Written Question
Wednesday 23rd July 2025
Asked by:
Leigh Ingham (Labour - Stafford)
Question
to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of community provision of palliative care in Stafford constituency.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock
- Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life.
Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. ICBs, including the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB, which covers the Stafford constituency, are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.
As set out in the Government’s recently published 10-Year Health Plan, we are determined to shift more care out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting. Palliative care and end of life care services, including hospices, will have a big role to play in that shift, and were highlighted in the plan as being an integral part of neighbourhood teams.
The Government and the National Health Service will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative and end of life care services to ensure that, in future, services reduce variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.
Officials will present further proposals to ministers over the coming months, outlining how to operationalise the required shifts in palliative care and end of life care to enable the shift from hospital to community, including as part of neighbourhood health teams.
Written Question
Wednesday 23rd July 2025
Asked by:
Leigh Ingham (Labour - Stafford)
Question
to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what mechanisms are in place to (a) monitor and (b) hold accountable (i) CAFCASS and (ii) family courts in private law proceedings where safeguarding concerns for children are identified; and what procedures there are to ensure action is taken in cases involving known risks to prevent serious harm.
Answered by Sarah Sackman
- Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
As a Non-Departmental Body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, the oversight and assurance arrangements for Cafcass are carried out in accordance with the Arms-Length Body Code of Practice. Specific areas of oversight are also covered in the Framework Document between the Ministry of Justice and Cafcass, which broadly sets out sponsorship governance arrangements, financial management and performance reporting. Cafcass is subject to regular inspection by Ofsted. The most recent inspection took place in January 2024 and key findings are available here.
The judiciary is independent, and the Government therefore does not hold them to account, however support is available in the family courts where safeguarding concerns are identified and to ensure that action is taken to protect children.
Scheduled Event -
22 Jul 2025, 4 p.m.
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Commons -
Westminster Hall debate - Westminster Hall
Housing provision in Stafford
MP:
Leigh Ingham
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Jul 2025
Housing Provision in Stafford
"I completely agree with the hon. Gentleman. My dad does not work any more, but he was a bricklayer. He always said to me that if he had owned his own business, he would have built bungalows because there is always a need for them—this country can never build enough …..."Leigh Ingham - View Speech
View all Leigh Ingham (Lab - Stafford) contributions to the debate on: Housing Provision in Stafford
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Jul 2025
Housing Provision in Stafford
"I beg to move,
That this House has considered housing provision in Stafford.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Huq. I thank the Backbench Business Committee for granting this debate.
To give some understanding of the local picture, Stafford borough is currently without an adopted local …..."Leigh Ingham - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 21 Jul 2025
Independent Water Commission
"On Crooked Bridge Road in my constituency of Stafford, Eccleshall and the villages, it has taken the county council far too long to accept responsibility for faulty pipes. The buck has been passed between the council and Severn Trent, and the investigative work will not even start till 1 August. …..."Leigh Ingham - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 17 Jul 2025
Strategy for Elections
"As a member of the Speaker’s Conference, I have heard evidence that has shocked me to my core, so I know how much needed these reforms are.
This week I have held my first summer school with 16 and 17-year-olds this week. Twenty of them have been learning about how …..."Leigh Ingham - View Speech
View all Leigh Ingham (Lab - Stafford) contributions to the debate on: Strategy for Elections
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 17 Jul 2025
Business of the House
"Members who are frequent flyers at business questions may contradict me when I say that Stafford is the best constituency, but I do not think that any would contradict its being the most gridlocked, so I thank the Leader of the House for her answer last week.
I have recently …..."Leigh Ingham - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 17 Jul 2025
Global Plastics Treaty
"I thank the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael) for securing this debate. I know he is deeply committed to this issue.
I want to draw attention to a part of this crisis that is often overlooked but no less urgent: microplastics, which I know the Minister …..."Leigh Ingham - View Speech
View all Leigh Ingham (Lab - Stafford) contributions to the debate on: Global Plastics Treaty
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 17 Jul 2025
Global Plastics Treaty
"I was not familiar with the legislation that France has passed. When I buy clothes, I try to make sure that I buy natural fibres, which can be tough to do—I find that I really have to search for them. We could look at introducing similar legislation, which sounds like …..."Leigh Ingham - View Speech
View all Leigh Ingham (Lab - Stafford) contributions to the debate on: Global Plastics Treaty