Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation to require electric scooter and electric bike hire operators to provide helmets attached to each vehicle.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Users of rental e-scooters and e-bikes are encouraged by operators to wear a helmet.

All future decisions on e-scooter regulations, which could include a requirement for users to wear protective equipment, will be informed by the data from our ongoing national e-scooter trials which is helping to deepen our understanding of e-scooter safety.

Licences for shared cycle schemes under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 will contain some mandatory conditions set centrally by the Department for Transport which will be common to all licences. They will include a strong focus on safety, and we will be consulting on those conditions over the coming months.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the judgment in A Reference by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland of a devolution issue under paragraph 34 of Schedule 10 to the Northern Ireland Act [2026] UKSC 16, what steps her Department has taken to support local authorities in respect to people who were previously subject to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisations but who, following the that judgment, now no longer fall within the scope of DoLS.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department has carefully considered the Supreme Court’s judgment and, on 15 June 2026, published an update for the health and care sector, available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-the-definition-of-deprivation-of-liberty/uk-supreme-court-2026-judgment-on-what-constitutes-a-deprivation-of-liberty

The update sets out the implications of the judgment and the factors to consider when assessing whether an individual is deprived of their liberty. It also advises local authorities and care providers to begin planning how to prioritise their current caseload, including existing authorisations, individuals on waiting lists, and new referrals. The Department will publish further interim guidance this autumn to help the sector apply the judgment in practice.

The deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) system will continue to apply, in line with the changes required by the Supreme Court judgment. DoLS are only one of several protections in place. Additional safeguards include the Mental Capacity Act, local authority safeguarding duties required by the Care Act 2014, and common law duties of care, some of which also include the right to an advocate.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training is provided to Jobcentre Plus work coaches on identifying and supporting jobseekers with dyslexia.

Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

DWP recognises the importance of providing learning to enable all work coaches, to meet the needs of all our customers’, including those with dyslexia.

New to role Jobcentre Plus work coaches receive role specific learning, which:

• provides a definition of dyslexia and explains the impacts this may have on customers
• provides awareness of undiagnosed hidden disability
• ensures learners understand both their Public Sector Equality Duty responsibilities, and how to support customers’ additional needs
• enables staff to signpost customers to appropriate external specialist support.

All Work Coaches have access to and are supported with online point of need learning, which includes recognising the challenges faced by jobseekers with dyslexia and signposting to appropriate external support.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of publishing consistent data on (a) recurrence and (b) longer-term survival rates for secondary breast cancer.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Cancer Plan for England, published in February this year, committed to define and count recurrent cancers, starting with breast cancer. The National Disease Registration Service is working towards publishing a baseline figure of metastatic breast cancer patients in the last quarter of 2026 as per the commitment in the plan.

Through this National Cancer Plan action, we will ensure that every person with secondary breast cancer has faster diagnosis and treatment, access to the latest treatments and technology, and high-quality support throughout their journey, while we work to drive up this country’s cancer survival rates.

NHS England and other National Health Service organisations, nationally and locally, publish information on the signs and symptoms of many different types of cancer, including breast cancer. This information can be found at sources including the NHS website, at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/

NHS breast screening for women at very high risk (VHR) starts earlier and is more frequent than those not at VHR. Guidance on eligibility for VHR screening is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/breast-screening-higher-risk-women-surveillance-protocols

Women at VHR of breast cancer are now identified within the NHS National Inherited Cancer Predisposition Registry, and referred into the NHS Breast Screening Programme, which has enabled reconciliation to ensure that all identified women are safely referred into the programme. This is a step towards a fully electronic referral VHR process into the NHS Breast Screening Programme.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to ensure people at increased risk of breast cancer receive adequate screening and wrap-around support.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Cancer Plan for England, published in February this year, committed to define and count recurrent cancers, starting with breast cancer. The National Disease Registration Service is working towards publishing a baseline figure of metastatic breast cancer patients in the last quarter of 2026 as per the commitment in the plan.

Through this National Cancer Plan action, we will ensure that every person with secondary breast cancer has faster diagnosis and treatment, access to the latest treatments and technology, and high-quality support throughout their journey, while we work to drive up this country’s cancer survival rates.

NHS England and other National Health Service organisations, nationally and locally, publish information on the signs and symptoms of many different types of cancer, including breast cancer. This information can be found at sources including the NHS website, at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/

NHS breast screening for women at very high risk (VHR) starts earlier and is more frequent than those not at VHR. Guidance on eligibility for VHR screening is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/breast-screening-higher-risk-women-surveillance-protocols

Women at VHR of breast cancer are now identified within the NHS National Inherited Cancer Predisposition Registry, and referred into the NHS Breast Screening Programme, which has enabled reconciliation to ensure that all identified women are safely referred into the programme. This is a step towards a fully electronic referral VHR process into the NHS Breast Screening Programme.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether UK aid funding is being used to fund depo Provera contraceptive injections.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Through UK-funded programmes, including Women's Integrated Sexual Health-Dividend (WISH-Dividend) and support to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Supplies Partnership, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office helps expand access globally to a range of contraceptive methods, including Depo Provera contraceptive injections (DMPA).

