Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will take steps to ensure that local authorities do not reach the same outcome as original decisions where the SEND Tribunal upholds a family's appeal against a school placement and orders a local authority to retake its decision; and what assessment she has made of the adequacy of that remedy for families seeking to secure a suitable placement.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department wants to protect parents' rights to express a preference for a setting, whilst ensuring that local authorities make placement decisions that consider the preference and needs of other children and young people in the area. In the government's proposal, if parents do not agree with a local authority's decision about the setting, they will be able to appeal to the Tribunal. The Tribunal would be able to consider whether the local authority's decision is reasonable. If they found against the local authority, they could order the local authority to reconsider. In the proposals, the Tribunal will not name the placement for the child or young person.
We are carefully reviewing responses to the ‘Special educational needs and disabilities reform: putting children and young people first’ consultation, including those about placement decisions, and considering how placement decisions will work in practice. Our aim is to ensure that families have robust independent escalation routes and to allow local authorities to make decisions in a more holistic way.
We will publish final proposals in due course.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on victims and survivors of permitting the early release of offenders convicted of child rape and other serious sexual offences against children.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
First, I would like to express my sincere sympathy with all victims of these appalling crimes. Last month, we announced £100 million to crack down on child sexual abuse, and we have made grooming a statutory aggravating factor to ensure sentences reflect the severity of harm. This sits alongside a full statutory inquiry to get to the truth and deliver justice for grooming gang victims.
This Government inherited a prisons system days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe. Our landmark Sentencing Act 2026 will now deliver a more sustainable solution to the prison capacity crisis we inherited, including through the progression model which will help ensure there are always enough places for the courts to be able to send people to custody in order to keep the public safe. The worst thing for victims would be running out of prison space and not being able to lock up dangerous offenders.
The progression model amends release points for offenders on Standard Determinate Sentences. Over 18,000 offenders serving more serious sentences like Extended Determinate Sentences or life sentences will be unaffected by these reforms and will be kept in prison for as long as they are now.
Victims of serious sexual or violent offences where an offender receives a custodial sentence of 12 months or more are eligible for the Victim Contact Scheme (VCS). Victims who are eligible and opted into the VCS will continue to be able to make representations as to conditions they would like to see in the offender’s licence, such as exclusion zones and no-contact conditions.
Once released, offenders will be managed under strict licence conditions in the community. Offenders released on licence can be recalled if they breach their conditions or if they cannot be safely managed in the community.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders convicted of child rape or other serious sexual offences against children have been released early under Government early-release schemes since their introduction; how many of these offenders were (a) resident in, or (2) released to the Maidenhead constituency; and what risk-assessment procedures were applied before their release.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Data on SDS40 is published transparently and can be broken down by prison rather than constituency or offence (partly because many offenders have more than one offence). Table 8 provides data on SDS40 releases by prison: Standard Determinate Sentence (SDS40) release data: October 2024 to December 2025 - GOV.UK
SDS40 included an eight‑week implementation period which gave HMPPS and partners across the criminal justice system time to undertake release planning, prepare operational processes and work collaboratively to support the safe implementation of the measure.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the interaction between planning restrictions on residential annexes and their treatment for council tax purposes; and whether he plans to review planning guidance where an annexe is treated as part of the main dwelling for planning purposes.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The planning and council tax regimes consider different matters when determining how an annexe should be categorised.
Whether a separate residential unit is created is a matter for the local planning authority to consider on a case-by-case basis and may depend, for example, both upon how the annexe is constructed, and how and by whom it is used.
The Valuation Office will assess whether a property is assigned its own council tax band. In doing this they will consider whether the property is a separate self-contained domestic property. The Valuation Office will consider this on a case-by-case basis.
There are no current plans to review planning guidance for annexes or how properties are assessed for council tax.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to review the value of the complex lens voucher supplements; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of that support in meeting the cost of spectacles for patients with complex prescriptions.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
National Health Service optical vouchers are primarily targeted at children and individuals on low incomes to help with the cost of glasses and contact lenses. The NHS complex lens voucher is a separate contribution available to eligible individuals with complex prescriptions who do not qualify for a main NHS optical voucher on income grounds.
The value of NHS optical vouchers and associated supplements is kept under annual review as part of the Department’s usual fee-setting process. No decisions have yet been made on voucher values or supplements for 2026/27.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to review the value of NHS optical vouchers; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing those values to reflect changes in the cost of spectacles and contact lenses since April 2024.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
National Health Service optical vouchers are primarily targeted at children and individuals on low incomes to help with the cost of glasses and contact lenses. The NHS complex lens voucher is a separate contribution available to eligible individuals with complex prescriptions who do not qualify for a main NHS optical voucher on income grounds.
