Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether (a) Palantir Technologies and (b) its subsidiaries and partners will have a role in the design, development and implementation of the consistent identifier framework in Clause 5 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department is not required to complete a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) because personal data will be processed locally. Should this change, the department will conduct and publish a DPIA.
To date, pilot data has been processed locally. The next stage of piloting is under development and individual organisations’ responsibilities are still being determined.
Using the NHS number as the consistent identifier is separate from any health-related information or datasets. From piloting to date, improving connectivity enabled significant improvements in accuracy of records as well as easier location and retrieval of key information relevant to safeguarding children so reducing risk of falling through cracks between public services.
Responsibility for data governance of any data linkage initiative sits with the relevant data controllers. There are many instances of data linkage in place to support safeguarding and welfare of children. In the case of the consistent identifier project, the department, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the NSHSHS Executive are working closely together to ensure that any use of the NHS Number during pilot activity has appropriate governance in place.
Palantir or subsidiaries are not currently involved in work to pilot the Consistent Identifier. Any future organisation which wishes to connect and store the Consistent Identifier will have to satisfy the strict information governance criteria associated with storing and processing that number.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what cross-government governance arrangements are in place to oversee data linkage involving the consistent identifier in Clause 5 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act and other public sector datasets.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department is not required to complete a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) because personal data will be processed locally. Should this change, the department will conduct and publish a DPIA.
To date, pilot data has been processed locally. The next stage of piloting is under development and individual organisations’ responsibilities are still being determined.
Using the NHS number as the consistent identifier is separate from any health-related information or datasets. From piloting to date, improving connectivity enabled significant improvements in accuracy of records as well as easier location and retrieval of key information relevant to safeguarding children so reducing risk of falling through cracks between public services.
Responsibility for data governance of any data linkage initiative sits with the relevant data controllers. There are many instances of data linkage in place to support safeguarding and welfare of children. In the case of the consistent identifier project, the department, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the NSHSHS Executive are working closely together to ensure that any use of the NHS Number during pilot activity has appropriate governance in place.
Palantir or subsidiaries are not currently involved in work to pilot the Consistent Identifier. Any future organisation which wishes to connect and store the Consistent Identifier will have to satisfy the strict information governance criteria associated with storing and processing that number.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to act as (a) data controller, (b) joint controller and (c) processor in respect of personal data generated, linked, stored, analysed and processed under the consistent identifier framework in Clause 5 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department is not required to complete a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) because personal data will be processed locally. Should this change, the department will conduct and publish a DPIA.
To date, pilot data has been processed locally. The next stage of piloting is under development and individual organisations’ responsibilities are still being determined.
Using the NHS number as the consistent identifier is separate from any health-related information or datasets. From piloting to date, improving connectivity enabled significant improvements in accuracy of records as well as easier location and retrieval of key information relevant to safeguarding children so reducing risk of falling through cracks between public services.
Responsibility for data governance of any data linkage initiative sits with the relevant data controllers. There are many instances of data linkage in place to support safeguarding and welfare of children. In the case of the consistent identifier project, the department, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the NSHSHS Executive are working closely together to ensure that any use of the NHS Number during pilot activity has appropriate governance in place.
Palantir or subsidiaries are not currently involved in work to pilot the Consistent Identifier. Any future organisation which wishes to connect and store the Consistent Identifier will have to satisfy the strict information governance criteria associated with storing and processing that number.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the consistent identifier provisions in Clause 5 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act on NHS identifiers and other health-related datasets.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department is not required to complete a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) because personal data will be processed locally. Should this change, the department will conduct and publish a DPIA.
To date, pilot data has been processed locally. The next stage of piloting is under development and individual organisations’ responsibilities are still being determined.
Using the NHS number as the consistent identifier is separate from any health-related information or datasets. From piloting to date, improving connectivity enabled significant improvements in accuracy of records as well as easier location and retrieval of key information relevant to safeguarding children so reducing risk of falling through cracks between public services.
Responsibility for data governance of any data linkage initiative sits with the relevant data controllers. There are many instances of data linkage in place to support safeguarding and welfare of children. In the case of the consistent identifier project, the department, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the NSHSHS Executive are working closely together to ensure that any use of the NHS Number during pilot activity has appropriate governance in place.
Palantir or subsidiaries are not currently involved in work to pilot the Consistent Identifier. Any future organisation which wishes to connect and store the Consistent Identifier will have to satisfy the strict information governance criteria associated with storing and processing that number.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has completed a Data Protection Impact Assessment for Clause 5 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department is not required to complete a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) because personal data will be processed locally. Should this change, the department will conduct and publish a DPIA.
