Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to ensure an orderly implementation of Making Tax Digital for people due to join between April 2027 and April 2028.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax is being introduced gradually, with taxpayers joining in phases according to their level of qualifying income.
The phased approach enables HMRC to build on experience from each stage of implementation before additional groups are brought into the regime.
HMRC is actively supporting this transition through a marketing campaign targeted at unrepresented customers, supported by intensive multi-channel engagement and communications with taxpayers, agents, representative bodies and software developers and targeted guidance to help those affected prepare.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
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 to Trametinib for people diagnosed with rare cancers.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 29 June to Question 12315, concerning access to medicines for rare cancers, including Trametinib.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the safeguarding risks arising from the use of AI-enabled and camera-equipped smart glasses in education, youth and care settings.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department recognises that emerging technologies, including AI-enabled and camera-equipped smart glasses, may raise issues relating to transparency, privacy and the processing of personal data. They also present safeguarding risks if used to record, share or manipulate images, audio, or video involving children.
Schools and colleges must consider their obligations under data protection law when using camera-enabled smart glasses or other wearable recording devices. Schools and colleges should also assess the risks presented by emerging technologies and ensure these are appropriately reflected in their safeguarding, data protection and visitor policies.
Our statutory guidance âKeeping children safe in educationâ sets out a whole-school approach to safeguarding and requires schools and colleges to consider online safety and risks arising from technology, including how it may facilitate abuse, exploitation, harassment or other harms.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
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 potential implications of transferring responsibility for appointing NHS Foundation Trust Chairs and Non-Executive Directors from locally elected governors to central bodies.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Governors at the 141 National Health Service foundation trusts are currently responsible for appointing their trustsâ chairs and non-executive directors. Subject to the will of Parliament, the Health Bill will transfer this power to my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. We will publish our intended approach to making these appointments in due course which will support foundation trusts to plan and make arrangements in good time ahead of the transfer being made.
As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan, while governors have provided helpful advice and oversight for some foundation trusts, we expect the next generation of foundation trusts to put in place more responsive and flexible arrangements for drawing on patient, staff and stakeholder insight. Rather than a one-size-fits-all model, providers should develop engagement arrangements that reflect their local populations, geographies and healthcare needs.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
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 help ensure access to Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy training in the North of England.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the transformed services set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.
Employers across the health system are responsible for ensuring their staff are trained to the required standards to deliver safe and effective care. NHS England commissions four-year Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy training in response to service demand. Across the North West, North East, and Yorkshire regions, this includes 20 new training starts planned for 2026/27, alongside a further 36 trainees continuing from previous years.
To support equitable access into the profession, NHS England also funds pre-clinical training to widen participation for those who may otherwise be unable to meet the costs of mandatory entry requirements. For 2026/27, this includes 27 new starts across the north of England, with 17 trainees continuing from previous years.
Following the decision by the Northern School of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, part of the Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, to withdraw from pre-clinical training provision, NHS England is ensuring access to alternative providers and working with stakeholders on a sustainable long-term solution for the North.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support is available to hearing parents of deaf children to learn British Sign Language.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government understands the great importance of British Sign Language (BSL) for bridging barriers to communication between hearing and deaf people and appreciates the vital need for families with deaf children to be able to access BSL courses, as early access to language is essential to help children learn and thrive.
Funding is available through DWPâs Adult Skills Fund (ASF) for qualifications in or focussing on BSL, up to and including level 2. The ASF fully funds or co-funds skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to help them gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning. 68% of the ASF has been devolved to 13 Strategic Authorities, who determine which provision to fund for learners who live in their areas. The DWP provides the remaining funding for learners who live in non-devolved areas.
The DWP funded BSL qualifications include, for example, the Level 1 Award in BSL which allows learners to communicate in BSL on a range of topics that involve simple, everyday language use, thereby giving them the basic skills and confidence in production and reception of BSL. It will depend on an individualâs circumstances as to whether they are entitled to free provision or expected to meet part of the cost through co-funding. Where tailored learning providers offer BSL courses, those providers are responsible for determining the course fees, including levels of fee remission. For qualifications at Level 3 and above Advanced Learner Loans are available for certain BSL qualifications.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what consultation the Church Commissioners carried out with tenant farmers and local communities before deciding to market land east of York for sale.
Answered by Marsha De Cordova
The Church Commissionersâ property referred to in the question, from the Hon Member for York Outer, relates to the ongoing marketing for sale of approximately 1,600 acres of land at Scoreby, east of York. The Church Commissioners Property Team informed all affected farm tenants directly and in person. This followed a number of years of strategic discussions between the Commissioners' investment team, our tenants and our managing agents regarding the future of the estate and its long-term management.
The Church Commissioners have responded to all enquiries received in connection with the sale and continue to engage with farm tenants and their professional advisers regarding the progress of the marketing process and relevant estate management matters. The Commissioners also remain in contact with relevant industry bodies to maintain open lines of communication and as part of their ongoing stewardship responsibilities. The marketing process remains ongoing
It is not the Church Commissionersâ established practice to consult neighbouring landowners, community groups or other local stakeholders in advance of bringing property to the market. Decisions to sell property are taken in accordance with the Church Commissionersâ investment strategy and fiduciary responsibilities, which support the mission and ministry of the Church of England.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the compatibility of Irish motor insurance requirements for holders of UK driving licences with the principles of the common travel area.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Motor insurers are responsible for setting the terms and conditions of the policies that they offer, and it is for them to decide the level of risk that they take in issuing any policy to a given applicant. If an applicant wishes to drive a vehicle in the Republic of Ireland and possesses a UK driving licence, the insurer will decide on whether or not to offer a policy.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the development of Bacteriophage Therapy, and when he expects such treatments to be available for use across the NHS.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The Government recognises the potential of bacteriophage therapy as an emerging treatment for certain bacterial infections, particularly where antimicrobial resistance limits available treatment options. However, while early research and clinical use in individual cases are promising, the current evidence base and overall development landscape remain insufficient to support routine use across the National Health Service.
Bacteriophage therapy is not currently licensed as a medicinal product in the United Kingdom. Where clinicians consider it to be in the best interests of an individual patient, access may be considered on an unlicensed basis through established NHS local governance arrangements, in line with relevant regulatory requirements.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the development of Bacteriophage Therapy; and whether such treatments will be available for use in the NHS.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The Government recognises the potential of bacteriophage therapy as an emerging treatment for certain bacterial infections, particularly where antimicrobial resistance limits available treatment options. However, while early research and clinical use in individual cases are promising, the current evidence base and overall development landscape remain insufficient to support routine use across the National Health Service.
Bacteriophage therapy is not currently licensed as a medicinal product in the United Kingdom. Where clinicians consider it to be in the best interests of an individual patient, access may be considered on an unlicensed basis through established NHS local governance arrangements, in line with relevant regulatory requirements.