Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the last time a GP surgery was set up from scratch in England was.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Information regarding the name and date of establishment for the latest GP surgery set up in England, Tunbridge Wells constituency, and Kent is as follows:

• The last GP surgery set up in England was Solent NHS Trust T/A Medina Healthcare, which was created on 4^th September 2024.
• The last GP surgery set up in Tunbridge Wells constituency was Lonsdale Medical Centre, which was created on 1^st May 1991.
• The last GP surgery set up in Kent was Bromleag Care Practice, which was created on 1^st April 2019.

To note:

The data included has been taken from GP and GP practice related data - NHS England Digital (file epraccur.csv), and is labelled ‘GP Practices’, however this is not entirely accurate as it comes from NHS Prescribing Services and identifies cost centre codes for prescribing activity. This data wasn't created to list GP Practices; instead, it's meant to track prescribing activity and pay dispensing contractors. It has since been used as a reference for IT systems operations.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what was the name of the last GP surgery set up in Tunbridge Wells constituency; and when that surgery was set up.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Information regarding the name and date of establishment for the latest GP surgery set up in England, Tunbridge Wells constituency, and Kent is as follows:

• The last GP surgery set up in England was Solent NHS Trust T/A Medina Healthcare, which was created on 4^th September 2024.
• The last GP surgery set up in Tunbridge Wells constituency was Lonsdale Medical Centre, which was created on 1^st May 1991.
• The last GP surgery set up in Kent was Bromleag Care Practice, which was created on 1^st April 2019.

To note:

The data included has been taken from GP and GP practice related data - NHS England Digital (file epraccur.csv), and is labelled ‘GP Practices’, however this is not entirely accurate as it comes from NHS Prescribing Services and identifies cost centre codes for prescribing activity. This data wasn't created to list GP Practices; instead, it's meant to track prescribing activity and pay dispensing contractors. It has since been used as a reference for IT systems operations.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the last time a GP surgery was set up from scratch in Kent was.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Information regarding the name and date of establishment for the latest GP surgery set up in England, Tunbridge Wells constituency, and Kent is as follows:

• The last GP surgery set up in England was Solent NHS Trust T/A Medina Healthcare, which was created on 4^th September 2024.
• The last GP surgery set up in Tunbridge Wells constituency was Lonsdale Medical Centre, which was created on 1^st May 1991.
• The last GP surgery set up in Kent was Bromleag Care Practice, which was created on 1^st April 2019.

To note:

The data included has been taken from GP and GP practice related data - NHS England Digital (file epraccur.csv), and is labelled ‘GP Practices’, however this is not entirely accurate as it comes from NHS Prescribing Services and identifies cost centre codes for prescribing activity. This data wasn't created to list GP Practices; instead, it's meant to track prescribing activity and pay dispensing contractors. It has since been used as a reference for IT systems operations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to publish the findings of the Shawcross report on compensation for victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government has profound sympathy for UK victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism and indeed for all victims of the Troubles. The Shawcross Report was commissioned by the previous government as an internal report drawing on a series of private and confidential conversations. We will keep decisions on publication regarding the Shawcross Report under review.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the amount of funding received by the most recently-established independent NHS GP surgery in Kent.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Data regarding the amount of funding received by the most recently established independent National Health Service general practice (GP) surgery in Kent, the Tunbridge Wells constituency, and England, is as follows:

• the last GP surgery set up in Kent was the Bromleag Care Practice, which was created on 1 April 2019, and the total NHS payments to this practice, minus deductions, in 2022/23 was £5,317,351;
• the last GP surgery set up in the Tunbridge Wells constituency was the Lonsdale Medical Centre, which was created on 1 May 1991, and the total NHS payments to this practice, minus deductions, in 2022/23 was £898,629; and
• the last GP surgery set up in England was the Solent NHS Trust T/A Medina Healthcare, which was created on 4 September 2024, and we have no data for this practice, as the 2022/23 data only covers practices up to 31 March 2023.

It should be noted that the latest data we have available relating to these requests is published data for NHS Payment to GP Practices for 2022/23, which is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-payments-to-general-practice/england-2022-23

The data can be found in Table 2 of Annex 1 Tables and Charts on this page. The totals columns are available on the far right of Table 2.

NHS Payments to General Practice, England 2022/23 provides information on NHS payments to individual providers of GP services in England. Figures are given for the main payment categories, which include Global Sum, the Balance of Primary Medical Services expenditure, the Quality Outcomes Framework, and Local Incentive Schemes.