To date, pilot data has been processed locally. The next stage of piloting is under development and individual organisations’ responsibilities are still being determined.
Using the NHS number as the consistent identifier is separate from any health-related information or datasets. From piloting to date, improving connectivity enabled significant improvements in accuracy of records as well as easier location and retrieval of key information relevant to safeguarding children so reducing risk of falling through cracks between public services.
Responsibility for data governance of any data linkage initiative sits with the relevant data controllers. There are many instances of data linkage in place to support safeguarding and welfare of children. In the case of the consistent identifier project, the department, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the NSHSHS Executive are working closely together to ensure that any use of the NHS Number during pilot activity has appropriate governance in place.
Palantir or subsidiaries are not currently involved in work to pilot the Consistent Identifier. Any future organisation which wishes to connect and store the Consistent Identifier will have to satisfy the strict information governance criteria associated with storing and processing that number.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the median time is from symptom onset to diagnosis for patients with brain tumours: and what steps he is taking to reduce that time.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the impact that waiting for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans can have on patients, including for patients with suspected brain tumours.
We are taking a range of steps to improve access to imaging, including expanding capacity through community diagnostic centres, which are providing millions of additional tests, such as MRI scans, in convenient community settings.
We are also supporting the National Health Service to increase workforce capacity, make better use of existing diagnostic equipment, and prioritise patients based on clinical need. These measures are helping to reduce waiting times and ensure patients with the most urgent needs are seen as quickly as possible.
We do not hold information on what the median time is from symptom onset to diagnosis for patients with brain tumours. Brain tumours include both non-cancerous, or benign, and cancerous, or malignant, brain tumours.
Diagnosing cancer faster and earlier remains a key priority for the Government, and we will continue to look for opportunities to optimize pathways, reduce waiting times, and ultimately improve outcomes, including for patients with brain tumours.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for MRI scans for patients with suspected brain tumours.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the impact that waiting for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans can have on patients, including for patients with suspected brain tumours.
We are taking a range of steps to improve access to imaging, including expanding capacity through community diagnostic centres, which are providing millions of additional tests, such as MRI scans, in convenient community settings.
We are also supporting the National Health Service to increase workforce capacity, make better use of existing diagnostic equipment, and prioritise patients based on clinical need. These measures are helping to reduce waiting times and ensure patients with the most urgent needs are seen as quickly as possible.
We do not hold information on what the median time is from symptom onset to diagnosis for patients with brain tumours. Brain tumours include both non-cancerous, or benign, and cancerous, or malignant, brain tumours.
Diagnosing cancer faster and earlier remains a key priority for the Government, and we will continue to look for opportunities to optimize pathways, reduce waiting times, and ultimately improve outcomes, including for patients with brain tumours.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the availability and quality of swimming lessons in primary schools; what recent estimate her Department has made of the average cost to schools of delivering the national curriculum requirement for swimming and water safety; and what steps she is taking to support schools with the financial pressures associated with providing access to swimming facilities, transport, and specialist instruction.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department recognises that swimming and water safety are vital life skills, and every child should have the opportunity to learn to swim and to keep themselves safe around water by the time they leave primary school.
Schools receive core funding for activities within the curriculum, including funding to provide compulsory swimming as part of PE and lessons on water safety which we are making a compulsory part of RSHE from September.
Increasing access and improving attainment in swimming and water safety will be key priorities for the new PE and School Sport Partnerships network. The network will support access to swimming by bringing together schools, local clubs, and national governing bodies of sport, helping to identify, and address barriers to participation so that funding and support are targeted where they are needed most.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on the practice of continuing to levy full service charges on retirement leasehold properties following the death of the owner; and if he will bring forward legislative proposals to (a) introduce time-limited liability for service charges on such properties and (b) strengthen protections for bereaved families for ongoing charges on vacant, unsold flats.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 4726 on 8 June 2026.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the annual exempt amount for Capital Gains Tax for individuals in supporting small investors and households; and whether she plans to review that threshold.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Annual Exempt Amount (AEA) for Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is £3,000 for individuals and £1,500 for most trustees. In 2022, the previous Government reduced this from £12,300 (£6,150 for most trusts) to the current level, phased in over two tax years.
The purpose of the AEA is to ensure that people are not taxed on low levels of capital gains. The Government judges that the AEA remains at an appropriate level to fulfil this function, ensuring that only gains above a modest threshold are subject to CGT. This keeps many individuals out of the self-assessment system, with only about 1% of the population paying CGT each year, while supporting strong public finances.