Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to increase the speed of (a) award decisions and (b) reimbursement payments for the Access to Work scheme.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are committed to increasing the speed of (a) award decisions and (b) reimbursement payments under the Access to Work scheme. To support this, we have increased capacity by recruiting additional staff to process applications and payments. Access to Work payments processing is currently meeting the Standard level agreement of 10 days. We also prioritise cases where customers are about to start work or require renewal of existing support.
In March 2025, the Department for Work and Pensions published the Pathways to Work Green Paper, which launched a consultation on the future of Access to Work and how the scheme can better support disabled people in employment. We are reviewing all aspects of Access to Work as we develop plans for reform following the conclusion of the consultation.
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will consider the treatment of LGBTQ+ refugees when assessing enforced returns to countries with newly established regimes, particularly where a change of government has not resulted in improved protections for LGBTQ+ people.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
All asylum and human rights claims including those based on sexual orientation and gender identity are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Each individual assessment is made against the background of relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information. This is based on evidence taken from a wide range of reliable sources, including reputable media outlets; local, national, and international organisations, including human rights organisations; and information from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office. Our assessment of the situation of a given group in a given country, is set out in the relevant country policy and information note, which is available on Country policy and information notes - GOV.UK.
When someone applies for settlement, we review the situation in their country to assess whether they still need protection. Those who no longer need protection can return home in safety or apply to stay under other provisions of the Immigration Rules.
We will not remove anyone to any country where they will face persecution or serious harm.
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that LGBTQ+ refugees will not be forcibly returned to countries where they are likely to face persecution.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
All asylum and human rights claims including those based on sexual orientation and gender identity are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Each individual assessment is made against the background of relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information. This is based on evidence taken from a wide range of reliable sources, including reputable media outlets; local, national, and international organisations, including human rights organisations; and information from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office. Our assessment of the situation of a given group in a given country, is set out in the relevant country policy and information note, which is available on Country policy and information notes - GOV.UK.
When someone applies for settlement, we review the situation in their country to assess whether they still need protection. Those who no longer need protection can return home in safety or apply to stay under other provisions of the Immigration Rules.
We will not remove anyone to any country where they will face persecution or serious harm.
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to publish the review of adult gender services.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We know that adults questioning their gender face long waiting lists for a first appointment at National Health Service adult gender services.
Dr David Levy’s Review of NHS Adult Gender Dysphoria Clinics will identify areas for improvement in relation to service quality, good practice that could be shared with other clinics, and any support that should be made available to services to assist improvement.
NHS England aims to publish the Review of Adult Gender Services in due course.
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
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 ensure that hospitals have sufficient capacity for patients.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning healthcare services, including hospitals, to meet the needs of their local populations. We are asking trusts to place a special focus on reducing bed occupancy ahead of Christmas, creating additional capacity and improving patient flow.
The New Hospital Programme (NHP) will build “right-sized” hospitals, based on robust assumptions appropriate for local health needs that support the shift from hospital to community. The NHP has developed a National Health Service demand and capacity model which reflects changes in demographics, including predictions for population growth, which will underpin assumptions when right-sizing hospitals. The NHP Plan for Implementation, published on the GOV.UK website, sets out the delivery timeline for the schemes in the programme. Further information on the NHP Plan for Implementation is available at the following link:
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department’s timescale is for the publication of data on incidences of corridor care.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to tackling the corridor care in our National Health Service. Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June, set out the steps we are taking to improve accident and emergency waiting times, including the commitment to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care.
NHS England has been working with trusts to put in place new reporting arrangements related to the use of corridor care, to drive improvement. The data quality is currently being reviewed, and the information will be published shortly.
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department collects data on (a) dental access and (b) treatment outcomes for people born with a cleft lip and/or palate.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Data is not held centrally on dental access and treatment outcomes for people born with a cleft. We recognise that certain groups of patients may be more vulnerable to oral health problems, including patients with clefts.
NHS England commissions services for children, young people, and adults with a cleft lip and/or palate. The patient pathway can start from pre-birth and continues into adulthood. Cleft services provide care through multi-disciplinary teams, and the comprehensive care pathway will include elements such as paediatric dentistry, restorative dentistry, and orthodontics. A copy of the Cleft Lip and/or Palate Services including Non-Cleft Velopharyngeal Dysfunction (VPD) (All Ages) Service Specification is attached.
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that dentists have adequate knowledge and training to treat people born with cleft (a) lips and (b) palates.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Yeovil on 20 November 2025 to Question 90537.
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to ensure that Windrush (a) claimants and (b) claimants' families can ask for their cases to be reviewed if they believe that the level of compensation they have been awarded is incorrect.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We continue to listen and respond to feedback from affected communities and stakeholders, including the Windrush Commissioner, to improve how the Scheme operates. We are committed to awarding the maximum amount at the earliest point possible and doing so with compassion and understanding.
On 24 October 2025, the Home Secretary announced a series of significant changes to the Windrush Compensation Scheme, including compensation for losses to occupational and personal pensions.
We are working at pace to implement these changes. Updated rules and caseworker guidance will be published as soon as possible. Once the new rules go live, all changes will be applied retrospectively. A dedicated team will review previously concluded claims to identify those who may benefit from the updates.
If a claimant or claimant’s family disagree with the outcome of their claim, they can request a review of the decision.
We will be launching a consultation on our earned settlement proposals later this year. Everyone will be welcome to participate. There are no plans to change eligibility for the right of abode in the UK. Members of the Windrush generation who do not have proof of their lawful status in the UK can continue to apply to the Windrush Scheme to obtain this.
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason pensions were not included in the original Windrush Compensation Scheme.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We continue to listen and respond to feedback from affected communities and stakeholders, including the Windrush Commissioner, to improve how the Scheme operates. We are committed to awarding the maximum amount at the earliest point possible and doing so with compassion and understanding.
On 24 October 2025, the Home Secretary announced a series of significant changes to the Windrush Compensation Scheme, including compensation for losses to occupational and personal pensions.
We are working at pace to implement these changes. Updated rules and caseworker guidance will be published as soon as possible. Once the new rules go live, all changes will be applied retrospectively. A dedicated team will review previously concluded claims to identify those who may benefit from the updates.
If a claimant or claimant’s family disagree with the outcome of their claim, they can request a review of the decision.
We will be launching a consultation on our earned settlement proposals later this year. Everyone will be welcome to participate. There are no plans to change eligibility for the right of abode in the UK. Members of the Windrush generation who do not have proof of their lawful status in the UK can continue to apply to the Windrush Scheme to obtain this.