Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2026 to Question 12047 on Employment: Disability, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of (a) work coaches, (b) disability employment advisers at Jobcentres and (c) access to work grants on the number of people with disabilities in work.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department published an evaluation of Additional Work Coach Support: The impact of Additional Work Coach Support on the employment outcomes of LCWRA participants and Evaluation of Additional Work Coach Support. Additionally, we have published a study that assessed the feasibility of evaluating the impact of Access to Work: Feasibility of evaluating the impact of the Access to Work programme.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the funding required to achieve the aims set out in the interim update to the Modern Service Framework for Palliative and End of Life.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
The Modern Service Framework for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care was never intended to introduce new, ring‑fenced funding. Its primary purpose is to set the strategic direction for improving palliative care and end-of-life care, including reducing variation in access, quality, and outcomes across the system.
In the context of wider fiscal pressures, the focus is on ensuring that existing resources are used as effectively as possible, supported by a shift towards more strategic, population‑based commissioning.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing an investment package to support apprenticeship brokerage pilots in non-developed mayoral authorities, modelled on the £140 million fund to support mayoral-led apprenticeship brokerage pilots.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 July 2026 to Question UIN 16082.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the forthcoming Modern Service Framework for Palliative and End of Life Care will be accompanied by a costed delivery plan.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
The forthcoming Modern Service Framework (MSF) for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care will include a delivery plan to support implementation of the framework. On 4 June, we published an interim update in the form of a Written Ministerial Statement, which is available at the following link:
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-06-04/hcws88
The MSF will support the shift to the strategic commissioning of palliative care and end of life care, based on the integrated needs assessment completed by the integrated care board. This supports the effective and equitable use of resources of services commissioned and contracted at a local level to meet identified population needs now and in the future.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance exists for NHS providers on the timely communication of significant diagnostic findings to patients and their families where deterioration or recurrence of cancer is suspected.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
While no specific assessment has been made of diagnostic imaging turnaround time guidance and the needs of patients with a recognised terminal diagnosis or the impact of separate reporting time standards, the Government is committed to reducing waiting times for all patients and expects providers to communicate findings in a compassionate manner.
NHS England has established diagnostic reporting turnaround time guidance that applies to all patients. For diagnostic imaging tests, including computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans, the guidance states that verified reports should be available within four weeks of image acquisition. Performance against turnaround times is monitored through routine national reporting. In addition, cancer pathways are supported by national cancer waiting time standards, including the Faster Diagnosis Standard, which aims to ensure that patients receive a diagnosis or have cancer ruled out promptly following an urgent suspected cancer referral. The Faster Diagnosis Standard applies to urgent referrals for suspected cancer recurrence.
We are developing a Modern Service Framework (MSF) for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care. The MSF is a clinically led, evidence-based framework to support sustained improvement in outcomes for patients and carers, including by systematically identifying, measuring, and reducing health inequalities, and reducing unwarranted variation in access, experience, and outcomes. Further metrics and associated targets will build on the 2029 ambitions set out in the Neighbourhood Health Framework.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
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 whether NHS England’s diagnostic imaging turnaround time guidance is sufficient to meet the needs of patients with a recognised terminal diagnosis.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
While no specific assessment has been made of diagnostic imaging turnaround time guidance and the needs of patients with a recognised terminal diagnosis or the impact of separate reporting time standards, the Government is committed to reducing waiting times for all patients and expects providers to communicate findings in a compassionate manner.
NHS England has established diagnostic reporting turnaround time guidance that applies to all patients. For diagnostic imaging tests, including computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans, the guidance states that verified reports should be available within four weeks of image acquisition. Performance against turnaround times is monitored through routine national reporting. In addition, cancer pathways are supported by national cancer waiting time standards, including the Faster Diagnosis Standard, which aims to ensure that patients receive a diagnosis or have cancer ruled out promptly following an urgent suspected cancer referral. The Faster Diagnosis Standard applies to urgent referrals for suspected cancer recurrence.