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate the department has made of the number and proportion of young people who are not in education, employment or training who have dyslexia.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The independent Office for National Statistics estimate that there are 981,000 16-24 year-olds not in education, employment and training, down 30,000 (0.5% points) on the quarter. The DWP does not hold data on what proportion of young people not in education, employment or training have dyslexia.

With around one million young people not in education, employment and training, this Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind.

The Government is investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn, including through expanded network of Youth Hubs, earlier intensive support in Jobs Centres through a new Youth Guarantee Gateway, additional work experience and training opportunities, a £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant and £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for employers, and a fully funded six month job for long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds.

We also recognise the crisis of participation that Alan Milburn has so clearly laid out in his interim report. We will use this interim report to continue to build our reforms and look forward to final recommendations in the Autumn.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to support investment in net zero and renewable energy production facilities in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Nottinghamshire is benefiting from significant clean energy investment.

The STEP programme will deliver a prototype fusion power plant at West Burton, supporting reindustrialisation around the site – a former coal power station – and supporting thousands of jobs.

HyMarnham Power, which was successful in the first hydrogen allocation round (HAR1), is transforming the former High Marnham coal-fired power station into a clean energy hub, introducing 9.3 MW of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity.

The Government has supported solar energy farms in Nottinghamshire through the Contracts for Difference scheme.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the clean energy transition benefits every community.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Department is taking to ensure that careers advisers receive training on the challenges experienced by young people with dyslexia and other neurodiverse differences.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Careers adviser qualifications and continuing professional development (CPD) include content on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This helps advisers understand dyslexia and other forms of neurodiversity, identify barriers to learning and progression, work effectively with special educational needs coordinators and other professionals, and provide tailored careers guidance.

To further strengthen support for young people with SEND, the department has commissioned Transform Your Training to develop a series of CPD modules for careers advisers, including a module focused specifically on supporting young people with SEND.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her department has made of the potential impact of funding for earlier diagnosis and specialist heart failure services on NHS expenditure associated with emergency admissions.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

On the provision of NT-proBNP point-of-care testing, I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 5 June 2025 in response to Question 54244. More broadly, the Cardiovascular Diesease Modern Service Framework sets out the Department's approach to prevention and reduced hospital admissions and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cardiovascular-disease-modern-service-framework

However, the Department does not hold the specific estimate requested.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department plans to pilot the provision of NT-proBNP point-of-care testing in community pharmacies for people presenting with symptoms of heart failure.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

On the provision of NT-proBNP point-of-care testing, I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 5 June 2025 in response to Question 54244. More broadly, the Cardiovascular Diesease Modern Service Framework sets out the Department's approach to prevention and reduced hospital admissions and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cardiovascular-disease-modern-service-framework

However, the Department does not hold the specific estimate requested.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential benefits of funding immunotherapy research for people with early-stage type 1 diabetes.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department delivers research into the diagnosis, treatment, and management of type 1 diabetes through the research infrastructure of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), comprised of biomedical research centres (BRCs), clinical research facilities (CRFs), and its Research Delivery Network (RDN). Through this infrastructure:

• the NIHR RDN is supporting the delivery of the Early Surveillance for Autoimmune Diabetes study, which is assessing the feasibility and benefits of screening children and young people for type 1 diabetes;
• the NIHR Oxford BRC is leading research into a new home test for type 1 diabetes in children and young people, exploring whether at-home testing could be employed more routinely across the National Health Service;
• the NIHR is supporting a UK-wide Type 1 Diabetes Cell Therapy Clinical Trials Network, a £5 million programme designed to build a nationwide infrastructure across NIHR BRCs and CRFs to support cell-therapy trials, enabling people with type 1 diabetes to gain access to the latest cutting-edge treatments as early as possible; and
• the NIHR is also investing £2.9 million in partnership with Diabetes UK to support the development and evaluation of the ‘D-stress’ programme, in order to identify the most effective way to prevent and treat type 1 diabetes distress, helping to improve the management of the condition, and the quality of life for those living with it.

The NIHR continues to welcome high-quality applications for research into type 1 diabetes, which will be assessed against its normal criteria, and judged in open competition.

