Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress her Department has made on implementing the recommendations arising from the November 2024 joint report into the police response to stalking, following the super-complaint submitted by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust; and what assessment she has made of the extent to which police forces are now identifying and recording stalking offences correctly.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The final report of the super-complaint on the police response to stalking made nine recommendations to Government. In our response of 22 November 2024, the Government accepted or partially accepted all nine and we have since been working in collaboration with policing and the specialist stalking sector to deliver them.
Six out of nine recommendations are now complete. We have:
We will continue to work closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to support implementation of the stalking super-complaint recommendations across forces. All police forces have published action plans and provided progress updates.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
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 address the postcode lottery in NHS mental health support for bereaved parents following pregnancy or baby loss; and if she will commit to issuing national standards for Integrated Care Boards to ensure all bereaved parents, including fathers and partners, can access specialist psychological support.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 9 March in response to Question 116689, which, for ease of reference, has been reproduced below:
“The Government recognises that the experience of losing a baby or pregnancy loss can be very difficult for parents and families.
Mental health services are available in all areas of England for women who experience mental health difficulties during, or due to, their pregnancy, labour, or birth, including Maternal Mental Health Services that specialise in supporting women who have experienced loss.
Additionally, all NHS England trusts have signed up to the National Bereavement Care Pathway (NBCP), which acts as a set of standard and guidance aimed at ensuring all families, including fathers and partners, receive consistent, individualised, and sensitive care. NHS England is working closely with the baby loss charity Sands to agree what steps are necessary to support a faster and more consistent implementation so that all women and families, no matter where they are, receive the support they need at such a difficult time”.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to require operators of privately operated tolled crossings that have statutory powers to issue penalty charges to provide access to independent adjudication of those charges.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Most privately-operated tolled undertakings still require payment at tollbooths and so do not rely on the issuing of penalty charges for non-payment to ensure compliance. The Department does not currently have the power to impose a requirement for independent adjudication on the few undertakings that have already converted from tollbooths to remote payment systems. However, it is something that we will be seeking to require as and when further tolled undertakings convert to remote payment operation. The Highways (Financing) Bill includes clauses that would provide a simple legal route for tolled undertakings to convert from tollbooth to free-flow/remote payment operation. This would allow for an independent adjudication process to be required in future conversions.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential financial impact of following a medically necessary gluten-free diet on households; and what steps her Department is taking to support people diagnosed with coeliac disease with associated costs.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 3 July 2026 in response to Question 13254.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment the Department has made of the adequacy of national clinical guidance on the assessment and care of people presenting to emergency departments with suicidal ideation.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Employers are responsible for ensuring that staff are appropriately trained to provide safe care.
Healthcare professionals are expected to be aware of and follow relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on mental health, self-harm, and suicide prevention.
In addition, the Staying Safe from Suicide Guidance, published in April 2025, sets out the latest evidence on the assessment, formulation, and management of suicide risk. Mental health practitioners are expected to align their practice with this guidance, and an accompanying e-learning package is available to National Health Service and non-NHS staff. The NHS Medium Term Planning Framework requires integrated care boards to ensure that mental health practitioners undertake this training and deliver care in line with the guidance.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what mandatory training requirements apply to emergency department staff in England on the care of patients presenting in mental health crisis.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Employers are responsible for ensuring that staff are appropriately trained to provide safe care.
Healthcare professionals are expected to be aware of and follow relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on mental health, self-harm, and suicide prevention.
In addition, the Staying Safe from Suicide Guidance, published in April 2025, sets out the latest evidence on the assessment, formulation, and management of suicide risk. Mental health practitioners are expected to align their practice with this guidance, and an accompanying e-learning package is available to National Health Service and non-NHS staff. The NHS Medium Term Planning Framework requires integrated care boards to ensure that mental health practitioners undertake this training and deliver care in line with the guidance.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the new 30,000-mile three-year mileage allowance under the Motability Scheme on the ability of disabled people to remain in paid employment.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 June 2026 to Question UIN 5478.
Responsibility for the terms and administration of the Scheme sits with Motability Foundation and its Board of Governors. Department officials and Motability meet regularly to review the Scheme and how it operates to ensure it meets the needs of disabled people
Motability have announced that from 1 July 2026, customers who need significantly more travel than the standard mileage allowance for essential healthcare, education or employment journeys may be eligible for additional mileage support. Customers must demonstrate they require more than 3,000 miles a year for these purposes, with support applied to approved miles above that threshold through reduced excess mileage charges, while leisure and holiday travel is excluded. Support can be requested when ordering a vehicle or during a lease, with eligibility assessed based on individual circumstances and supporting evidence.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the geographic coverage of Local Access Forums under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; and what steps she is taking to ensure that areas with limited coverage, such as the North West, have access to a functioning LAF.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Department has not made a formal assessment of the adequacy of the geographic coverage of Local Access Forums (LAFs). Under sections 94 and 95 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, local highway authorities and National Park authorities are responsible for establishing LAFs in their areas. The Government expects authorities, including newly created unitary authorities, to consider any implications of local government reorganisation for LAF coverage and operation. While responsibility for the effective functioning of LAFs rests locally, the Department keeps arrangements under review and engages with relevant local government stakeholders as appropriate.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
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 ensure that alcohol treatment services signpost family members and friends to national mutual aid organisations, such as Al-Anon Family Groups.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has published extensive guidance and resources to support effective practice for the commissioners and providers of alcohol and drug treatment and recovery services, recommending they should provide support to family members and friends and facilitate their access to mutual aid groups such as Al-Anon Family Groups. Examples of guidance and resources include the United Kingdom clinical guidelines for alcohol treatment, the Drug misuse and dependence: UK guidelines on clinical management, the Recovery support services and lived experience initiative, and the Facilitating Access to Mutual Aid toolkit, all of which are available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg115/chapter/Recommendations#principles-of-care
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mutual-aid-toolkit-for-alcohol-and-drug-misuse-treatment
The Department is also supporting a National Institute for Health and Care Research funded study to build the UK evidence base on facilitated access to mutual aid. Findings are expected in 2030. Further information can be found at the following link:
https://www.fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR169047
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
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 improve access for newly qualified psychotherapists to NHS roles.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 16 July 2026 to Question 16343.