We are developing a Modern Service Framework (MSF) for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care. The MSF is a clinically led, evidence-based framework to support sustained improvement in outcomes for patients and carers, including by systematically identifying, measuring, and reducing health inequalities, and reducing unwarranted variation in access, experience, and outcomes. Further metrics and associated targets will build on the 2029 ambitions set out in the Neighbourhood Health Framework.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment on the potential impact of introducing specific diagnostic or reporting time standards for patients with a limited or terminal prognosis.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
While no specific assessment has been made of diagnostic imaging turnaround time guidance and the needs of patients with a recognised terminal diagnosis or the impact of separate reporting time standards, the Government is committed to reducing waiting times for all patients and expects providers to communicate findings in a compassionate manner.
NHS England has established diagnostic reporting turnaround time guidance that applies to all patients. For diagnostic imaging tests, including computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans, the guidance states that verified reports should be available within four weeks of image acquisition. Performance against turnaround times is monitored through routine national reporting. In addition, cancer pathways are supported by national cancer waiting time standards, including the Faster Diagnosis Standard, which aims to ensure that patients receive a diagnosis or have cancer ruled out promptly following an urgent suspected cancer referral. The Faster Diagnosis Standard applies to urgent referrals for suspected cancer recurrence.
We are developing a Modern Service Framework (MSF) for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care. The MSF is a clinically led, evidence-based framework to support sustained improvement in outcomes for patients and carers, including by systematically identifying, measuring, and reducing health inequalities, and reducing unwarranted variation in access, experience, and outcomes. Further metrics and associated targets will build on the 2029 ambitions set out in the Neighbourhood Health Framework.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of expanding online chat facilities as a means for pensioners to raise pension-related queries with the DWP.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
DWP continually reviews how customers access its services and is committed to providing a range of communication channels that meet differing customer needs and preferences.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2026 to Question 12047 on Employment: Disability, what recent conversations he has had with (a) other government departments and (b) third party bodies to support efforts to champion people with disabilities into work.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
This government is committed to working collaboratively to support disabled people and people with health conditions. We are championing the rights of disabled people and working with them so that their views and voices are at the heart of everything we do. Every government department has a Lead Minister for Disability and alongside their ministerial portfolio, they have a specific responsibility to work across government to remove barriers for disabled people. Chaired by the Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms, the group meets regularly throughout the year.
Last year, the Minister for Social Security and Disability announced our plans for a UK Government Plan for Disability. The Plan will:
Ministers also meet regularly with several strategic networks of disabled people, their representative organisations and other disability stakeholders to discuss disability employment. This includes the Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO) Forum England, the Regional Stakeholder Network, the Disability Charities Consortium and the Disability and Access Ambassadors
Additionally, DWP’s Strategic Relationship Team works with employers and partners, including trade bodies, industry groups and training providers, to promote inclusive recruitment and improve awareness of workplace adjustments and support for disabled people.
DWP’s Independent Disability Advisory Panel is helping to shape and guide our health and disability policy and strategy through providing guidance, feedback, and recommendations. The eleven-member panel has personal experience of health and disability and wider experience across Disabled People’s Organisations, charities, research, the health system, and employment.
In November 2025, Sir Charlie Mayfield published the Keep Britain Working Review, setting out recommendations to reshape how government works with employers to improve work and health outcomes through creating healthier, more inclusive workplaces. The government is now working with volunteer employers, providers and regions through a Vanguard Phase to test and refine approaches to help disabled workers and workers with long-term health conditions receive the support they need to remain and thrive in employment.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to WPQs 2849, 2850 and 2851 answered on 9 June 2026 about Steroid Drugs: Young People, if he will have discussions with UK Anti Doping on the findings of their 2026 Clean Sport Survey on trends in the use of SARMs by young people.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport are responsible for anti-doping in sport.
In November 2025, the Department of Health and Social Care launched England’s first ever Men’s Health Strategy, which sets out a bold vision to improve the health and wellbeing of all men and boys. The strategy recognises the role that the media plays in shaping how men interpret health information. The Department of Health and Social Care is taking action to identify ways to build media literacy skills in men to help them critically assess health information and protect against misinformation that harms health.