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 accessibility of hearing tests for those 18 years old and under, including by audiologists who are not registered with the CQC.

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

The Government is committed to transforming diagnostic services in England and will support the National Health Service to increase diagnostic capacity, including for audiology services for those 18 years old and under.

The National Diagnostic Waiting Times and Activity dataset includes data on the percentage of patients waiting more than six weeks for an audiology assessment, and can be found at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/

However, this data cannot be split by adult/child, therefore the Department has not made a formal assessment of the accessibility of hearing tests for those 18 years old and under. As of January 2026, the dataset showed that 45% of patients were waiting more than six weeks for an audiology assessment.

Audiology services are not required to be registered with Care Quality Commission where the services provided do not fall under the regulated activities, as set out in the regulations. Audiology activities, such as hearing tests, hearing aid fittings, and tympanometry/routine assessments are not regulated activities. More information is available at the following link:

https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/registration/scope-registration/regulated-activities/diagnostic-and-screening-procedures

When an audiologist is a practicing clinical scientist or a hearing aid dispenser, they must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.hcpc-uk.org/

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the future sustainability and funding of the Music and Dance Scheme; and what steps she is taking to support young musicians and dancers.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

I refer the hon. Member for Canterbury to the answer of 12 February 2026 to Question 111333.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the current status is of further modelling and cost-effectiveness analysis of MenABCWY vaccination in teenagers considered by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s meningococcal sub-committee; and whether that work will inform any wider review of (a) meningococcal group B vaccines and (b) meningococcal group B vaccine eligibility criteria.

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

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, told the House on 17 March in the context of the recent meningococcal disease outbreak in Kent, that the Joint Committee on Vaccinations (JCVI) has been asked to re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines to assess, for example, an expanded offer to older children and/or young adults. The JCVI will provide updated advice to the Department this summer around whether, and to what extent, a vaccine programme for older children and/or young adults would be clinically effective as well as an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of such a vaccination programme.

The JCVI gives advice to ministers based on the best evidence reflecting current good practice and/or expert opinion. The process involves a robust, transparent, and systematic appraisal of the available evidence from a wide range of sources. The JCVI aims to work with key stakeholders while maintaining the independence of its processes and considerations.

The JCVI is required to consider the cost-effectiveness of a vaccination programme as part of their Code of Practice, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation#code-of-practice-and-conflicts-of-interests

The JCVI meningococcal sub-committee meeting heard presentations regarding modelling of MenABCWY vaccination in adolescents in their meeting on 13 November 2025. The minutes of this meeting are available in the document attached. This meeting took place before the 2026 outbreak in Kent and the subsequent request from my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to review eligibility for the meningococcal group B vaccine in older children and young adults. The context of the recent meningococcal outbreak in Kent will be important to consider in any updated modelling which is considered by the JCVI going forward.

It is also important to note that there are currently no MenABCWY vaccines licensed in the United Kingdom.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether external organisations, including charities and patient organisations, will have opportunities to submit written evidence to any review of meningococcal group B vaccines or meningococcal group B vaccine eligibility criteria.

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

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, told the House on 17 March in the context of the recent meningococcal disease outbreak in Kent, that the Joint Committee on Vaccinations (JCVI) has been asked to re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines to assess, for example, an expanded offer to older children and/or young adults. The JCVI will provide updated advice to the Department this summer around whether, and to what extent, a vaccine programme for older children and/or young adults would be clinically effective as well as an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of such a vaccination programme.

The JCVI gives advice to ministers based on the best evidence reflecting current good practice and/or expert opinion. The process involves a robust, transparent, and systematic appraisal of the available evidence from a wide range of sources. The JCVI aims to work with key stakeholders while maintaining the independence of its processes and considerations.

The JCVI is required to consider the cost-effectiveness of a vaccination programme as part of their Code of Practice, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation#code-of-practice-and-conflicts-of-interests

The JCVI meningococcal sub-committee meeting heard presentations regarding modelling of MenABCWY vaccination in adolescents in their meeting on 13 November 2025. The minutes of this meeting are available in the document attached. This meeting took place before the 2026 outbreak in Kent and the subsequent request from my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to review eligibility for the meningococcal group B vaccine in older children and young adults. The context of the recent meningococcal outbreak in Kent will be important to consider in any updated modelling which is considered by the JCVI going forward.

It is also important to note that there are currently no MenABCWY vaccines licensed in the United Kingdom.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what timetable the Department expects for any review by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation of meningococcal group B vaccines or meningococcal group B vaccine eligibility criteria.

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

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, told the House on 17 March in the context of the recent meningococcal disease outbreak in Kent, that the Joint Committee on Vaccinations (JCVI) has been asked to re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines to assess, for example, an expanded offer to older children and/or young adults. The JCVI will provide updated advice to the Department this summer around whether, and to what extent, a vaccine programme for older children and/or young adults would be clinically effective as well as an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of such a vaccination programme.