It is not a record of the amount of money available for direct patient care, nor the total invested in patient care through GPs. Instead, it constitutes the majority of actual monies paid to practices for all activities and costs during the 2022/23 financial year.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding his Department allocated to the most recently established independent NHS GP surgery in (a) Tunbridge Wells constituency and (b) England.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Data regarding the amount of funding received by the most recently established independent National Health Service general practice (GP) surgery in Kent, the Tunbridge Wells constituency, and England, is as follows:

• the last GP surgery set up in Kent was the Bromleag Care Practice, which was created on 1 April 2019, and the total NHS payments to this practice, minus deductions, in 2022/23 was £5,317,351;
• the last GP surgery set up in the Tunbridge Wells constituency was the Lonsdale Medical Centre, which was created on 1 May 1991, and the total NHS payments to this practice, minus deductions, in 2022/23 was £898,629; and
• the last GP surgery set up in England was the Solent NHS Trust T/A Medina Healthcare, which was created on 4 September 2024, and we have no data for this practice, as the 2022/23 data only covers practices up to 31 March 2023.

It should be noted that the latest data we have available relating to these requests is published data for NHS Payment to GP Practices for 2022/23, which is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-payments-to-general-practice/england-2022-23

The data can be found in Table 2 of Annex 1 Tables and Charts on this page. The totals columns are available on the far right of Table 2.

NHS Payments to General Practice, England 2022/23 provides information on NHS payments to individual providers of GP services in England. Figures are given for the main payment categories, which include Global Sum, the Balance of Primary Medical Services expenditure, the Quality Outcomes Framework, and Local Incentive Schemes.

It is not a record of the amount of money available for direct patient care, nor the total invested in patient care through GPs. Instead, it constitutes the majority of actual monies paid to practices for all activities and costs during the 2022/23 financial year.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent guidance her Department has issued on whether students who have extended their visas under the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme are eligible for home fees status for university fees in England.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department laid the Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 on 22 May which ensures that students who have been granted leave under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme will qualify for student support in England and home fee status from the 2024/25 academic year, without requiring them to meet the normal three year ordinary residence requirement. This is in line with those granted leave under the other Ukraine schemes.

The Student Loans Company will make the necessary amendments to guidance in time for when the scheme opens.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Civil Aviation Authority on steps to ensure that airspace modernisation around Gatwick airport leads to a reduction in noise levels for residents.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The department has regular engagement with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to monitor the effective delivery of airspace modernisation and drive forward the environmental benefits of the programme.

In its role as independent regulator, the CAA ensures that all airspace change proposals (ACPs) adhere to the CAP1616 process. CAP1616 sets out how sponsors of airspace change, such as Gatwick Airport, must consider the impacts of noise on the local communities, ensuring sufficient consultation takes place with those potentially affected.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of night-time flight noise on the health of residents living in Gatwick airport's flight path.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government sets noise-related restrictions at Gatwick, including a limit on the number of night flights. The noise impacts of the airport are assessed annually.

The Department for Transport has commissioned the Aviation Night Noise Effects study to explore how annoyance and sleep disturbance impacts vary at different times of the night. The final results are expected to be published in Autumn 2026.

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 help negotiate an agreement between (a) AstraZeneca, (b) Daiichi Sankyo and (c) the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to ensure Enhertu can be prescribed on the NHS to women with breast cancer.

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

Decisions on whether new medicines should be routinely funded by the National Health Service in England are made on the basis of recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), following an evaluation of a treatment’s costs and benefits. These are very difficult decisions to make, and it is important that they are made independently and on the basis of the available evidence.

The NICE published guidance in July 2024 on the use of Enhertu for the treatment of HER-2 low metastatic and unresectable breast cancer, and was unfortunately unable to recommend it for routine NHS funding. I understand that the NICE and NHS England have sought to apply as much flexibility as they can in their considerations of Enhertu for HER2-low breast cancer, and have made it clear to the companies that their pricing of the drug remains the only obstacle to access.

Ministers recently met with the manufacturers of Enhertu, AstraZeneca, and Daiichi Sankyo, to encourage them to re-engage in commercial discussions with NHS England. Despite the NICE and NHS England offering unprecedented flexibilities, the companies were unable to offer Enhertu at a cost-effective price. The NICE’s guidance, published in July, will therefore remain unchanged. Although the deadline for a rapid review has now passed, the NICE has reassured me that the door remains open for the companies to enter into a new NICE appraisal, if they are willing to offer Enhertu at a cost-effective price.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the name of the pharmacy most recently set up in the Tunbridge Wells constituency is; and when it was set up.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The most recent pharmacy set up in Kent is Delmergate Ltd, located at Unit 4, Castle Hill Local Centre, 69 Cherry Orchard, Ebbsfleet, Kent, DA10 1AD. It’s opening date was 19 July 2021.

The most recent pharmacy set up in the Tunbridge Wells constituency is Carrs Pharmacy, located on 94 Caverley Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN21 2UN. It’s opening date was 1 February 2011.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the name of the pharmacy most recently set up in Kent is; and when it was set up.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The most recent pharmacy set up in Kent is Delmergate Ltd, located at Unit 4, Castle Hill Local Centre, 69 Cherry Orchard, Ebbsfleet, Kent, DA10 1AD. It’s opening date was 19 July 2021.

