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 patient experience data and intelligence is independently aggregated and analysed following the abolition of local Healthwatch.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Following the abolition of local Healthwatch, our proposals are that integrated care boards (ICBs) and local authorities (LAs) will have the responsibility for gathering views, and feedback from local people about health and social care services respectively in their area.

ICBs and LAs will be required to take these views into account when looking at their commissioning strategies to ensure these meet the needs of local people. They will also be required to demonstrate that they have done so.

However, these proposals require primary legislation. The timing of this is subject to the will of Parliament and will happen when parliamentary time allows.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent steps he has taken towards bringing the provisions in the Freehold Reform Act 2024 into force.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 103549 on 14 January 2026 and to the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 27 January 2026 (HCWS1278).

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 potential benefits of including inflammatory bowel disease on the list of medical conditions which are entitled to a medical exemption certificate.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

There are currently no plans to add inflammatory bowel disease to the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate which exempts the holder from paying the National Health Service prescription charge.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help ensure UK-registered charities can continue operating in Palestine under Palestinian Authority registration.

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

Regarding the registration of non-governmental organisations to operate in Gaza, I refer the Hon Member to the statement I made to the House on 5 January, and to the joint statement made by the Foreign Secretary and a number of her counterparts on 30 December, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jointstatementon-the-gaza-humanitarian-response.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill on British citizens who have already commenced undergraduate medical degrees overseas on the understanding that they would be able to return to the UK to complete their Foundation Programme; and what plans he has to implement transitional protections and assurances to safeguard their training prospects and future careers in the NHS.

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

Subject to the parliamentary passage of the bill, British citizens who have graduated from medical schools outside of the United Kingdom will not be prioritised for foundation training places if they spent the majority of their time studying outside the British Islands.

The Government does not plan to implement transitional protections or assurances in relation to these applicants. Prioritisation does not mean exclusion. Non-prioritised graduates will still be able to apply for foundation training places, and they will be offered places if vacancies remain after prioritised applicants have received offers.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what consideration his Department has given to introducing transitional arrangements for the implementation of UK graduate prioritisation in medical specialty recruitment for the 2025–26 recruitment cycle; and whether he will review the decision to assess applicants’ immigration or settlement status at the point of application rather than at the point of job offer, in cases where applicants will have Indefinite Leave to Remain by the time offers are made.

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

The Government does not plan to introduce transitional arrangements for the implementation of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill.

For 2026 specialty training posts we have used immigration status as a reasonable proxy for National Health Service experience. Subject to parliamentary passage, the bill prioritises applicants at offer stage based on their immigration status at that point. Applicants will be able to update their application status where it has changed since they made their application. For specialty training posts starting from 2027 onwards, the immigration status category will not apply automatically. Instead, we will be able to make regulations to specify any additional groups who will be prioritised by reference to criteria indicating significant experience as a doctor in the health service, or by reference to immigration status. We will set out next steps on these regulations in due course.

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 human, qualitative patient insight is not displaced by digital, survey-based and institution-led feedback once local Healthwatch is abolished.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As set out in the Dash Review of the patient safety landscape published in July 2025, and in the 10-Year Health Plan, the statutory functions of local Healthwatch bodies will be transferred to integrated care boards (ICBs) for health, and to local authorities (LAs) for social care.

Both ICBs and LAs will be required to demonstrate how they have gathered patient and user feedback from local people including those who do not have access to digital platforms, those who are less proficient with technology, and people for whom English is a second language.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of allowing migrants with settled status to vote in general elections and referenda.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government has no plans to change the voting rights of foreign nationals. There are no set rules regarding who can vote in a UK-wide referendum. Instead, the franchise for each referendum is determined on a case-by-case basis by Parliament in the legislation providing for that referendum.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to allow migrant nurses who are not employed by the NHS to qualify for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years.

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

The Government recognises and values the important contribution that nurses make to the UK and our National Health Service.

The earned settlement public consultation ran for 12 weeks and closed on 12 February 2026. We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.

Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both an economic impact assessment and equality impact assessment which we will publish as well as the Government’s response in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of including international medical graduates who are GMC-registered and who have at least two years’ NHS experience by 5 March 2026 in the prioritisation for specialty training.

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

The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026, which received Royal Assent on 5 March 2026, prioritises United Kingdom medical graduates and other doctors with significant National Health Service experience for specialty training places.

For specialty training places starting in 2026, immigration statuses are being used as a practical proxy to capture applicants who are most likely to have significant experience working in the health service in the UK.

From 2027, immigration status will no longer automatically determine priority for specialty training. Instead, we are able to make regulations to specify any additional groups who will be prioritised by reference to criteria indicating significant experience as a doctor in the health service, or by reference to immigration status. The Department will work with NHS England, the devolved administrations, and other partners on how best to define and evidence significant NHS experience as part of the development of those regulations.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of current waiting times on decisions on claims for Attendance Allowance; and whether he will take steps to reduce the target processing time from up to 12 weeks, particularly for claimants undergoing active cancer treatment such as chemotherapy.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Department keeps Attendance Allowance processing times under review and recognises the importance of timely decisions for older people, including those undergoing significant medical treatment.