The value of NHS optical vouchers and associated supplements is kept under annual review as part of the Department’s usual fee-setting process. No decisions have yet been made on voucher values or supplements for 2026/27.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to undertake a review of ADHD diagnostic pathways, including the role of independent sector providers, to ensure assessments are evidence-based, clinically robust and consistent across England.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Government is committed to supporting people to have equitable access to safe, effective, and high-quality attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment services, irrespective of their service provider. We recognise that, nationally in England, demand for assessments for ADHD has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays accessing such assessments. The independent sector provides important service capacity within ADHD services.
It is the responsibility of integrated care boards in England to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including providing access to ADHD services in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. NHS England has issued advice to local systems on ADHD service delivery and prioritisation, including guidance on managing service provisions, reviewing waiting lists, and providing patient support.
Departmental officials engage regularly with the Care Quality Commission on matters relating to health service quality and regulation. We are aware of concerns that have been raised regarding some ADHD assessment-only services and are considering these issues with relevant partners.
The Government announced on 4 December 2025 the launch of an Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism. The final report, due in the summer, will make recommendations on how the Government, the health system, and wider public services can respond to increasing demand for assessment and support more fairly and effectively so that people receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place. The next stage of the review will look at the question of what role the private sector plays in diagnostic services.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has held discussions with the Care Quality Commission regarding the regulation and inspection of independent providers offering ADHD assessment services; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Government is committed to supporting people to have equitable access to safe, effective, and high-quality attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment services, irrespective of their service provider. We recognise that, nationally in England, demand for assessments for ADHD has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays accessing such assessments. The independent sector provides important service capacity within ADHD services.
It is the responsibility of integrated care boards in England to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including providing access to ADHD services in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. NHS England has issued advice to local systems on ADHD service delivery and prioritisation, including guidance on managing service provisions, reviewing waiting lists, and providing patient support.
Departmental officials engage regularly with the Care Quality Commission on matters relating to health service quality and regulation. We are aware of concerns that have been raised regarding some ADHD assessment-only services and are considering these issues with relevant partners.
The Government announced on 4 December 2025 the launch of an Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism. The final report, due in the summer, will make recommendations on how the Government, the health system, and wider public services can respond to increasing demand for assessment and support more fairly and effectively so that people receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place. The next stage of the review will look at the question of what role the private sector plays in diagnostic services.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has considered introducing a nationally recognised accreditation or registration scheme for providers undertaking ADHD assessments.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Government is committed to supporting people to have equitable access to safe, effective, and high-quality attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment services, irrespective of their service provider. We recognise that, nationally in England, demand for assessments for ADHD has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays accessing such assessments. The independent sector provides important service capacity within ADHD services.
It is the responsibility of integrated care boards in England to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including providing access to ADHD services in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. NHS England has issued advice to local systems on ADHD service delivery and prioritisation, including guidance on managing service provisions, reviewing waiting lists, and providing patient support.
Departmental officials engage regularly with the Care Quality Commission on matters relating to health service quality and regulation. We are aware of concerns that have been raised regarding some ADHD assessment-only services and are considering these issues with relevant partners.
The Government announced on 4 December 2025 the launch of an Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism. The final report, due in the summer, will make recommendations on how the Government, the health system, and wider public services can respond to increasing demand for assessment and support more fairly and effectively so that people receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place. The next stage of the review will look at the question of what role the private sector plays in diagnostic services.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether measures are in place to monitor adherence by ADHD assessment providers to NICE guidelines and UK Adult ADHD Network recommendations.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Government is committed to supporting people to have equitable access to safe, effective, and high-quality attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment services, irrespective of their service provider. We recognise that, nationally in England, demand for assessments for ADHD has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays accessing such assessments. The independent sector provides important service capacity within ADHD services.
It is the responsibility of integrated care boards in England to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including providing access to ADHD services in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. NHS England has issued advice to local systems on ADHD service delivery and prioritisation, including guidance on managing service provisions, reviewing waiting lists, and providing patient support.
Departmental officials engage regularly with the Care Quality Commission on matters relating to health service quality and regulation. We are aware of concerns that have been raised regarding some ADHD assessment-only services and are considering these issues with relevant partners.
The Government announced on 4 December 2025 the launch of an Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism. The final report, due in the summer, will make recommendations on how the Government, the health system, and wider public services can respond to increasing demand for assessment and support more fairly and effectively so that people receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place. The next stage of the review will look at the question of what role the private sector plays in diagnostic services.