Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the Minister for Women and Equalities on access to fertility treatment for same sex couples.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has not had recent discussions with the Minister for Women and Equalities on access to fertility treatment for same sex couples.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with Network Rail on the December 2025 East Coast Main Line timetable.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has been in regular discussion with Network Rail since 2018 on the new East Coast Main Line (ECML) timetable including through industry planning forums. Last year, the Department commissioned an industry taskforce, including Network Rail, to oversee the readiness for this change and make a recommendation to implement. On their advice, I approved this timetable for implementation in December 2025 to enable the full benefits of a £4 billion investment in the route.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has considered the merits of introducing a statutory requirement for schools to screen children for dyslexia before the age of 7.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
I refer the hon. Member for Didcot and Wantage to the answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 40829.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
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 ensure that patients continue to receive ADHD medication without cost when their shared care agreement has come to an unpredicted end.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is the responsibility of integrated care boards in England to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including access to medication services for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Services are underpinned by relevant guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which provides evidence-based guidance for the health and care system on best practice.
It is for the responsible clinician to decide on the most appropriate treatment plan to manage ADHD, in discussion with their patient. This decision is based on the clinician’s expertise regarding treatment options, evidence, risk and benefits and the patient’s personal circumstances as part of a shared decision-making process. The NICE guideline on the diagnosis and management of ADHD provides recommendations that healthcare professionals should account for when considering treatment options.
Shared care within the National Health Service refers to an arrangement whereby a specialist doctor formally transfers responsibility for all or some aspects of their patient’s care, such as prescription of medication, over to the patient’s general practitioner (GP).
The General Medical Council (GMC), which regulates and sets standards for doctors in the United Kingdom, has made it clear that GPs cannot be compelled to enter into a shared care agreement. Shared care is not part of the GP contract and as such, participation is voluntary. GP practices may decline such requests on clinical or capacity grounds. A GP who has previously agreed to a shared care agreement but can no longer support it must provide a clear rationale for their decision. Both the GP and the specialist clinician share responsibility for ensuring continuity of care for the patient.
ADHD medication prescribed by an NHS doctor is subject to prescription charging, unless the patient meets the criteria for a prescription charge exemption. This is the case regardless of a shared care agreement being in place.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to respond to the Third Report of the Work and Pensions Committee of Session 2023-24 on Defined benefit pension schemes, HC 144, published on 26 March 2024.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is grateful to the previous Work and Pensions Select Committee for their valuable report on defined benefit (DB) pensions schemes and to the Chair for her sustained focus on this important area.
I will respond to the Committee in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the performance of Arriva Cross Country under the terms of its contract.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
CrossCountry performance was not good enough in 2024. A Remedial Agreement was in place from August 2024 to March 2025 when the operator took steps to improve services. The operator was monitored closely. In 2025 CrossCountry cancellations are now lower and punctuality better. The operator is aware there is more to do, particularly on Sundays.
Based on the most recent information available, CrossCountry has been meeting its contractual benchmarks since 5 January 2025.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help accommodate excess domestic renewable power within local power networks.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is working to accelerate network infrastructure build, which will reduce constraints on the network by allowing low-cost renewables onto the system more quickly.
We are also taking steps outlined in the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan to support deployment of electricity storage technologies, including domestic and grid-scale batteries, which allow excess renewable generation to be saved up for when the system most needs it.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support she is providing to maintain the roles of (a) parish and town clerks and (b) responsible financial officers on local councils.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Town and parish council clerks and responsible financial officers do vital work which enables councils to represent their communities. The department supports town and parish council officers by establishing clear frameworks for councillor standards and council finances, which allow them to excel in their roles. To stay abreast of evolving requirements of these roles and provide support, the department collaborates closely with the Society for Local Council Clerks and the National Association of Local Councils.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish rates of sectioning under the Mental Health Act 1983 by diagnosis of (a) bipolar and (b) other mental health conditions for each of the last five years.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
An individual is detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 if they pose a serious risk to themselves or others and they require care in a hospital setting. Detentions are not made based on diagnoses of severe mental health conditions.
NHS England is currently exploring a methodology to analyse diagnoses of individuals detained under the Mental Health Act and initial results are expected to be published in May 2025. Therefore, the information requested is not available for the last five years.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what training is provided to early intervention in psychosis teams on (a) recognising and (b) supporting people with bipolar.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise how important it is for individuals with bipolar to get the right care and support they need. NHS England commissions training for staff working in early intervention in psychosis services to deliver cognitive behavioural therapy for both psychosis and bipolar disorder.
Mental health professionals are required to complete core training as part of their roles, which includes information on awareness of bipolar disorder and how it presents. The comprehensive assessment of at-risk mental states is an assessment tool used by mental health professionals and researchers to identify individuals who are at high risk of developing psychosis.