Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on the fresh freezing and storage of brain tumour tissue, including data collected through NHS England’s gap analysis of freezer capacity; and if he will provide the most recent available data by NHS trust on the (a) availability of suitable freezer capacity and (b) proportion of brain tumour patients whose tissue is routinely fresh-frozen and stored following surgery.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

NHS England has completed a gap analysis of the need for freezer capacity and is looking at how to support services to provide an equitable expansion of that capacity. 

The Department and NHS England will work with professional bodies, including the Royal College of Pathologists, to review tissue retention guidance and consent processes.

The Department is looking at ways to support trusts to expand freezer capacity, and will provide an update on this in the autumn.

There are no plans to publish the full gap analysis. The data is management information which is not routinely published.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, further to the Answer of 16 June 2026 to Question 8929, if his Department will consult with civil society organisations with expertise relating to rare and less survivable cancers when developing the cancer manuals in order to ensure that they fulfil the National Cancer Plan's aim of reducing disparities in cancer survival.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

The Department and NHS England continue to work with cancer stakeholders on the implementation of the National Cancer Plan and will discuss the development of cancer manuals with relevant stakeholders.

As set out in our National Cancer Plan, the first wave of manuals will include an equal balance of rare cancers, where survival has been slowest, and the most common cancers. It is in the combination of both points that we will maximise progress against our ambition to reduce disparities in cancer survival.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the affordability of compulsory school uniform items for families; and if she will consider introducing a (a) recommended maximum price (b) price cap for such items.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Too many families report that school uniform costs remain a financial burden and the government has legislated to limit the number of branded uniform items that schools can require, helping to reduce costs for parents and remove barriers to children accessing sport and other school activities.

Schools can now require no more than three branded items, or four in secondary and middle schools where a branded tie is compulsory, saving families up to £50 per child on their back-to-school shop.

We have also strengthened expectations on affordability through statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms. This guidance is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms.

Schools will be expected to consider the cost of individual items, particularly higher-cost items such as blazers, and the overall uniform cost when assessing affordability.

Our approach gives parents choice in how they manage uniform costs, including the option to buy items from a range of retailers. A cost cap would be complex, difficult to enforce and burdensome for schools, and the government has no plans to introduce a maximum price or cost cap.

Found: Thurrock) Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour; Calder Valley) Andrew George (Liberal Democrat; St Ives) Paulette Hamilton

Found: the chair) Alex Barros-Curtis Markus Campbell-Savours Wendy Chamberlain Daniel Francis Paulette Hamilton

Found: Daniel Francis (Labour; Bexleyheath and Crayford) Amanda Hack (Labour; North West Leicestershire) Paulette Hamilton

Found: Daniel Francis (Labour; Bexleyheath and Crayford) Amanda Hack (Labour; North West Leicestershire) Paulette Hamilton

Found: Daniel Francis (Labour; Bexleyheath and Crayford) Amanda Hack (Labour; North West Leicestershire) Paulette Hamilton

Found: ); Danny Beales; Ben Coleman; Dr Beccy Cooper; Jen Craft; Josh Fenton-Glynn; Andrew George; Paulette Hamilton

Found: Thurrock) Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour; Calder Valley) Andrew George (Liberal Democrat; St Ives) Paulette Hamilton

Found: were also present (Standing Order No. 137A): Jen Craft, Josh Fenton-Glynn, Andrew George, Paulette Hamilton

Found: Q137 Paulette Hamilton: Good morning.