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 merits of widening the eligibility of the NHS Low Income Scheme to include those who are on a state pension.

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

No such assessment has been made. People aged 60 years old and over are automatically entitled to free National Health Service prescriptions and free NHS eye tests.

People on the state pension can apply for the NHS Low Income Scheme and depending on their income and requirements, may receive either full or partial help with health costs. Alternatively, they may be eligible for Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, which provides full help with health costs. Full help covers:

- NHS prescription charges;

- NHS dental treatment charges;

- the cost of sight tests, glasses, and contact lenses;

- the cost of travelling to receive NHS treatment; and

- NHS wigs and fabric supports.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Kernow Industrial Growth Fund can be deployed as investment capital which can be recouped by Cornwall County Council for future projects.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Funding will be devolved to Cornwall Council, in line with the Government’s devolution agenda, empowering local leaders to invest in projects that best meet local needs. Final release of funding will be subject to a robust business case.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to provide capacity funding to local authorities for strategic economic development in Cornwall.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is establishing a £30 million fund to invest in Cornwall’s comparative sectoral advantages, including critical minerals, renewable energy and marine innovation, subject to a full business case.

Funding will be devolved to Cornwall Council, in line with the government’s devolution agenda, empowering local leaders to invest in projects that best meet local needs. Project management costs are eligible as part of a capital project budget.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance or requirements exist for NHS trusts, GP practices and other health providers to ensure that medical records, appointment letters and other clinical correspondence about a child are sent to the correct parents or addresses, including where parental responsibility is shared.

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

NHS England has a range of guidance online relating to communicating with patients, and the sharing of medical records for direct care. NHS England continues to support the secure sharing of patient information to improve safety, reduce the duplication of tests, and support patient choice. Programmes such as Connecting Care Records are designed to enable appropriate access to patient information across organisational boundaries.

In the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan there is a commitment to create a Single Patient Record (SPR). The SPR will provide a single, secure, and up to date record that brings together health and care information so clinicians can access the appropriate information they need, wherever a patient receives care. This will help reduce the delays caused by missing information, and clinicians working with incomplete histories. Subject to parliamentary timetables, the SPR will begin rolling out from 2028, starting with maternity and frailty.

The National Health Service is taking a digital-first approach to patient communications, to ensure seamless and effective communications with patients and families. Further information is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/about-nhs-digital/digital-first-messaging

There is no specific guidance relating to ensuring correspondence relating to a child is sent to the correct addresses, as this relates to ensuring the accuracy of records which runs throughout the guidance both produced by NHS England, and the professional bodies.

NHS England’s Policy and Guidance Manual for Primary Medical Services provide standard operating processes for general practice registration and include specific guidance when registering a child and the circumstances in which safeguarding guidance should be followed. This essentially underlines a “think family” approach and states an adult with parental responsibility should normally be registered at the practice with the child. Further information on NHS England’s Policy and Guidance Manual for Primary Medical Services is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/primary-medical-services-policy-and-guidance-manual-pgm-2/

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help improve the Welsh rail network.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

I was pleased to join the Prime Minister in Taffs Well earlier this month to announce seven new stations in Wales and a generational funding commitment to the Welsh rail network and a pipeline of projects valued at £14 billion.

The Prime Minister endorsed Transport for Wales’ vision for the future of rail in Wales, which will transform Welsh rail and support 12,000 jobs.

Protections for Cornish produce

Found: the meeting Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Janet Daby; Tracy Gilbert; Monica Harding; Noah Law

Found: the meeting Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Janet Daby; Tracy Gilbert; Monica Harding; Noah Law

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Janet Daby; Monica Harding; Noah Law; Brian

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Janet Daby; Monica Harding; Noah Law; Brian

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Janet Daby; Noah Law; David Mundell; James

Submit Evidence (by 15 Apr 2026)

The International Development Committee will explore the FCDO’s approach to higher education and research partnerships as part of its development strategy; how this may shift in response to a reduced aid budget and in the light of the new International Education Strategy; and the medium to long-term benefits of higher education and research partnerships to the UK’s international development goals.