Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the next review of the School Admissions Code will take place; and whether the scope of that review will include admissions arrangements for schools with a religious character, including the use of faith-based oversubscription criteria.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department values the contribution schools with a religious character make to a diverse school system, and it is important faith schools can set admissions criteria that work for their local circumstances.
The government set out in the ‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’ White Paper its intention to consult later this year on changes to the statutory School Admissions Code to reduce barriers and promote fairness for families.
Any changes to the School Admissions Code will be subject to a full public consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she expects to make a decision on whether to include Religious Education within the National Curriculum as part of the current curriculum and assessment review; and whether that decision will be subject to public consultation.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the Department plans to publish updated guidance on collective worship in state-funded schools in England; and whether there will be a public consultation as part of that review.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress has been made on the Cancer Plan commitment to define and count recurrent cancers, starting with metastatic breast cancer in 2026.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) in NHS England collects, curates, quality assures, and analyses data about people with cancer across the whole of England.
The NDRS data improvement team is working with National Health Service trusts to provide support and guidance to improve their reporting of non-primary cancers, focused on the specific recurrence and progression data fields included in the Cancer Outcomes and Services Dataset. This includes updates on trust submitted recurrence data in our routine ‘diagnoses by provider’ dashboard, available on our NHS facing, secure CancerStats2 site.
The Government has set out in the National Cancer Plan for England an ambition to define and count recurrent cancers, starting with metastatic breast cancer from 2026. Existing data improvement activity within NDRS provides a foundation to support progress towards this ambition.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
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 taking to make the drug Enhertu is available for people with secondary breast cancer in England.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for East Grinstead and Uckfield on 13 January 2026 to Question 103810.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the scheduled January meeting of the cross-government working group on how best to reduce barriers to clinical research with Schedule 1 drugs took place, and whether minutes will be available on public record.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
A meeting of the cross-government working group on reducing barriers to research with Schedule 1 drugs took place on 23 January. The working group is comprised of officials from the relevant government departments and regulatory bodies. The group’s role is the formulation of policy. As such its considerations are not agreed government policy and we have no plans to publish them. The Government remains committed to implementing the recommendations of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on reducing barriers to research with Schedule 1 drugs and we will publish our plans in this area in due course.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many meetings have been held of the cross-government officials working group on research with controlled drugs.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
On 16 July, the Government responded to recommendations from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (‘ACMD’) on how best to reduce barriers to clinical research with Schedule 1 drugs. The Government committed to set up a cross-government working group of officials to assist with delivery of those recommendations.
The group had its first meeting in September, followed by a series of bilateral discussions between Home Office officials and the organisations represented on the working group. The next meeting is planned for January. Alongside the working group, officials have ongoing engagement with relevant officials in wider departments and agencies, and with businesses, representative organisations and researchers who are likely to benefit from the proposals. Officials have also explored with international counterparts the provisions for research with controlled drugs in their jurisdictions.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will list the meetings scheduled for the working group on any new issues involving research with controlled drugs during the next six months.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
On 16 July, the Government responded to recommendations from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (‘ACMD’) on how best to reduce barriers to clinical research with Schedule 1 drugs. The Government committed to set up a cross-government working group of officials to assist with delivery of those recommendations.
The group had its first meeting in September, followed by a series of bilateral discussions between Home Office officials and the organisations represented on the working group. The next meeting is planned for January. Alongside the working group, officials have ongoing engagement with relevant officials in wider departments and agencies, and with businesses, representative organisations and researchers who are likely to benefit from the proposals. Officials have also explored with international counterparts the provisions for research with controlled drugs in their jurisdictions.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate her Department has made of the average timescale for a diagnosis of coeliac disease from the point a person presents to their GP with symptoms; and what assessment she has made of the impact of the time taken for a diagnosis on patient mental and physical health.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
Diagnostic services, including tests for coeliac disease, are provided in a range of settings, including community diagnostic centres (CDCs). We are expanding diagnostic capacity through the delivery of the CDC programme. NHS England assesses the delivery of diagnostic services, including by analysing regular management information for activity in CDCs as well as a national data collection for gastroscopy.
NHS England has also invested in senior clinical leadership in gastroenterology, which includes coeliac disease, as a priority workstream in the national Getting It Right First Time programme. However, it is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission services to meet the needs of their local populace, including the diagnosis and ongoing management of coeliac disease.
The Government and NHS England are taking steps to support people waiting for appointments and surgery for long-term conditions, including those waiting for a coeliac disease diagnosis, by offering online support, increasing elective capacity, and encouraging personalised support.
NHS England launched the My Planned Care platform in February 2022, giving patients advice and support to manage their health, and avoid significant deterioration of symptoms whilst they wait for appointments. This online platform includes advice on physical and mental health. In addition, through the NHS Long Term Plan, the Government is providing record levels of investment and increasing the mental health workforce to expand and transform National Health Service mental health services in England, helping to reduce waiting times.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence promotes its guidance on coeliac disease, which includes information for the public via its website, newsletters, and other media.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help increase public awareness of coeliac disease.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
Diagnostic services, including tests for coeliac disease, are provided in a range of settings, including community diagnostic centres (CDCs). We are expanding diagnostic capacity through the delivery of the CDC programme. NHS England assesses the delivery of diagnostic services, including by analysing regular management information for activity in CDCs as well as a national data collection for gastroscopy.
NHS England has also invested in senior clinical leadership in gastroenterology, which includes coeliac disease, as a priority workstream in the national Getting It Right First Time programme. However, it is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission services to meet the needs of their local populace, including the diagnosis and ongoing management of coeliac disease.
The Government and NHS England are taking steps to support people waiting for appointments and surgery for long-term conditions, including those waiting for a coeliac disease diagnosis, by offering online support, increasing elective capacity, and encouraging personalised support.
NHS England launched the My Planned Care platform in February 2022, giving patients advice and support to manage their health, and avoid significant deterioration of symptoms whilst they wait for appointments. This online platform includes advice on physical and mental health. In addition, through the NHS Long Term Plan, the Government is providing record levels of investment and increasing the mental health workforce to expand and transform National Health Service mental health services in England, helping to reduce waiting times.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence promotes its guidance on coeliac disease, which includes information for the public via its website, newsletters, and other media.