Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ensure that the Modern Service Framework on cardiovascular disease will include stroke rehabilitation as well as prevention.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, to accelerate progress on the ambition to reduce premature deaths from heart disease and stroke by 25% within a decade, we will publish a new Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework later this year.

The Department and NHS England are engaging widely throughout its development to ensure that we prioritise ambitious, evidence-led, consistent, high quality and clinically informed approaches to prevention, treatment and care. Stroke rehabilitation is being considered as part of this process.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have died from illness caused by exposure to sewage spills in rivers and seas by NHS Trust in each of the last 10 years.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Illnesses often have multiple possible sources, so individual cases cannot usually be attributed to a specific cause unless they are part of an epidemiologically confirmed outbreak. When outbreaks are identified, investigations assess potential sources such as lake or seawater exposure.

Since 2020, no confirmed gastrointestinal outbreaks reported to the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have been directly attributed to river or seawater exposure. Annual outbreak data is published by the UKHSA, with the 2025 report expected in Summer 2026.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce plastic pollution across the UK.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recognises the scale and impact of plastic pollution on the environment and is focused on preventing and reducing plastic and other litter entering the environment.

We have a number of restrictions on unnecessary single use plastic products, and we will continue to review the latest evidence on problematic products and/or materials to take a systematic approach, in line with circular economy principles, to reduce the use of unnecessary single-use plastic products and encourage reuse solutions.

In November 2025, the Government legislated to ban the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic in England, marking a major step forward in tackling the plastic and microplastic pollution which harms our waterways.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help ensure the safety of young people online.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Protecting children online is a top priority. The Online Safety Act brought in some of the strongest protections for children globally.

We have already taken steps to build on these by introducing new priority offences and tackling intimate image abuse and we have launched a landmark consultation on further measures to protect children online, including whether there should be a minimum age for social media, and restrictions to AI chatbots and gaming.

Finally, we are legislating to ensure we can act quickly on the findings of the consultation because no child should have to wait to experience a safe, fulfilling life online.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many sewage discharges there have been into the (a) River Thames and (b) River Crane in the last five years.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The following water companies have permitted discharges of treated final effluent into the River Thames:

• Thames Water Utilities Ltd into the River Thames – 19
• Southern Water Services – 2
• Anglian Water Services – 4
• Albion Water – 1

35 of the most polluting Combined Sewer Overflows in London have now been intercepted by the London Tideway Tunnels. These have prevented 19 million tonnes of storm sewage polluting the River Thames since they became operational in 2025.

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 raise awareness about early diagnosis of lobular breast cancer.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department is committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so that more patients, including those with lobular breast cancer, survive this horrible set of diseases. There are multiple NHS initiatives and funding streams across the NHS in England that support the early detection of lobular breast cancer, and many organisations across the health service are involved.

The Government recognises the crucial need for research into all forms of cancer to support earlier diagnosis, including for lobular breast cancer. In November 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) issued a highlight notice encouraging applications for new research into lobular breast cancer, to improve the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term surveillance of patients. The NIHR continues to welcome high quality funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including lobular breast cancer.

The Breast Screening Risk Adaptive Imaging for Density trial is looking into the use of supplementary imaging techniques for women within the standard breast screening programme who are found to have radiographically dense breast tissue. The different tests include magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound. The UK National Screening Committee is in contact with the researchers and is reviewing this evidence as it becomes available. It will make recommendations to ministers in light of this.

To raise awareness about early diagnosis of lobular breast cancer, the NHS in England encourages everyone to check their breast regularly for changes or thickened areas of tissue, and to consult their general practitioner straight away if they have any concerns. To increase knowledge of cancer symptoms, including lobular breast cancer, and address barriers to acting on them, the NHS runs Help Us Help You campaigns. These campaigns focus on recognising a range of symptoms, as well as encouraging body awareness, to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers, including breast cancer, at an earlier stage.

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 improve early diagnosis of lobular breast cancer.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department is committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so that more patients, including those with lobular breast cancer, survive this horrible set of diseases. There are multiple NHS initiatives and funding streams across the NHS in England that support the early detection of lobular breast cancer, and many organisations across the health service are involved.

The Government recognises the crucial need for research into all forms of cancer to support earlier diagnosis, including for lobular breast cancer. In November 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) issued a highlight notice encouraging applications for new research into lobular breast cancer, to improve the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term surveillance of patients. The NIHR continues to welcome high quality funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including lobular breast cancer.

The Breast Screening Risk Adaptive Imaging for Density trial is looking into the use of supplementary imaging techniques for women within the standard breast screening programme who are found to have radiographically dense breast tissue. The different tests include magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound. The UK National Screening Committee is in contact with the researchers and is reviewing this evidence as it becomes available. It will make recommendations to ministers in light of this.