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 improve dementia diagnosis, treatment and long-term care provision for military veterans in (i) Broxtowe constituency and (ii) Nottinghamshire.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is proud of the courage and dedication of our Armed Forces. It is our duty to ensure that those that have been injured whilst serving in the Armed Forces, whether physically or mentally, receive the very best possible care.

Local integrated care boards commission dementia healthcare services and are expected to deliver services based on local population needs, taking account of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

We will publish the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to set a clear direction and a long-term blueprint to improve outcomes for people with dementia. It will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia.

We are engaging with a wide group of partners to understand what should be included to ensure the best outcomes for people living with frailty and dementia.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of support available to people with (a) multiple sclerosis and (b) other progressive neurological conditions in (i) Broxtowe constituency, (ii) Nottinghamshire and (iii) England.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to improving access to high‑quality care and treatment for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other progressive neurological conditions, including in Broxtowe and Nottinghamshire. NHS England has published a service specification for specialised neurology services, which aims to ensure that patients receive coordinated, multidisciplinary care and timely access to appropriate treatments.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has issued guidance on the use of disease‑modifying therapies for MS, supporting clinicians to offer clinically and cost‑effective treatments based on the best available evidence. NHS England also supports the implementation of treatment algorithms to promote consistent prescribing and reduce unwarranted variation in access to high‑efficacy therapies.

In addition, programmes such as Getting It Right First Time are helping to improve outcomes and reduce variation in neurological care across the country. NHS RightCare’s progressive neurological conditions toolkit supports improved outcomes for people with MS by helping local systems identify and address unwarranted variation in care, and by setting out evidence‑based pathways for timely diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management. The toolkit promotes a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach and emphasises proactive management of symptoms and complications.

The 10-Year Health Plan will also support improved care and outcomes for people with MS by focusing on earlier diagnosis, more timely access to specialist treatment, and more coordinated, community‑based care. It will prioritise reducing unwarranted variation in services and strengthening multidisciplinary support, helping people with MS to manage their condition more effectively and maintain their quality of life.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning services to meet the needs of their local populations and are expected to have regard to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and other guidance to ensure patients can access high‑quality care and treatment.

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 increase capacity within NHS neurology services in (i) Broxtowe, (ii) Nottinghamshire, and (iii) England.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to improving access to high‑quality care and treatment for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other progressive neurological conditions, including in Broxtowe and Nottinghamshire. NHS England has published a service specification for specialised neurology services, which aims to ensure that patients receive coordinated, multidisciplinary care and timely access to appropriate treatments.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has issued guidance on the use of disease‑modifying therapies for MS, supporting clinicians to offer clinically and cost‑effective treatments based on the best available evidence. NHS England also supports the implementation of treatment algorithms to promote consistent prescribing and reduce unwarranted variation in access to high‑efficacy therapies.

In addition, programmes such as Getting It Right First Time are helping to improve outcomes and reduce variation in neurological care across the country. NHS RightCare’s progressive neurological conditions toolkit supports improved outcomes for people with MS by helping local systems identify and address unwarranted variation in care, and by setting out evidence‑based pathways for timely diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management. The toolkit promotes a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach and emphasises proactive management of symptoms and complications.

The 10-Year Health Plan will also support improved care and outcomes for people with MS by focusing on earlier diagnosis, more timely access to specialist treatment, and more coordinated, community‑based care. It will prioritise reducing unwarranted variation in services and strengthening multidisciplinary support, helping people with MS to manage their condition more effectively and maintain their quality of life.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning services to meet the needs of their local populations and are expected to have regard to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and other guidance to ensure patients can access high‑quality care and treatment.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support her Department is providing to Integrated Care Systems to ensure people with multiple sclerosis receive the best possible care.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to improving access to high‑quality care and treatment for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other progressive neurological conditions, including in Broxtowe and Nottinghamshire. NHS England has published a service specification for specialised neurology services, which aims to ensure that patients receive coordinated, multidisciplinary care and timely access to appropriate treatments.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has issued guidance on the use of disease‑modifying therapies for MS, supporting clinicians to offer clinically and cost‑effective treatments based on the best available evidence. NHS England also supports the implementation of treatment algorithms to promote consistent prescribing and reduce unwarranted variation in access to high‑efficacy therapies.

In addition, programmes such as Getting It Right First Time are helping to improve outcomes and reduce variation in neurological care across the country. NHS RightCare’s progressive neurological conditions toolkit supports improved outcomes for people with MS by helping local systems identify and address unwarranted variation in care, and by setting out evidence‑based pathways for timely diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management. The toolkit promotes a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach and emphasises proactive management of symptoms and complications.

