Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
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 adequacy of the age profile of CT and MRI scanners in use across NHS trusts; what steps he has taken to develop guidelines on optimal scanner replacement cycles; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of modernising the imaging fleet with newer technologies on (a) scanner capacity, (b) diagnostic throughput and (c) patient outcomes.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are committed to ensuring that imaging services are supported to be as resilient and effective as possible, including reviewing the standards of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners.
In recognising the risks that outdated scanners present to service delivery, resilience, quality of care, and equity of access, NHS England has published guidance referencing the optimal cycle for CT and MRI scanner replacement as 10 years. The Diagnostic Imaging Network Capital Equipment Planning Guide (2021) was developed alongside the Royal College of Radiologists, Society of Radiographers, and Institute of Physics and Engineering, and outlines the expectation for timely and planned equipment replacement.
NHS England monitors the number, age, and distribution of imaging assets across England via its annual, retrospective National Imaging Data Collection. The latest publication from March 2024 focuses on the assets reported within the collection, and is available at the following link:
Whilst National Health Service providers maintain their own capital budgets for replacing imaging equipment that has reached its expected end of life, over the last five years approximately £260 million of national capital investment has been deployed to support replacement of failing and antiquated CT and MRI systems. This supported a reduction in the proportion of CT and MRI scanners over 10 years old in recent years to 17%, as of March 2024. NHS England has also developed national recommendations for equipment specification which are regularly reviewed. The standardisation of scanner specifications for imaging departments and the inclusion of new technologies ensures appropriate standards for purchase. An example of this is the addition of MRI acceleration software to national specifications ensuring that replacement MRI scanners can deliver a 30% reduction in some scan times, increasing throughput, environmental efficiency, and service resilience simultaneously.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a common sanitary and phytosanitary area with the EU on rules on the processing of waste from flights to the UK originating within the EU.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We will agree a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers. Details of the agreement remain subject to negotiation.
However, we expect that under the Agreement, catering waste from flights originating within the EU will no longer be classified as ‘international catering waste’, and therefore will be subject to a lesser degree of regulation in the future under the SPS Agreement.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what information her Department holds on the reasons for which the National Archives has amended its policies on the disclosure of public records.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The National Archives has not amended its policies regarding either the disclosure or reclosure of public records.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of releasing withheld historic documents relating to (a) Mark Thatcher and the Omanis, (b) Request by Electronic Data Systems to employ Mark Thatcher, (c) proceedings of the Profumo inquiry and (d) the Peter Wright Spycatcher case.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare
No. These records are subject to regular review in line with the requirements of the Public Records Act 1958.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will consider facilitating the supply of (a) medical equipment and (b) drugs due to expire to Ukraine.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As a world leader in military rehabilitation, the UK is contributing to the NATO funded Project RENOVATOR, which includes the provision of medical equipment to help deal with the thousands of injured Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel.
Since July 2024 Project RENOVATOR has procured and delivered over 5,000 individual items to a value of £1.244 million, with £4.8 million of further deliveries planned. Items include specialist rehabilitation equipment, gym equipment to aid rehabilitation and medical equipment.
Project RENOVATOR is only one aspect of the UK military medical support to Ukraine. The medical equipment the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has provided to Ukrainian personnel includes over 110,000 individual medical first aid kits, with an additional 114,000 tourniquets, 57,000 first field dressings, 9,000 chest seals and 8,000 chest decompression devices
On the supply of medication, the MOD follow the World Health Organisation guidance. Thus, medicines are not to be gifted unless they can be used before expiry and are already licenced or available as a treatment option in that country. The MOD does not gift expired products; if the medication is not suitable for use in the UK, it is not suitable for use by others.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will consider transferring Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles awaiting disposal to Ukraine.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) are key platforms for the British Army to meet Defence Commitments.
Although small numbers are scheduled for disposal, these will have been selected in line with serviceability and suitability for role. As such, without substantial investment, they are not likely to offer significant capability to Ukraine. Providing such small numbers would only increase the diversity of Ukraine’s armoured vehicle fleet, increasing their logistic and training burdens.
The UK will continue to work with Ukraine to identify how best to help them to resist Russian aggression.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to produce an implementation plan to support (a) employers and (b) the wider enforcement system with the implementation of Employment Rights Bill provisions.
Answered by Justin Madders
The Government will consult extensively on the implementation of the legislation to ensure it works for workers and employers alike, and anticipates this meaning the majority of reforms will take effect no earlier than 2026. Our forthcoming Employment Rights Bill Implementation Roadmap will set out further detail on our plans. The Roadmap will support businesses and other stakeholders to adapt to changes ahead of their commencement.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what plans the Government has for introducing a women’s workplace health strategy.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This Government is committed to prioritising women’s health as we build an NHS fit for the future. Our focus is on turning the commitments in the Women's Health Strategy into tangible action, such as providing emergency hormonal contraception free of charge at pharmacies on the NHS from October 2025; taking urgent action to tackle gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Reform Plan; and setting out how we will eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 through the new cervical cancer plan.
More widely, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has appointed a Menopause Employment Ambassador who will work closely with employers across the country to improve workplace support for women experiencing menopause.
The Office for Equality and Opportunity are taking the first steps towards legally requiring large employers to publish action plans alongside their gender pay gap figures; detailing the steps they are taking to narrow their gap and support employees during the menopause.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of developing thorium-based molten salt reactors in the UK.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Nuclear is a key part of the government's national mission to be a clean energy superpower. The government believes that Advanced Nuclear Technologies (ANTs) could play an important role in helping the UK achieve energy security and clean power while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs.
DESNZ is aware of and monitors the progress of a wide range of advanced reactors in design development by companies around the world, including Thorium Molten Salt reactors.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will have discussions with Meta on removing monkey abuse content from its platforms.
Answered by Feryal Clark
Government ministers and officials regularly discuss online safety matters with stakeholders including online platforms such as Meta.
Under the Online Safety Act’s ‘illegal content duties’, social media platforms including Meta have duties to implement measures to tackle animal abuse content and remove it from their services. Ofcom is the UK’s independent regulator for online safety responsible for regulating services and taking enforcement action as appropriate. It has published recommendations for how providers should fulfil their illegal content duties in codes of practice and documentation. These include specific provisions about animal abuse content. These duties took effect on 17 March.