To raise awareness about early diagnosis of lobular breast cancer, the NHS in England encourages everyone to check their breast regularly for changes or thickened areas of tissue, and to consult their general practitioner straight away if they have any concerns. To increase knowledge of cancer symptoms, including lobular breast cancer, and address barriers to acting on them, the NHS runs Help Us Help You campaigns. These campaigns focus on recognising a range of symptoms, as well as encouraging body awareness, to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers, including breast cancer, at an earlier stage.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of playing fields that will be developed as a result of proposals to remove Sport England as a statutory consultee.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) includes strong protections for existing open space, sports and recreational buildings, and land, including playing fields, setting out that they should not be built on unless they are no longer needed, equivalent or better provision is made, or the development is for alternative sports or recreational provision which offers benefits that clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.

The government recently consulted on a new NPPF that includes clearer, more rules-based policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation included updated policy on development affecting existing recreation facilities, including playing fields. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

The government is committed to maintaining and improving our stock of playing fields. We recognise that Sport England can play a valuable strategic role in supporting local planning authorities in the development of local planning policy. However, we do not believe that statutory consultation on individual cases to a national body is proportionate.

In our recent consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system, we proposed a series of mitigations which could minimise the potential impacts of removing Sport England’s statutory consultee status, while delivering the benefits of reducing regulatory requirements. These include the introduction of a new notification requirement in relation to housing and commercial development on playing fields. Under this approach, local planning authorities would be required to notify Sport England when such applications would result in the wholesale or substantial loss of playing fields.

The consultation closed on 13 January 2026, and we are currently analysing the feedback received.

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 11 March 2026 to Question 117420, a) which areas have received funding to deliver 24/7 thrombectomy and b) the date by which they are expected to have 24/7 access in place.

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

All thrombectomy centres have received funding aligned with individual provider readiness and implementation plans to deliver extended hours and 24/7 provision. Total recurrent national investment in mechanical thrombectomy in 2025/26 is in excess of £100 million.

A targeted approach to additional national investment 2026/27 was taken in recognition of disparities in historical investment due to provider readiness to achieve 24/7 provision.

This funding was targeted to the North East and Yorkshire, Midlands, and the South East regions to secure 24/7 access to service provision.

The approved funding was confirmed to regions in February 2026, to enable 24/7 service delivery from 1 April 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help prevent bicycle theft in Twickenham constituency.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The central aim of our police reforms is to protect and revitalise neighbourhood policing. We are lifting national responsibilities from local forces so they can focus on tackling issues of key concern to communities, such as dealing with bike theft. The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will ensure that every community in England and Wales will have named and contactable officers dealing with local issues, and that neighbourhood teams spend the majority of their time in their communities providing visible patrols and engaging with local communities and businesses.

In addition, we are also providing the police with new powers to support their response. The Crime and Policing Bill, now at Committee Stage in the House of Lords, will ensure that Officers can enter and search premises where stolen items – such as GPS-tracked bicycles – are reasonably believed to have been stolen and located, and where it is not reasonably practicable to obtain a court warrant. This will significantly enhance the ability of the police to act swiftly and effectively in recovering stolen property.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if the consultation on the draft ANPS will include community engagement events across a) London and b) the wider regions.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Engagement during the consultation on any revised Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) draft will be proportionate to the amendments that are made. This will be considered as part of the ANPS review process.

In line with the Planning Act 2008, any consultation on a revised ANPS will be appropriately publicised ensuring that affected communities and authorities are properly notified and able to engage in the consultation.

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 for every stroke survivor to have a 6 month review post-stroke.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England’s national Stroke Programme has undertaken work to understand the value and impact of six‑month post‑stroke reviews, particularly through the development of the Integrated Community Stroke Service (ICSS) model and the Stroke Quality Improvement in Rehabilitation (SQuIRe) programme.

Overall, the emerging evidence demonstrates that six‑month reviews are likely to provide a positive mechanism for identifying unmet need, enabling personalised care, and supporting longer‑term recovery and self‑management. The learning from SQuIRe continues to inform the national ICSS model and future commissioning guidance.

The ICSS model includes tailored, patient-centred reablement care. As part of this, through the SQuIRe programme, NHS England has funded several projects testing models of delivery of six month reviews, working closely with third sector partners, such as the Stroke Association. Analysis of these projects is pending.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost of ensuring every stroke survivor receives a 6-month post-stroke review.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England’s national Stroke Programme has undertaken work to understand the value and impact of six‑month post‑stroke reviews, particularly through the development of the Integrated Community Stroke Service (ICSS) model and the Stroke Quality Improvement in Rehabilitation (SQuIRe) programme.

Overall, the emerging evidence demonstrates that six‑month reviews are likely to provide a positive mechanism for identifying unmet need, enabling personalised care, and supporting longer‑term recovery and self‑management. The learning from SQuIRe continues to inform the national ICSS model and future commissioning guidance.

The ICSS model includes tailored, patient-centred reablement care. As part of this, through the SQuIRe programme, NHS England has funded several projects testing models of delivery of six month reviews, working closely with third sector partners, such as the Stroke Association. Analysis of these projects is pending.

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 help support people with Motor Neurone Disease.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England commissions the specialised elements of motor neurone disease (MND) care that patients may receive from 27 specialised neurology centres across England. Within these specialised centres, neurological multidisciplinary teams ensure patients can access a range of health professionals and specialised treatment and support, according to their needs.