Through our wider Service Modernisation programme, we have taken steps to speed up and streamline the processing of new Attendance Allowance claims. We are now working to a target of clearing 90% of new claims within 30 days, and current performance shows that the majority of claims are being cleared within around 3–4 weeks, supported by increasing uptake of the new digital application route.

For customers who are nearing the end of life, we operate a dedicated fast-track process under the Special Rules for End of Life, where claims are prioritised and typically cleared within 8 days. The extension of the end of life definition from 6 months to 12 months ensures more people with advanced conditions can benefit from this expedited process.

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 people with substance use issues can access specialist inpatient detox treatment.

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

Local authorities are responsible for commissioning drug and alcohol treatment services according to local need as part of their public health responsibilities, and this includes the provision of inpatient detoxification services.

In line with recommendations in Dame Carol Black’s independent review of drug treatment and recovery, the Department created a distinct grant to support and expand inpatient detoxification for people who use drugs and alcohol. The £10 million a year grant ran between 2022/23 and 2024/25, before being consolidated into the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant in 2025/26. Investment in inpatient detoxification services will continue beyond 2026. The Government has committed over £13.45 billion across three years through the Public Health Grant, including £3.4 billion ringfenced for drug and alcohol prevention, treatment, and recovery, which includes funding for inpatient detoxification. This multi-year funding provides greater certainty for local areas as they plan and sustain services.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the availability of NHS provision on the number of patients with Cranio-Cervical Instability who are seeking (a) diagnosis and (b) surgical treatment overseas.

Answered by Ashley Dalton

The Department recognises that Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDS) and associated cranio‑cervical instability (CCI) are complex conditions that can be challenging to diagnose and manage, and we acknowledge the concerns raised by patients and clinicians about variation in expertise and access to appropriate care.

Care for CCI is managed within existing specialised neurology and spinal pathways, delivered in centres with the appropriate expertise. NHS England works with clinical experts and integrated care boards to ensure that provision reflects the best available evidence and supports patients with complex connective‑tissue and neurological presentations. Decisions on surgical interventions for CCI must be based on individual clinical assessment, the strength of available evidence for benefit, and consideration of potential risks.

Once qualified, healthcare professionals are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge remains up to date, and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. Clinical teams are expected to use the best available evidence and follow national guidance when assessing and managing patients with complex connective tissue disorders.

The Department continues to engage with patient groups, charities, and Members of Parliament on the issues facing people with EDS and CCI. Insights from this engagement, including on the barriers patients encounter in accessing National Health Services, are informing our ongoing consideration of what further action may be needed to strengthen referral routes, support the dissemination of clinical resources, and consider where further system support may improve diagnostic confidence and care coordination.

The Department is aware of a number of individual cases where patients with suspected CCI have travelled overseas for imaging or surgery not routinely available in the NHS.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve a) (a) the diagnosis of, (b) clinician training on and (c) access to treatment for patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and associated Cranio-Cervical Instability.

Answered by Ashley Dalton

The Department recognises that Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDS) and associated cranio‑cervical instability (CCI) are complex conditions that can be challenging to diagnose and manage, and we acknowledge the concerns raised by patients and clinicians about variation in expertise and access to appropriate care.

Care for CCI is managed within existing specialised neurology and spinal pathways, delivered in centres with the appropriate expertise. NHS England works with clinical experts and integrated care boards to ensure that provision reflects the best available evidence and supports patients with complex connective‑tissue and neurological presentations. Decisions on surgical interventions for CCI must be based on individual clinical assessment, the strength of available evidence for benefit, and consideration of potential risks.

Once qualified, healthcare professionals are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge remains up to date, and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. Clinical teams are expected to use the best available evidence and follow national guidance when assessing and managing patients with complex connective tissue disorders.

The Department continues to engage with patient groups, charities, and Members of Parliament on the issues facing people with EDS and CCI. Insights from this engagement, including on the barriers patients encounter in accessing National Health Services, are informing our ongoing consideration of what further action may be needed to strengthen referral routes, support the dissemination of clinical resources, and consider where further system support may improve diagnostic confidence and care coordination.

The Department is aware of a number of individual cases where patients with suspected CCI have travelled overseas for imaging or surgery not routinely available in the NHS.

Anniversary of the Tel al-Sultan aid worker massacre

Mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence law

Decoupling the price of gas from electricity

Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (No. 2)

Restructuring at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Support for the ceramics industry

Transition of rail workers into Great British Railways

Closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan

World Social Work Day 2026

Payment of employment tribunal awards

New United Nations Convention on the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals

Football ticket prices (No. 2)

Escalation of conflict with Iran

Billionaire wealth

Found: Rachel Taylor (Labour, North Warwickshire and Bedworth) (added 28 Oct 2024) 41 of 50 (82.0%) Nadia Whittome

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

Submit Evidence (by 8 May 2026)

The Women and Equalities Committee will examine different ways women and girls can be involved in sport beyond participating as athletes, players and competitors.