Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how his Department monitors the different methods by which patients book appointments to see a GP in England.

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

NHS England publishes monthly data on submissions received via online consultation systems, including clinical and administrative requests, and the number of cloud-based telephony calls received by general practices (GPs). The annual General Practice Patient Survey and the monthly Office for National Statistics Health Insight Survey collect data on the methods patients use to contact their GP and the perceived ease of contact with each method.

As part of our ambition to end the 8:00am scramble, we want patients to contact their practice by phone, online, or by walking in, and for people to have an equitable experience across these access modes. To ensure that patients are not digitally excluded, the GP Contract is clear that patients should always have the option of telephoning or visiting their practice in person, and all online tools must always be provided in addition to, rather than as a replacement for, other channels for accessing a GP. Practice receptions should be open so that patients without access to telephone or online services are in no way disadvantaged.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how his department ensures GPs retain telephone and reception facilities to book appointments at GP clinics.

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

As part of our ambition to end the 8:00am scramble, we want patients to contact their practice by phone, online, or by walking in, and for people to have an equitable experience across these access modes. To ensure that patients are not digitally excluded, the GP Contract is clear that patients should always have the option of telephoning or visiting their practice in person, and all online tools must always be provided in addition to, rather than as a replacement for, other channels for accessing a general practice (GP). Practice receptions should be open so that patients without access to telephone or online services are in no way disadvantaged.

To support patients who depend on telephone bookings, the 2025/26 GP Contract includes a requirement for all GPs to offer online booking throughout core hours, from 8:00am to 6:30pm. This is designed to ease pressure on phone lines by allowing those who prefer online booking to do so at any time, freeing up phone lines, reducing long phone queues, and improving the experience for those reliant on telephone bookings.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has considered the potential merits of relaxing pub licensing hours in English pubs to also accommodate the World Cup football matches involving Scotland.

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

The Government recently announced plans to extend licensing hours on a national basis for the round of 32 and round of 16, quarter finals, semi-finals, bronze medal match and final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 for matches that involve any of the home nations, including Scotland, and kick off between 8pm and 10pm UK time. This will apply in both England and Wales.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring all elected representatives and candidates to declare any meetings with foreign government representatives and agents.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

There are no plans to introduce such a requirement. As always, security requirements are kept under continuous review.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will issue new guidance to police authorities to require that a) stopping suspected criminals fleeing is prioritised above the safety of the person being sought, b) bikes are stopped by officers even when it could cause injury to a fleeing suspect and c) officers do not face prosecution for the apprehension of suspects at crime scenes.

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

The safety of the public, including suspects, and police officers is paramount. Decisions on police operational tactics, including for pursuit, are a matter for the police who are required to act lawfully, proportionately.

The Government has no plans to issue guidance for police officers on tactics as police have the knowledge, expertise and training to inform proportionate tactical decisions.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023 on the offshore ownership of property in the UK to conceal money laundering and other illegal activities.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Economic Crime Acts 2022 and 2023 established and strengthened the UK’s Register of Overseas Entities, which requires overseas entities owning UK land to disclose their beneficial owners. Since launching in 2022, over 33,000 entities have registered. The Companies House Strategic Intelligence Assessment (2024) found it is almost certain that the register has reduced the ability to hide beneficial ownership of UK property and improve transparency for law enforcement. Non‑compliant entities are also prevented from selling, leasing or raising finance over UK land. The Government is currently reviewing the legislation’s impact and will publish findings once complete.