At the national level, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with MND, including the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit.

Baroness Casey has set out that the Government must take immediate action on MND. Where someone has a severe, reasonably predictable, and life-limiting condition, it is essential that we provide rapid access to the support they need, and we will take forward immediate work to develop a fast-track process, or “passport”, that speeds up assessments and access to care for people diagnosed with MND. We will consider how best to safely implement a process that expedites assessments and gets people with MND the care and support they need more quickly.

The Government has provided £6 million in funding for the MND Translational Accelerator, which aims to speed up the development of treatments for MND, and £2 million in funding for the MND Data Catalyst, to accelerate the discovery of new diagnostics, treatments, and support better care for MND patients. Twelve projects have been funded through the accelerator, and all aimed at speeding up the development of treatments for MND.

The Government has also invested £8 million through the National Institute for Health and Care Research for the EXPERTS-ALS study, a pre-clinical study which is designed to accelerate the identification and testing of the most promising treatment candidates for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the most common form of MND.

Local authorities have duties to support people caring for their family and friends. The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of high-quality care and support services, including support for unpaid carers.

The Government recognises the vital role of unpaid carers and is committed to ensuring they have the support they need. Through measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining their caring tasks by introducing a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.

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 help expand access to treatment for those with Motor Neurone Disease.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England commissions the specialised elements of motor neurone disease (MND) care that patients may receive from 27 specialised neurology centres across England. Within these specialised centres, neurological multidisciplinary teams ensure patients can access a range of health professionals and specialised treatment and support, according to their needs.

At the national level, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with MND, including the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit.

Baroness Casey has set out that the Government must take immediate action on MND. Where someone has a severe, reasonably predictable, and life-limiting condition, it is essential that we provide rapid access to the support they need, and we will take forward immediate work to develop a fast-track process, or “passport”, that speeds up assessments and access to care for people diagnosed with MND. We will consider how best to safely implement a process that expedites assessments and gets people with MND the care and support they need more quickly.

The Government has provided £6 million in funding for the MND Translational Accelerator, which aims to speed up the development of treatments for MND, and £2 million in funding for the MND Data Catalyst, to accelerate the discovery of new diagnostics, treatments, and support better care for MND patients. Twelve projects have been funded through the accelerator, and all aimed at speeding up the development of treatments for MND.

The Government has also invested £8 million through the National Institute for Health and Care Research for the EXPERTS-ALS study, a pre-clinical study which is designed to accelerate the identification and testing of the most promising treatment candidates for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the most common form of MND.

Local authorities have duties to support people caring for their family and friends. The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of high-quality care and support services, including support for unpaid carers.

The Government recognises the vital role of unpaid carers and is committed to ensuring they have the support they need. Through measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining their caring tasks by introducing a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.

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 help support families with someone suffering from Motor Neurone Disease.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England commissions the specialised elements of motor neurone disease (MND) care that patients may receive from 27 specialised neurology centres across England. Within these specialised centres, neurological multidisciplinary teams ensure patients can access a range of health professionals and specialised treatment and support, according to their needs.

At the national level, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with MND, including the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit.

Baroness Casey has set out that the Government must take immediate action on MND. Where someone has a severe, reasonably predictable, and life-limiting condition, it is essential that we provide rapid access to the support they need, and we will take forward immediate work to develop a fast-track process, or “passport”, that speeds up assessments and access to care for people diagnosed with MND. We will consider how best to safely implement a process that expedites assessments and gets people with MND the care and support they need more quickly.

The Government has provided £6 million in funding for the MND Translational Accelerator, which aims to speed up the development of treatments for MND, and £2 million in funding for the MND Data Catalyst, to accelerate the discovery of new diagnostics, treatments, and support better care for MND patients. Twelve projects have been funded through the accelerator, and all aimed at speeding up the development of treatments for MND.

The Government has also invested £8 million through the National Institute for Health and Care Research for the EXPERTS-ALS study, a pre-clinical study which is designed to accelerate the identification and testing of the most promising treatment candidates for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the most common form of MND.

Local authorities have duties to support people caring for their family and friends. The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of high-quality care and support services, including support for unpaid carers.

The Government recognises the vital role of unpaid carers and is committed to ensuring they have the support they need. Through measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining their caring tasks by introducing a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of Heathrow Airport expansion on the number of flights from a) London Gatwick, b) Manchester Airport, c) London Stansted, d) London Luton, e) Edinburgh Airport, f) Birmingham Airport, g) Glasgow Airport, h) Bristol Airport and i) Cardiff Airport.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government supports airport expansion where it is in line with the UK’s legal, climate and environmental obligations.

The Government has requested proposals for expansion at Heathrow to provide the capacity boost needed to support connectivity and growth. As part of this we are undertaking a review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), the modelling for which will consider the impacts of expansion at Heathrow, including on other UK airports. Any updates to the ANPS will be consulted on in the summer.

Student finance system reform

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Closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan

Financial Support for the Music and Dance Scheme

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