Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to review the definition of income used in the Child Maintenance Service 2012 Scheme to ensure that it includes income derived from (a) investments, (b) dividends, (c) rental income, (d) director’s loans and (e) other company-based income arrangements.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
A review of the child maintenance calculation is currently underway. As part of this work, my Department has already announced plans to include gross unearned income automatically within the calculation, removing the need for either parent to request a variation in order to have this income included within their calculation.
Gross unearned income, as envisaged, will include taxable income from investments, dividends and rental property recorded by HMRC for the individual. Income taken through other company-based arrangements, such as a director’s loans, will continue to be considered under existing diversion of income powers where appropriate. Implementation of the changes to unearned income will be taken forward once the consultation has concluded.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the risk that licensed arms exports to third countries could be diverted for use by armed groups involved in the conflict in Sudan.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Sudan is at the heart of our diplomatic efforts. We are doing everything possible to end the horrific violence that is taking place, to protect civilians, deliver aid, and secure a lasting ceasefire.
There is a longstanding UK arms embargo in place for the whole of the country and we are not aware of any UK weapons or ammunition being used in Sudan.
We rigorously assess export licences to prevent diversion or misuse, including via third countries. Where credible concerns arise we will take action, including refusing, suspending, or revoking licences. The risk of diversion is the single biggest reason export licences are refused. Breaches of our export controls are subject to criminal sanction.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential risk that licenced arms sales to third countries could be diverted for use by armed groups involved in the conflict in Sudan.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Sudan is at the heart of our diplomatic efforts. We are doing everything possible to end the horrific violence that is taking place, to protect civilians, deliver aid, and secure a lasting ceasefire.
There is a longstanding UK arms embargo in place for the whole of the country and we are not aware of any UK weapons or ammunition being used in Sudan.
We rigorously assess export licences to prevent diversion or misuse, including via third countries. Where credible concerns arise we will take action, including refusing, suspending, or revoking licences. The risk of diversion is the single biggest reason export licences are refused. Breaches of our export controls are subject to criminal sanction.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
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 utilise electronic health records indicating familial genetic predisposition to improve risk identification for men at increased risk of prostate cancer.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The NHS Retrospective Genetic Testing Programme is using electronic health records to identify people who have had a cancer diagnosis, between 2008 and 2018, making them eligible for inherited breast and ovarian cancer genetic testing on R208/R207 panels in line with the criteria set out in the National Genomic Test Directory, but who have not received testing. This will identify more people and their family members who have cancer susceptibility genes, including BRCA1/2 variants, enabling them to access relevant National Health Service screening and care pathways as appropriate.
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care will consider the final recommendation of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) on screening for prostate cancer when it is received. He will make a decision on implementation, including any changes to the identification of men at risk of prostate cancer at that point.
It is anticipated that the final recommendation will be provided in early 2026 after the conclusion of a 12 week consultation which opened on 28 November 2025. This seeks views on an evidence review and a draft recommendation to:
- offer a targeted national prostate cancer screening programme to men with confirmed BRCA1/2 gene variants every two years, from 45 years old to 61 years old;
- not recommend population screening;
- not recommend targeted screening of black men;
- not recommend targeted screening of men with family history; and
- collaborate with the Transform trial team to answer outstanding questions on screening effectiveness for black men and men with a family history as soon as the trial data becomes available, and to await the results of the study to develop and trial a more accurate test than the prostate specific antigen test alone, to improve the balance of benefit and harm of screening.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
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 potential merits of improving systems to identify men with (a) BRCA1 and (b) BRCA2 gene variations who may be eligible for prostate cancer screening.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Inherited Cancer Predisposition Register (NICPR), launched 1 July 2025, captures data on all individuals with a likely pathogenic/pathogenic variant in a cancer susceptibility gene in England. This world-first national dataset of individuals at increased cancer risk provides significant opportunities for improved clinical care, audit, and research.
The NICPR is part of the National Disease Registration Service and is a new initiative for NHS England. In view of the UK National Screening Committee’s (UK NSC) draft recommendations on screening men for prostate cancer, NHS England is working closely with colleagues in regional clinical genetics services to ensure that accurate data is gathered and can be applied effectively to inform future work.
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care will consider the final recommendation of the UK NSC on screening for prostate cancer when it is received. He will make a decision on implementation, including any changes to BRCA testing eligibility, at that point.
