Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Access to Work Scheme supports people with multiple sclerosis in employment.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The support that a customer will receive from Access to Work is dependent upon their needs and circumstances at the time they make an application. Case managers will use the current guidance to ensure Access to Work principles are considered when making a decision on support. All assessments are done on an individual basis with all conditions, including Multiple Sclerosis where applicable, considered as part of an individual’s application.

We continue to engage disabled people’s organisations and individuals with lived experience, drawing on their insights alongside the National Audit Office’s recommendations as we take forward improvements to the scheme.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of the UK’s readiness for war.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

As set out in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, we are increasing national warfighting readiness to deter threats to UK and our interests. This includes transforming the Armed Forces to ensure they are more lethal, reversing the 14 years of hollowing out and underfunding this government found when it came into office.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the ability of rural communities to contact emergency services in the event of a prolonged power cut following BT’s move from copper landlines to digital voice services.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government is committed to ensuring that any risks from the industry-led migration of the copper based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated for everyone across the UK, including rural communities. In 2024/25, there were over 2,600 major incidents on the PSTN, each affecting 500 or more customers.

In November 2024, the Government secured additional safeguards from the telecoms industry. These include the provision of free battery back-ups for vulnerable and landline dependent customers to ensure access to emergency services for at least one hour in a power outage. Many communication providers have gone further, providing battery back-ups with 4-7 hours of battery life.

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 administration of the Tier 2 NHS Pension Scheme, particularly in relation to retirement dates and the clarity of communications regarding retirement information.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) administers the NHS Pension Scheme in accordance with the scheme regulations and publishes clear guidance to support members applying for ill-health retirement, including Tier 2 benefits. The guidance sets out the eligibility criteria, the two‑tier structure of ill‑health benefits, and the steps members must follow. This guidance is available on the NHSBSAs website at the following link:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/member-hub/applying-ill-health-pension-benefits.

The NHSBSA publishes detailed information on normal pension ages, the definition of permanent incapacity, and the enhancements associated with Tier 2 benefits, helping members understand how retirement dates and entitlements are determined. Processing turnaround times are also published and regularly updated so that members and employers are kept informed throughout the process. The processing times are available from the following link:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/current-processing-times-nhs-pensions.

The NHSBSA keeps this material under regular review to ensure it remains clear and accessible and works closely with employers to support accurate and timely communication with scheme members.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the costs of expanding the rural fuel duty relief scheme to cover all of Tiverton and Minehead constituency.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme has provided a 5p reduction to motorists buying fuel in certain areas since its introduction in 2012. The areas included in the scheme demonstrate certain characteristics such as: pump prices much higher than the UK average; remoteness leading to high fuel transport costs from refinery to filling station, and; relatively low sales meaning that retailers cannot benefit from bulk discounts.

There are no plans to amend the list of eligible locations.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of stock levels of propanolol 80mg and 160mg modified release capsules until July 2026 on (i) patient outcomes and (ii) availability of medication which is a suitable substitute.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department is aware of supply issues affecting propranolol 80 milligram and 160 milligram modified release (MR) capsules due to ongoing manufacturing issues. The issues affecting propranolol 80 milligram MR capsules are expected to resolve by July 2026, while issues with propranolol 160 milligram MR capsules remain ongoing until further notice.

The Department is working with all suppliers to help resolve the issues and improve supplies, including asking that they source stock from other markets. We have also reached out to specialist importers who have sourced unlicensed imports of propranolol 80 milligram and 160 milligram MR capsules. We have engaged with National Health Service specialist clinicians and issued comprehensive guidance on how to manage patients during this time and to advise on available alternative preparations.

The Department continues to work with the supply chain teams and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to mitigate the situation and ensure supplies are available for patients as soon as possible.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will set out how the National Cancer Plan for England will reduce barriers to innovative and life extending treatments for people with secondary breast cancer when those treatments are not approved by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Cancer Plan commits to increasing access to the best innovative cancer treatments for all patients, including those with secondary breast cancer. The Cancer Drugs Fund has helped to ensure that, according to industry data, patients in England receive new cancer treatments 50% faster than the European Union average, and it will continue to provide earlier access to promising new treatments. By April 2026, a joint process between National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will boost the speed of decisions on licensing and appraisal of medicines, so that recommendations for the National Health Service to fund new drugs can be made faster.

NICE has a strong track record in recommending treatments for breast cancer and will continue to evaluate all new medicines for breast cancer. There are no plans to routinely fund medicines where NICE has been unable to recommend them as clinically and cost effective.

Since January 2022, NICE has recommended all but one of the treatments for breast cancer that it has assessed through the Cancer Drugs Fund, including treatments for secondary breast cancer such as Truqap and Korserdu, which are now available to eligible NHS patients.

To ensure that people diagnosed with secondary breast cancer have timely access to new and innovative treatments, NHS England commissioned a National Audit of Metastatic Breast Cancer, which provides timely evidence for cancer service providers of where patterns of care in England may vary. The purpose of the audit is to identify information to increase the consistency of access to treatments and help stimulate improvements in cancer treatment and outcomes for patients. The NHS is now acting on those findings.

Cost of plumbing services

Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday

Blackdown Support Group's 35 year anniversary

Introduction of reforms to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief

100th anniversary of the birth of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Meta and YouTube and legal liability for addictive design and online harms

Supporting UK hauliers and reducing border friction through UK–EU cooperation

Encompass South West

Water sector reform

Outdoor learning specialist apprenticeships

St George’s Day 2026

Online abuse and exploitation of Ukrainian refugees

Funding for rural Britain

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Found: Cotswolds) (Chair) Mr Clive Betts (Labour; Sheffield South East) Anna Dixon (Labour; Shipley) Rachel Gilmour

Found: Q28 Rachel Gilmour: You used the word “extraordinary”.

Found: Cotswolds) (Chair) Mr Clive Betts (Labour; Sheffield South East) Anna Dixon (Labour; Shipley) Rachel Gilmour

Found: Rachel Gilmour MP highlighted the need “to embed a truly comprehensive climate resilience strategy across

Found:

Found: medical technology, research and digital innovation in women's healthcare Dr Zubir Ahmed 15/12/2025 Rachel Gilmour