year.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
11th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making retrospective payments to student nurses that were incorrectly labelled as being ineligible for the £5,000 annual training grant via the NHS Learning Support Fund since 2019.

There are no such plans.

The NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF) is an annual scheme operated under rules that are published by the Department for each academic year. Eligibility for the LSF under these rules reflects eligibility for student loans set by the Department for Education.

The NHS LSF scheme is administered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) on behalf of the Department. It includes provisions for students to ask the NHSBSA for a review of their decisions, and to contact the Department to appeal NHSBSA decisions.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
31st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making retrospective payments to student nurses who were not eligible for the £5,000 annual training grant through the NHS Learning Support Fund since 2019.

The Department has no plans to make retrospective payments to student nurses who were not eligible for the £5,000 annual training grant through the NHS Learning Support Fund since 2019.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department issues guidance to integrated care boards on agreeing bespoke contractual arrangements with dental practices for NHS dental provision.

Since 1 April 2023, responsibility for commissioning primary care, including dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. Dental contracts are underpinned by the nationally defined General Dental Service (GDS) contract, or a Personal Dental Service (PDS) Agreements and NHS England supports ICBs with their local commissioning responsibilities for primary dental services with the provision of nationally agreed policies and procedures.

NHS England has also published guidance to support commissioners to take advantage of the opportunities offered to commission further and additional services through flexible commissioning, which enables the responsible commissioner to tailor services to meet local population oral health needs. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/opportunities-for-flexible-commissioning-in-primary-care-dentistry-a-framework-for-commissioners/

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
7th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to encourage people from lower-income backgrounds to study medicine, in the context of the availability of financial support for maintenance available in the fifth and sixth years of a medicine degree.

From year five of their undergraduate course, medical students can access the NHS Bursary. This is non-repayable and comprises payment for tuition fees, income-assessed help towards living costs, and where eligible, further allowances, such as for dependents and childcare and for those living with a disability. A further grant may also be available to medical students who are struggling financially, depending on their current financial circumstances.

Students eligible for the NHS Bursary can also apply for a reduced rate loan for living costs from Student Finance England. The Government is committed to supporting people from all backgrounds to study medicine and these funding arrangements are reviewed annually.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
16th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to encourage international investment into the UK.

Growth is this government’s top priority. Working together with my Cabinet colleagues, I am determined to use our diplomatic and trade networks to attract inward investment and demonstrate the UK is open for business. At the International Investment Summit on 14 October international investors committed to £63 billion of investment into the UK.

Anneliese Dodds
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of excluding properties that are restricted by planning permission for holiday let use only from the removal of the Furnished Lets Allowance.

The Government will abolish the Furnished Holiday Lets (FHLs) tax regime from April 2025, and will apply to all furnished holiday let properties.

This measure will equalise the tax treatment of landlords’ property income and gains.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
27th Aug 2024
What steps she is taking to help ensure value for money from public spending.

In her speech on the 29th of July, the Chancellor outlined the tough choices that this government will make to guarantee that we are tackling waste and driving efficiency.

This Government is placing value for money at the core of every decision, The Chancellor announced a new Office for Value for Money that will work system-wide to ensure that value for money is prioritised, and recommend necessary changes to deliver this ambition.

Darren Jones
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
8th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) veterans and (b) serving personnel who have served as crew on (A) Sea Kings, (B) Pumas and (C) Chinooks have been diagnosed with (i) multiple myeloma, (ii) sarcoma and (iii) blood cancer in the last ten years.

The Ministry of Defence is undertaking work to determine the number of Serving personnel who have served as air crew and been diagnosed with cancer. I will write to the hon. Member when information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.

Al Carns
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve (a) recruitment and (b) retention at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary are highly valued, specialist personnel. We are committed to listening to their concerns and keeping a continued dialogue to address the issues they have raised. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to engage with the Maritime Trade Unions (MTUs), who represent members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), to discuss a resolution to the on-going RFA pay dispute.

Recognising that the RFA is the largest employer of British non-military seafarers, the RFA intend to introduce a series of new recruitment and retention initiatives, including enhanced lateral entry routes from maritime industry, improved occupational health measures and a suite of options to increase working flexibility.

The MOD continues to work with both MTUs to resolve the on-going RFA pay dispute whilst mitigating potential impact of strike action to ensure that the Royal Navy continues to deliver its maritime commitments.

Al Carns
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the impact of industrial action at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary on the (a) Royal Fleet Auxiliary, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Marines; and what steps he is taking to end that industrial action.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to engage with the Maritime Trade Unions (MTUs), who represent members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), to discuss a resolution to the on-going RFA pay dispute.

The MOD operates a whole force model, bringing military, civilian and contracted staff together to deliver its defence outcomes; we continue to proactively collaborate with our stakeholders and partners to sustain outputs whilst discussions with the MTUs remain ongoing.

The MOD continues to work with both MTUs to resolve the on-going RFA pay dispute whilst mitigating potential impact of strike action to ensure that the Royal Navy continues to deliver its maritime commitments.

Luke Pollard
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
6th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will introduce the Future Homes and Building Standards as soon as possible.

The Future Homes and Buildings Standards consultation was published in December 2023 and closed in March 2024; a government response, including implementation plans, has not yet been issued.

Government fully supports the need for low carbon homes and buildings, fit for a net zero future. We are reviewing proposals and feedback from the Future Homes and Buildings Standards consultation and will publish the government response in due course.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)