It is anticipated that the final recommendation will be provided in early 2026 after the conclusion of a 12 week consultation which opened on 28 November 2025. This seeks views on an evidence review and a draft recommendation to:
- offer a targeted national prostate cancer screening programme to men with confirmed BRCA1/2 gene variants every two years, from 45 years old to 61 years old;
- not recommend population screening;
- not recommend targeted screening of black men;
- not recommend targeted screening of men with family history; and
- collaborate with the Transform trial team to answer outstanding questions on screening effectiveness for black men and men with a family history as soon as the trial data becomes available, and to await the results of the study to develop and trial a more accurate test than the prostate specific antigen test alone, to improve the balance of benefit and harm of screening.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) monitor and (b) regulate the cost of COVID-19 vaccinations offered by private providers for people who are not eligible for a free vaccination.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The availability of COVID-19 vaccines to supply the private market and the price charged for private COVID-19 vaccination is a matter for the companies concerned, not for the Government. All those eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination this autumn through the National Health Service, in line with advice by the independent expert Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, are encouraged to take up this offer. The national programme launched on 1 October 2025 and runs until 31 January 2026.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of restricting eligibility for free covid-19 vaccinations on (a) infection rates, (b) hospital admissions and (c) mortality during winter 2025–26 on adults aged between 65 and 74 years old.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious illness, resulting in hospitalisations and deaths, arising from COVID-19.
The JCVI is an independent expert committee which reviews the latest data on COVID-19 risks, vaccine safety, and effectiveness and advises the Government on eligibility for vaccination and immunisation programmes. The JCVI’s advice on COVID-19 vaccination for autumn 2025 is based on published analysis which considers the health impacts of vaccination against COVID-19 in various groups. This is available at the following link:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X25002452
The JCVI has advised that population immunity to COVID-19 has been increasing due to a combination of naturally acquired immunity following recovery from infection and vaccine-derived immunity. COVID-19 is now a relatively mild disease for most people, though it can still be unpleasant, with rates of hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 having reduced significantly since COVID-19 first emerged.
The focus of the JCVI advised programme has moved towards targeted vaccination of the two groups who continue to be at higher risk of serious disease, including mortality. These are the oldest adults and individuals who are immunosuppressed.
The Government has accepted the JCVI advice for autumn 2025 and in line with the advice, a COVID-19 vaccination is being offered to the following groups:
The JCVI keeps all vaccination programmes under review.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) continues to monitor COVID-19 through a variety of indicators and surveillance systems. Data are analysed and published by the UKHSA in weekly official statistics in the National Influenza and COVID-19 Surveillance Report. For the autumn 2025 campaign, this is available at the following link:
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of restricting eligibility for free covid-19 vaccinations on (a) infection rates, (b) hospital admissions and (c) levels of mortality during winter 2025–26.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious illness, resulting in hospitalisations and deaths, arising from COVID-19.
The JCVI is an independent expert committee which reviews the latest data on COVID-19 risks, vaccine safety, and effectiveness and advises the Government on eligibility for vaccination and immunisation programmes. The JCVI’s advice on COVID-19 vaccination for autumn 2025 is based on published analysis which considers the health impacts of vaccination against COVID-19 in various groups. This is available at the following link:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X25002452
The JCVI has advised that population immunity to COVID-19 has been increasing due to a combination of naturally acquired immunity following recovery from infection and vaccine-derived immunity. COVID-19 is now a relatively mild disease for most people, though it can still be unpleasant, with rates of hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 having reduced significantly since COVID-19 first emerged.
The focus of the JCVI advised programme has moved towards targeted vaccination of the two groups who continue to be at higher risk of serious disease, including mortality. These are the oldest adults and individuals who are immunosuppressed.
The Government has accepted the JCVI advice for autumn 2025 and in line with the advice, a COVID-19 vaccination is being offered to the following groups:
The JCVI keeps all vaccination programmes under review.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) continues to monitor COVID-19 through a variety of indicators and surveillance systems. Data are analysed and published by the UKHSA in weekly official statistics in the National Influenza and COVID-19 Surveillance Report. For the autumn 2025 campaign, this is available at the following link:
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the current capital threshold of £23,250 for eligibility for local authority support with residential care costs.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The capital limits for support with adult social care costs are reviewed annually. The rates for the next financial year (2026/27) will be published via a Local Authority Circular in due course.
The capital limits represent minimum thresholds, and local authorities retain discretion to apply higher limits if they choose, provided they act in accordance with the Care Act 2014.
Additionally, we have launched an independent Commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service.
The Commission's Terms of Reference are sufficiently broad to enable Baroness Casey to define its remit to independently consider how to build a social care system fit for the future, including looking into capital limits as she sees fit.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what alternative NHS roles are available to people who have completed accredited Physician Associate training but are unable to secure employment as Physician Associates.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Recruitment and retention of physician assistant, still legally known as physician associate (PA), roles into the National Health Service is the responsibility of individual employers in primary and secondary care as part of local and regional workforce planning. Decisions on alternative roles for newly qualified PAs rests with local employers, who will need to consider their workforce model, staffing numbers and skill mix as part of a wider workforce strategy aligned to service priorities.
Nationally, NHS England continues to work closely with partners, supported by colleagues in the regions, to consider what guidance and support can be provided to employers to implement the Leng Review recommendations related to the employment of PAs.