The 10-Year Health Plan will also support improved care and outcomes for people with MS by focusing on earlier diagnosis, more timely access to specialist treatment, and more coordinated, community‑based care. It will prioritise reducing unwarranted variation in services and strengthening multidisciplinary support, helping people with MS to manage their condition more effectively and maintain their quality of life.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning services to meet the needs of their local populations and are expected to have regard to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and other guidance to ensure patients can access high‑quality care and treatment.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to reduce regional and socioeconomic inequalities in access to diagnostic assessments for neurodivergent differences such as dyslexia and ADHD.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Effective early identification and support are critical to improving outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those who may have neurodivergent differences such as dyslexia or ADHD.

The SEND Code of Practice is clear that identifying and meeting a child's SEND does not require a diagnostic label. Education settings should identify and respond to needs at the earliest opportunity through a graduated approach, with support determined by a child or young person's needs.

The department is strengthening the education system's ability to identify and meet needs earlier and more consistently through the development of National Inclusion Standards. These will support education settings to provide appropriate support based on need, helping to ensure that children and young people can access support without having to wait for a diagnosis, regardless of where they live.

Furthermore, the department is strengthening its needs-led approach through the new Experts at Hand offer. Backed by £1.8 billion over the next three years, it will give mainstream education settings direct access to specialist expertise without the need for a referral, helping to ensure that all children and young people can access timely support when they need it, based on their identified needs.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the financial barriers for families seeking a diagnostic assessment for dyslexia.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Effective early identification and support are critical to improving outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those who may have neurodivergent differences such as dyslexia or ADHD.

The SEND Code of Practice is clear that identifying and meeting a child's SEND does not require a diagnostic label. Education settings should identify and respond to needs at the earliest opportunity through a graduated approach, with support determined by a child or young person's needs.

The department is strengthening the education system's ability to identify and meet needs earlier and more consistently through the development of National Inclusion Standards. These will support education settings to provide appropriate support based on need, helping to ensure that children and young people can access support without having to wait for a diagnosis, regardless of where they live.

Furthermore, the department is strengthening its needs-led approach through the new Experts at Hand offer. Backed by £1.8 billion over the next three years, it will give mainstream education settings direct access to specialist expertise without the need for a referral, helping to ensure that all children and young people can access timely support when they need it, based on their identified needs.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of teachers have completed continuing professional development relating specifically to dyslexia in each of the last five academic years.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department does not hold data on all professional development completed by teachers. Decisions relating to teachers’ professional development rest with schools, headteachers and teachers themselves, as they are in the best position to judge their own requirements.

The department does deliver professional development for teachers to support children and young people with reading difficulties, for which we have information on take up.

For example, ‘Reading Ambition for All’ is a continuous professional development programme delivered by our regional improvement for standards and excellence English Hubs, which is primarily aimed at reading leaders, special educational needs co-ordinators and senior leaders. The programme draws on the latest research on how children learn to read and explores the appropriate teaching, support and provision for the lowest attaining children in reading, with a particular focus on those with special educational needs and disabilities. So far, 1,181 schools have taken part in this programme.

Additionally, the national professional qualification (NPQ) for leading literacy supports leaders of literacy to develop all pupils’ language capability and word reading skills, as well as how to contribute to effective professional development linked to literacy in their own setting. The latest published data shows that over 7000 teachers have taken this NPQ since it was introduced.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking with international allies to help safeguard shipping and international trade transiting through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We condemn Houthi attacks on shipping in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and on regional countries. The UK is working with international allies to safeguard shipping and international trade transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Through the UK led Yemen Maritime Security Partnership (YMSP), partners including the Government of Yemen, the United States, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Japan and the European Union, are working to help strengthen Yemen Coast Guard capabilities, improve maritime security, disrupt weapons smuggling and support freedom of navigation. The UK has committed $4 million to the partnership, which has secured over $20 million in international pledges and engaged more than 35 international partners to strengthen security along Yemen's coastline and the Red Sea. As UN Security Council penholder on Yemen, the UK is also working with partners to strengthen the UNSCR 2140 Yemen sanctions regime, arms embargo implementation, support the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM), and target Houthi procurement networks.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment the AI Security Institute has made of the incident disclosed by OpenAI on 21 July 2026, in which artificial intelligence models undergoing evaluation circumvented containment measures and accessed the infrastructure of a third-party company without being instructed to; and whether any UK authority was notified of that incident.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 7 September 2026 (HCWS314), which covers the OpenAI-Hugging Face case and similar recent examples of AI agents acting beyond their operators' intentions, and the actions this Government is taking in response.

Found: Liberal Democrat; Orkney and Shetland) (Chair) Sarah Bool (Conservative; South Northamptonshire) Juliet Campbell

Found: Liberal Democrat; Orkney and Shetland) (Chair) Sarah Bool (Conservative; South Northamptonshire) Juliet Campbell