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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she made of the potential impact of electric shock collars on the welfare of dogs.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is concerned about the possible welfare implications of the use of electric shock collars.

As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, Defra will consult on whether to ban the use of electric shock collars later in this Parliament.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of redundancy arrangements for NHS staff who take partial retirement.

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

This specific assessment has not been made. Where National Health Service staff have taken partial retirement, they retain continuous service. As a result, some staff may be entitled to receive a statutory redundancy payment that exceeds their contractual redundancy entitlement, in which case, the statutory payment will apply. Entitlement to redundancy payments ultimately depends on what is set out in an employee’s employment contract and whether their contract refers to Section 16 of the Agenda for Change terms. Different rules may apply to NHS staff who are not employed on Agenda for Change terms in England.

Contractual redundancy provisions for staff covered by the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service handbook, also referred to as Agenda for Change, were agreed and ratified in partnership by the NHS Staff Council, the collective bargaining structure made up of trade union and employer representatives. Any future changes to the handbook, including this section, would require the Department to issue a mandate to allow negotiations to be undertaken by the NHS Staff Council.

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 reduce diagnostic waiting times for gynaecological conditions in Nottingham; and if he will make additional funding available to support gynaecological services.

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

Reducing diagnostic waiting times, including for gynaecology, is a key part of the Government’s health mission. That is why we are transforming diagnostic services and are taking steps to support the National Health Service to increase diagnostic capacity, including those tests typically used in gynaecology services such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound.

As set out in the Elective Reform Plan, we plan to build up to five more community diagnostic centres (CDCs), as part of £600 million capital funding for diagnostics in 2025/26. The plan also commits to CDCs opening 12 hours per day, seven days a week, delivering more same-day tests and consultations. In August 2025, we confirmed that 100 CDCs were delivering these extended services.

There are already two CDCs located within the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board. These are Broad Marsh CDC in Nottingham and Mansfield CDC in Mansfield, which offer patients across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire key diagnostic tests, including MRI and ultrasound.

More generally, to support gynaecological services, we are prioritising gynaecology pathways as part of the launch of NHS online. This will give people on certain pathways, such as those with severe menopause symptoms and menstrual problems, the choice of getting specialist case from their home and provide additional capacity to cut waiting times.

NEU dispute and strike action at Access Creative College

New US sanctions on Cuba

Billy Bremner Raploch statue

Heart Unions Week and the contribution of trade unions

Civil service pension scheme

Situation of Kurdish people in Syria

Right To Food UK Commission

Local news journalism and STV regional broadcasting

Found: Rebecca Paul (Conservative; Reigate) Rachel Taylor (Labour; North Warwickshire and Bedworth) Nadia Whittome

Found: Rebecca Paul (Conservative; Reigate) Rachel Taylor (Labour; North Warwickshire and Bedworth) Nadia Whittome

Found: Q1 Nadia Whittome: How does the UK regulatory framework differ from that of other countries?

Found: Rebecca Paul (Conservative; Reigate) Rachel Taylor (Labour; North Warwickshire and Bedworth) Nadia Whittome

Found: Rebecca Paul (Conservative; Reigate) Rachel Taylor (Labour; North Warwickshire and Bedworth) Nadia Whittome