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 expanding NHS IVF funding criteria to cover individuals whose infertility results directly from medically necessary procedures, such as hysterectomy.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

No recent assessments have been undertaken by the Department.

Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards (ICBs) and are based on the clinical needs of their local population. We expect these organisations to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, ensuring equal access to fertility treatment across England.

NICE is currently reviewing the fertility guideline and will consider whether its current recommendations for access to National Health Service-funded treatment are still appropriate. The draft guidance was consulted on between 10 September and 21 October 2025, and final guidance is expected to be published in March 2026. We expect ICBs to consider and reflect the updated NICE fertility guideline in their commissioning decisions when it is published, and we are working with NHS England to support greater consistency in provision.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of introducing Making Tax Digital at the same time as removing the wear and tear allowance on childminders.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The department is taking a range of measures to support the financial sustainability of childminding businesses and other early years providers. From April 2026, local authorities will be required to pass at least 97% of their funding directly to providers.

In addition, the expansion of the early years entitlements is set to benefit childminders. The national average three and four-year-old hourly funding rate for local authorities is increasing by 4.1%, the two-year-old hourly funding rate is increasing by 3.3%, and the nine months to two-year-old hourly funding rate is increasing by 3.4%. Childminders may also benefit from the expected increase in demand for places.

Making Tax Digital standardises the way that sole traders record and claim business expenses. It could benefit childminders as it means that any business expenses related to childminding will be included in their tax calculations. We are however aware of the strength of feeling amongst childminders and those who work with them. The department has been talking regularly to Coram Pacey, HMRC and others to understand the issue, the effect that it is having on the childminding sector and to make sure that the concerns of childminders are clearly understood. The department emphasises its strong support for childminders, who continue to provide high quality and flexible early education, and do so in a way that families across the country greatly value.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of withdrawing the visa concession for temporary employment as shearers on the welfare of (i) sheep and (ii) alpacas.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

We understand the importance of safe and timely shearing to protect animal welfare. The sheep shearing concession had been operating for 14 years and closed after the 2025 shearing season as it is reasonable to expect that over this period a long-term sustainable solution had been found to identify this workforce gap.

The Government expects the sector to meet these needs through the domestic workforce and individuals with existing general work rights, such as dependants or Youth Mobility Scheme visa holders, who are free to take up work as a sheep or alpaca shearer subject to the relevant visa restrictions.

Heating oil prices

90th anniversary of the Spitfire

Role of the House of Lords in scrutinising legislation

Found: Sarah Bool; Juliet Campbell; Al Carns; Pam Cox; Mr Paul Foster; Gerald Jones; Jayne Kirkham; Mike Martin

Found: Mike Martin: Exactly.