Asked by: Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
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 increase the number of specialty training posts for UK-trained doctors in the South West.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan published in July, over the next three years we will create 1,000 new speciality training posts in England with a focus on specialities where there is the greatest need.
The 10-Year Health Plan also set out that we will work across the Government to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training, and to prioritise UK medical graduates and other doctors who have worked in the National Health Service for a significant period for specialty training.
We will set out next steps across the country in due course.
Asked by: Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of doctors leaving the UK due to a lack of specialty training posts.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has not made such a specific estimate. Data is published by NHS England on numbers of doctors leaving active service across National Health Service trusts and integrated care boards, but information collected on broad reasons for leaving is not detailed enough to report on drivers such as access to specialty training.
The General Medical Council (GMC) publishes data on staff leaving the register in its annual State of Medical Education and Practice in the United Kingdom publication. This shows that the proportion leaving the register in 2024 has remained stable at approximately 4% a year. When asked about reasons for leaving, the three main reasons cited to the GMC where ‘wanting to practice abroad’, ‘retirement’ and ‘wanting to live abroad’.
Asked by: Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to protect Dartmoor ponies.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, now open for applications, we have removed the competition between cattle and ponies as recommended in the Dartmoor review. We provide payment for grazing with both, and both are eligible under the native breeds at risk supplement. The new offer also clarifies that ponies are exempt from stock removal requirements, recognising that removal of ponies from moorland is neither feasible nor desirable in most circumstances.
The moorland offer will be subject to monitoring and evaluation. Any change in the pony population during this time will be investigated and further mitigations will be explored if necessary.
In addition to monitoring the moorland offer, Defra supports conservation of livestock and equines, including the Dartmoor Pony, by monitoring populations of native breeds, with data published in the annual UK National Breed inventory. Defra also protects eligible native breeds at risk from culling during notifiable disease outbreaks.
Asked by: Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to restore the Agricultural Workers’ Board.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We currently have no plans to restore the Agricultural Wages Board.
Asked by: Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what evidential basis reducing the number of (a) Dartmoor ponies and (b) other livestock will effectively control overgrazing on Dartmoor.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
All prospective Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme offers have been assessed for their potential impact against a range of environmental and cultural services, including carbon sequestration and biodiversity indicators. These have included qualitative assessments, drawing upon expert opinion and evidence reviews, as well as quantitative assessments, drawing upon published datasets.
Through the new Countryside Stewardship Hier Tier offer we will be providing payment for grazing with both cattle and ponies and making both cattle and ponies eligible under the native breeds at risk supplement. We are thereby removing the competition between the two as recommended in the Dartmoor review. We have also made it clear within the new offer that ponies are exempt from stock removal requirements, in recognition that removal of ponies from moorland is neither feasible nor desirable in most circumstances.
We cannot, exclude either cattle or ponies from stocking density calculations. All livestock contribute to the overall grazing pressure exerted on moorland. On some moorland habitats (such as peatland), it is necessary to graze with low stocking densities to support habitat restoration and maintenance. If any livestock are excluded from the stocking density calculation, then over grazing would result. This would prevent us achieving desired improvements in habitat condition.
Asked by: Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether new Sustainable Farming Incentives will take into account the potential impacts of grazing moorland on controlling monocultures.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) pays farmers and land managers to carry out actions that support the sustainable production of food and boost farm productivity and resilience, while protecting and enhancing the environment. Upland farmers play a key role in delivering sustainable food production and our environmental targets.
We will provide further details about the reformed SFI offer later this year.
Asked by: Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he will consider including those veterans who were exposed to asbestos pre-1987 whilst on active service and who later contract lung cancer in the 2016 lump sum compensation scheme payable currently only to those who contract mesothelioma.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The lump sum provision under the War Pensions Scheme applies only to veterans suffering from diffuse mesothelioma. Diffuse mesothelioma has a unique causal link to asbestos exposure, and the inexorable nature of the disease coupled with the lack of effective treatment leads to poor life expectancy.
Service personnel who develop lung cancer or asbestos-related diseases including before 1987 may be eligible to claim compensation under the War Pension Scheme or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme provided there is a causal link to Service.
Asked by: Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help make the process of moving geological samples between the UK and the EU (a) faster and (b) easier.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
There are no plans at present to amend the regulatory regime.
The British Geological Survey (BGS) is an active member of European GeoSurveys (EGS). The EGS constitution is based on facilitating geological survey collaboration to support development and implementation of EU policy.
As such, BGS is part of a major project with multiple EU geological survey partners to prepare foundational research, knowledge, and data frameworks for a possible Geological Service for Europe. Making available harmonised and accessible transnational geological data is a key element of a future geological service for Europe.
Asked by: Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support is available for first-time buyers in Cornwall.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of homeownership. This government is determined to change that, ensuring that young families and hardworking renters can buy a home of their own.
Boosting the supply of homes of all tenures must be at the heart of any strategy to improve housing affordability which is why the government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament.
In addition, a number of initiatives are in place to support people into home ownership, including through the shared ownership scheme - which will continue to be delivered through the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme - and the Lifetime ISA. The government has also introduced a new, permanent Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, available to support and sustain availability of low deposit mortgage products for prospective buyers. First-time buyers in Cornwall may also benefit from home ownership initiatives offered at the local level.
Asked by: Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has considered the potential merits of allowing Palestinians to (a) apply for visas online and (b) provide biometrics after arrival in the UK.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government is keeping all existing visa pathways under review in response to events in Gaza. Palestinians who wish to settle in the UK can do so via the existing routes available. More information on all routes available for a person to apply to work, study or settle/join family in the UK can be found on the GOV.UK website: Visas and immigration - GOV.UK.
People requiring a visa will need to make an online visa application and submit their biometrics (digital photograph and fingerprint) at a Visa Application Centre (VAC), prior to travel to the UK.