The most recent pharmacy set up in the Tunbridge Wells constituency is Carrs Pharmacy, located on 94 Caverley Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN21 2UN. It’s opening date was 1 February 2011.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with campaign groups opposing the expansion of Gatwick airport.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Secretary of State for Transport has had no discussions with campaign groups opposing the expansion of Gatwick Airport.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on public safety of proposals to expand use of the emergency runway at Gatwick airport for commercial flights.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

A proposal to expand use of the northern runway at Gatwick Airport is currently subject to a live application for a Development Consent Order, which will be determined by my Department. It would therefore not be appropriate for me to comment but all relevant matters, including safety and noise, will be thoroughly considered before a decision is issued, the statutory deadline for which is 27 February 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of night-time flight noise on wildlife living in Gatwick Airport's flight path.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

A proposal to expand use of the northern runway at Gatwick Airport is currently subject to a live application for a Development Consent Order, which will be determined by my Department. It would therefore not be appropriate for me to comment but all relevant matters, including safety and noise, will be thoroughly considered before a decision is issued, the statutory deadline for which is 27 February 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times she has met with representatives of Gatwick Airport to discuss the proposed expansion.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Secretary of State for Transport has not met with representatives of Gatwick Airport to discuss the proposed expansion at the airport.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2024 to Question 4498 on Unitary Councils: Kent, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of splitting Kent County Council into a number of smaller unitary authorities.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The upcoming English Devolution White Paper will set out more detail on the government’s reorganisation plans, including on working with councils to move to simpler structures that make sense for their local areas, with efficiency savings from council reorganisation helping to meet the needs of local people.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many private GP surgeries were set up in (a) England, (b) Kent and (c) Tunbridge Wells constituency in the last 12 months.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Data on the number of private general practice (GP) surgeries is not held centrally. The majority of GPs operate under the GP Contract, to provide National Health Service GP services. Private GP surgeries must be registered with the Care Quality Commission, and doctors must be registered with the General Medical Council.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many private GP surgeries there are in (a) England, (b) Kent and (c) Tunbridge Wells constituency.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Data on the number of private general practice (GP) surgeries is not held centrally. The majority of GPs operate under the GP Contract, to provide National Health Service GP services. Private GP surgeries must be registered with the Care Quality Commission, and doctors must be registered with the General Medical Council.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 15347 on Pectus Excavatum: Surgery, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact on the (a) mental and (b) physical health of children who fall below the Haller index threshold of not receiving that surgery.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

In April 2023, the National Health Service published an urgent policy statement for the clinical treatment of pectus excavatum and the eligibility criteria for surgical intervention.

Any physical or psychological assessment of children who fall below the eligibility threshold for surgery to treat pectus excavatum is the responsibility of their clinician. Pectus excavatum may also be treated by non-surgical interventions.

As part of its five long-term missions, the Government has begun work on a 10-year plan for change and modernisation, to make the NHS fit for the future, ensuring a better health service for everyone, regardless of condition or service area.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2024 to Question 15348 on Gatwick Airport: Noise, what measures the Aviation Night Noise Effects study will use to investigate the potential impact of flight noise on children's (a) sleep quality and (b) health and development.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Aviation Night Noise Effects study has been developed to examine the relationship between exposure to night-time aviation noise and sleep disturbance and annoyance in adults and has not been designed to investigate effects on children.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question 15981 on Gatwick Airport, whether the previous Secretary of State for Transport met with representatives of Gatwick Airport to discuss the proposed expansion.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The previous Secretary of State did not meet with representatives of Gatwick Airport to discuss the proposed expansion.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will take steps to help local authorities speed-up the processing of blue badges.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport sets the legislation that governs the Blue Badge scheme and provides guidance for local authorities who are solely responsible for administering the scheme, including issuing the badges.

There are no timescales set for administering applications other than a suggested guideline that issuing authorities should aim to complete end to end applications within 12 weeks.

80% of citizens apply for a badge from their local authority using the Blue Badge Digital Service (BBDS) operated by the Department for Transport. The Department has a programme of continuous improvement of the digital service with the aim of making online badge applications quicker and easier for applicants and local authorities.

Government response to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report on communication of changes to women’s State Pension age

Social care workers and National Insurance

UN Special Rapporteur's report on atrocity crimes in Iran

Potential closure of post offices

Found: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Chair); Mr Calvin Bailey; Alex Baker; Lincoln Jopp; Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck; Mike Martin

This inquiry will examine the UK’s contribution to European Security. It will examine the UK's contribution to NATO and its bilateral defence relationships with other European countries. This inquiry will look at the UK's contribution to multilateral frameworks outside of NATO. In addition, it will explore the UK's NATO and non-NATO European commitments. The inquiry will also examine where the UK provides niche capabilities and where other European Allies might be relied upon to provide them.

This inquiry will examine the Armed Forces Covenant, the UK’s commitment to ensuring that members of the Armed Forces community are supported and treated fairly. The inquiry will explore whether the Covenant is working, examine areas where serving or former personnel and their families continue to face difficulties, and consider how the Covenant might be updated or expanded in scope. The Government has indicated that changes to the Covenant could be brought in during the next Parliamentary session as part of the next Armed Forces Bill; the recommendations of this inquiry will be able to inform that legislation.