The JCVI gives advice to ministers based on the best evidence reflecting current good practice and/or expert opinion. The process involves a robust, transparent, and systematic appraisal of the available evidence from a wide range of sources. The JCVI aims to work with key stakeholders while maintaining the independence of its processes and considerations.

The JCVI is required to consider the cost-effectiveness of a vaccination programme as part of their Code of Practice, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation#code-of-practice-and-conflicts-of-interests

The JCVI meningococcal sub-committee meeting heard presentations regarding modelling of MenABCWY vaccination in adolescents in their meeting on 13 November 2025. The minutes of this meeting are available in the document attached. This meeting took place before the 2026 outbreak in Kent and the subsequent request from my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to review eligibility for the meningococcal group B vaccine in older children and young adults. The context of the recent meningococcal outbreak in Kent will be important to consider in any updated modelling which is considered by the JCVI going forward.

It is also important to note that there are currently no MenABCWY vaccines licensed in the United Kingdom.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has had discussions with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on the cost-effectiveness methodology applied to meningococcal group B vaccines; and whether that methodology will take account of (a) NICE's updated threshold of £25,000 to £35,000 per quality-adjusted life year and (b) other changes to NICE’s standard cost-effectiveness thresholds.

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

The Department is working closely with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to ensure that the methodology used by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to assess the cost-effectiveness of vaccination programmes provides the information that the committee requires in order to develop objective and robust advice on matters related to vaccination and immunisation, including advice on meningococcal group B vaccines.

While the JCVI’s code of practice is being updated, the Department has confirmed that the JCVI continues to consider a vaccination programme to be cost-effective if the health benefits, both the direct health benefits to those vaccinated and the indirect health benefits to the unvaccinated population, are greater than the costs when each quality-adjusted life year is valued at £20,000.

Information on cost-effectiveness is considered by the JCVI alongside evidence of the burden of disease, of vaccine safety and efficacy, and of the impact of immunisation strategies.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment the Department has made of inequalities in access to meningococcal group B vaccination for teenagers and young adults who are not eligible for NHS-funded vaccination, including where vaccination is available only through private purchase.

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

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has asked the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation (JCVI) to re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines to assess, for example, an expanded offer to older children and/or young adults.

The JCVI will provide updated advice to the Department this summer around whether, and to what extent, a vaccine programme for older children and/or young adults would be clinically effective as well as an assessment of the cost effectiveness of such a vaccination programme.

The Department has not made an assessment about inequalities in access to meningococcal group B vaccination for teenagers and young adults who are not eligible for National Health Service funded vaccination, as private vaccinations are not within its remit.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps is her department taking to tackle the potential impact of the Yellow Legged Hornet on pollinators in Canterbury in wider Kent.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra remains committed to taking action against Yellow-Legged Hornets (YLHs) in England in 2026 and the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit (NBU) stand ready to respond to reported sightings. The NBU will follow up credible reports of YLHs to find and destroy nests.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to raise public awareness of potential impact Yellow Legged Hornets on pollinators.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra continues to share the message about the threat of Yellow Legged Hornets (YLHs) to pollinators including honey bees and encourages the public to report suspected sightings. The Department uses a range of communication channels to inform beekeepers and the wider public.

The Non-Native Species Secretariat (NNSS) works with over 50 local actions groups and a wide range of other organisations to raise awareness of YLH and has distributed over 48,000 Yellow-Legged Hornet awareness raising materials since January 2026.

Invasive Species Week is an annual event to raise awareness of invasive non-native species and how everyone can help to reduce their impacts. This year it will take place from 22 to 28 June 2026. Tuesday 23 June will focus on recording and volunteering and will include events highlighting work on YLH.

Additional media opportunities for awareness raising will be used as they arise.

As part of the wider work to support pollinators, Defra has committed to delivering a refreshed Pollinator Action Plan, as part of the broader Environmental Improvement Plan. This will set out key actions for pollinators in England.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to undertake an (a) equality impact assessment and (b) health inequalities assessment of access to meningococcal group B vaccination.

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

In developing vaccination policy, the Department has due regard to its duties under the Public Sector Equality Duty. Consideration of equality and health inequalities impacts are undertaken as part of the development, implementation, and review of vaccination programmes, including meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination programmes.

The United Kingdom has a national immunisation programme against MenB diseases where infants are offered the MenB vaccine at eight weeks, 12 weeks, and one year of age. This vaccine is offered to all UK born infants alongside routine immunisations and therefore is equitable for all infants. This vaccine is also offered to a small group of individuals at increased risk of meningococcal disease such as people without a spleen or complement deficiency.

