Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the number of people waiting for breast reconstruction surgery after being accepted as suitable patients has been in each year since 2020.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
A count of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) with a main procedure of 'breast reconstruction' and an elective admission, showing mean and median wait in days for the period 2020 – 2025 is set out in the table below.
Calendar Year | FCEs | Duration of elective wait mean (days) | Duration of elective wait median (days) |
2020 | 932 | 197 | 127 |
2021 | 1,183 | 235 | 103 |
2022 | 1,712 | 284 | 165 |
2023 | 1,572 | 310 | 245 |
2024 | 1,795 | 298 | 224 |
2025 | 1,837 | 246 | 141 |
Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS England
Data on the number of people waiting for breast reconstruction surgery after being accepted as suitable patients is not held in the format requested, as breast reconstruction waits cannot be disaggregated from the broader treatment groups within which they are recorded.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the mean and the median average waiting times for breast reconstruction surgery has been between a decision to accept as a suitable patient and admission to hospital in each year since 2020.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
A count of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) with a main procedure of 'breast reconstruction' and an elective admission, showing mean and median wait in days for the period 2020 – 2025 is set out in the table below.
Calendar Year | FCEs | Duration of elective wait mean (days) | Duration of elective wait median (days) |
2020 | 932 | 197 | 127 |
2021 | 1,183 | 235 | 103 |
2022 | 1,712 | 284 | 165 |
2023 | 1,572 | 310 | 245 |
2024 | 1,795 | 298 | 224 |
2025 | 1,837 | 246 | 141 |
Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS England
Data on the number of people waiting for breast reconstruction surgery after being accepted as suitable patients is not held in the format requested, as breast reconstruction waits cannot be disaggregated from the broader treatment groups within which they are recorded.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she has taken to consult with local authorities on the impact of the decision to not uprate Local Housing Allowance since 2024 on the ability of local authorities to relieve homelessness.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Poverty, housing availability and affordability are the root causes of homelessness and rough sleeping. The National Plan to End Homelessness acknowledges that many people on low incomes struggle to afford rising rents in the private rental market and recognises some private renters need support with their rent.
The Department of Work and Pensions Secretary of State reviews Local Housing Allowance rates annually. For those who require further financial support with housing costs, Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) Housing Payments in England and Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) in Scotland and Wales may be available from local authorities.
My Department regularly speaks to local authorities to understand homelessness pressures, including as a result of Local Housing Allowance rates.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce the cost of temporary accommodation to local authorities.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We are providing over £4 billion in funding for homelessness and rough sleeping services from 2026/27 to 2028/29, including nearly £1 billion over the multi-year settlement for temporary accommodation funding.
The Value for Money Review of homelessness will assess the underlying cost-effectiveness of cross government spend that helps to prevent and relieve all forms of homelessness, and will make actionable recommendations that improve efficiency, accountability, outcomes, and reduce financial pressures on councils. The review will also explore accommodation delivery models, including novel and innovative approaches to temporary accommodation and the supported housing sector. The findings will inform decisions for future policy development.
For further details please see the published Terms of Reference available here.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to improve access to social homes for people at risk of homelessness.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government published A National Plan to End Homelessness on 11 December 2025. It can be found on gov.uk here.
In respect of homes funded by the Social and Affordable Housing Programme, we have made clear that registered providers will be expected to assist and work closely with councils to fulfil their duties to meet local housing need. This includes letting rented homes in accordance with, and meeting obligations set out in, nominations agreements. We expect registered providers to provide 100% of first lets through nominations agreements, unless otherwise agreed with the council.
We have also brought forward amendments to the Social Housing Bill to strengthen homelessness prevention. Details can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 October 2026 (HCWS401).
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of meetings held between Liverpool City Council planning department staff and members of the public and whether such meetings are recorded.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department does not hold this information, but Liverpool City Council will hold this information.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what oversight does the Chief Executive and planning committee members of Liverpool City Council have of complaints and FOI's about the planning department.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department does not hold this information, but Liverpool City Council will hold this information.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of FOI requests that Liverpool City Council have declined to respond to in the last two years relating to the planning department.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department does not hold this information, but Liverpool City Council will hold this information.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data her Department holds on how many FOIs have been submitted to Liverpool City Council specifically related to the planning department in the last two years.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department does not hold this information, but Liverpool City Council will hold this information.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many FOIs were submitted to Liverpool City council relating to the planning department were responded to within the legal time limit in the last two years.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department does not hold this information, but Liverpool City Council will hold this information.