The UK does not currently offer the vaccine to any other cohorts, but they may still be able to acquire the vaccine privately. However, this is not within the remit of NHS England or the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Should an expansion of the national programme be recommended at any point the UKHSA would, as part of the planning for implementation, undertake an assessment to ensure that the approach recommended acted to mitigate inequity in line with the principles outlined in the Immunisation Equity Strategy for any additional cohorts.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has asked the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation (JCVI) to re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines to assess, for example, an expanded offer to older children and/or young adults.

The JCVI will provide updated advice to the Department this summer around whether, and to what extent, a vaccine programme for older children and/or young adults would be clinically effective as well as an assessment of the cost effectiveness of such a vaccination programme.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department and the UK Health Security Agency are taking to improve the timeliness and completeness of reporting of suspected cases of meningococcal disease and bacterial meningitis from hospitals.

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

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to fund sustained public awareness activity on meningitis, including awareness of signs and symptoms, available vaccinations and when to seek urgent medical help.

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

Raising awareness about the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia, as well as the benefits of the MenACWY vaccine, remains a Department funding priority.

The Department, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England have been working with national and local partners across the higher education, further education, school and early years sectors on meningitis. This includes sharing a range of resources to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia/sepsis, when to seek medical attention and the vaccine offers available.

Engagement and support with key sector stakeholders will continue throughout the year with further sharing communications resources and digital content on owned channels raising awareness of signs and symptoms and encouraging uptake of the MenACWY vaccine.

UKHSA provides a range of resources and assets, co-branded with the NHS, including information leaflets about the importance of vaccination and posters about the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia. These are available in multiple languages and accessible formats, including easy read, British Sign Language, and braille, at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-public-health-resources

A collaboratively produced university vaccine communications toolkit is also available and is shared via Universities UK and the Association of Managers of Student Services in Higher Education, with further information available at the following link:

https://find-public-health-resources.service.gov.uk/University%20vaccine%20communications%20toolkit/UNI24

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to run targeted meningitis awareness activity for teenagers, young adults, students and their families ahead of the next academic year, including information on symptoms, urgency of seeking medical help and available meningococcal vaccines.

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

Raising awareness in parents, teenagers, and young adults about the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia, as well as the benefits of the MenACWY vaccine, remains a priority.

The Department, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and NHS England have been working with national and local partners across the higher education, further education, school, and early years sectors on meningitis. This includes sharing a range of resources to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia/sepsis, when to seek medical attention, and the vaccine offers available.

Engagement and support with key sector stakeholders will continue in the run up to the new academic year and will include further sharing communications resources, including regional public relations and targeted stakeholder outreach in areas where universities are based, and digital content on owned channels raising awareness and encouraging students, young people, and their families to check they are up-to-date on vaccinations.

The UKHSA also provides a range of resources and assets, co-branded with the National Health Service, including information leaflets about the importance of vaccination and posters about the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia including the save a life posters and stickers for accommodation, catering, and high traffic areas. These are available in multiple languages and accessible formats, including easy read, British Sign Language, and braille, at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-public-health-resources

A collaboratively produced university vaccine communications toolkit is also available and is shared via Universities UK and the Association of Managers of Student Services in Higher Education, with further information available at the following link:

https://find-public-health-resources.service.gov.uk/University%20vaccine%20communications%20toolkit/UNI24

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment the Department has made of the potential under-ascertainment of meningococcal group B disease, including the relationship between (a) laboratory-confirmed cases of meningococcal group B disease, (b) hospital admissions for invasive meningococcal disease and (c) hospital-treated meningitis cases for which no causative pathogen is identified.

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

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of new housing developments on water infrastructure in Canterbury.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Water companies, including South East Water, are under a statutory duty to produce Water Resources Management Plans and Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans.

In response to Canterbury’s Local Plan consultation, the Environment Agency has recommended close liaison between the Authority and South East Water to ensure that planned housing growth is located where additional water is available to supply new development and that the phasing of that development occurs in line with any planned delivery of water supply infrastructure by the Water Company.

VAT for UK hospitality

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

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Owen (Chair); Alex Brewer; Rosie Duffield; Christine Jardine

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Owen (Chair); David Burton-Sampson; Rosie Duffield; Christine

Found: Liberal Democrat; North East Hampshire) David Burton-Sampson (Labour; Southend West and Leigh) Rosie Duffield

Found: Liberal Democrat; North East Hampshire) David Burton-Sampson (Labour; Southend West and Leigh) Rosie Duffield

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Owen (Chair); David Burton-Sampson; Rosie Duffield; Dame Nia

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Owen (Chair); Alex Brewer; David Burton-Sampson; Rosie Duffield

The Women and Equalities Committee is examining disabled workers’ and jobseekers’ access to flexible working arrangements. The inquiry is considering experiences of flexible working across different groups of disabled people and sectors of the labour market. It will examine associated schemes, such as Access to Work. It is considering the effectiveness of the law in this area, including employers’ duties to provide “reasonable adjustments” under the Equality Act and changes, set out in the Employment Rights Act 2025, intended to widen access to flexible working arrangements.