Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the eligibility for free prescriptions to people with Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome.

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

There are no plans to review the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate.

There are extensive arrangements in place in England to ensure that prescriptions are affordable for everyone. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there is a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place for which those with Schwachmann Diamond Syndrome may be eligible. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.

People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme, which provides help based on a comparison between a person’s income and requirements.

People who need to pay and need many prescription items could save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as needed for a set cost. An annual PPC costs £114.50 and will save money if they need 12 or more items in 12 months. To help spread the cost, people can pay for an annual PPC by ten monthly direct debits, which works out as just over £2 per week. A three-month PPC for £32.05 is also available.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance her Department provides to ensure that people impacted by the Post Office Horizon scandal are aware that compensation payments are exempt from Universal Credit means testing; and whether a review is underway to help support people who have not received their benefit entitlement due to a lack of awareness.

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

Payments of compensation from the Post Office compensation scheme have been indefinitely disregarded as capital and income from the calculation of Universal Credit. Please see guidance below for customers relating to special compensation payments.

Universal Credit: money, savings and investments - GOV.UK

The Department has added this scheme to internal guidance for staff and decisionmakers to make them aware that payments should be disregarded.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) on its compliance with Section 9.4 of the IOPC Statutory Guidance, published on 1 February 2020; and what guidance her Department has issued on whether the IOPC has discretion to decline to investigate matters that fall within the mandatory referral criteria.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The IOPC has powers to issue statutory guidance under section 22 of the Police Reform Act 2002 to local policing bodies, the 43 Home Office territorial police forces in England and Wales and other law enforcement bodies, such as the National Crime Agency. Paragraph 9.4 of this guidance is directed not at the IOPC but at such police forces and bodies (known as “appropriate authorities”). Paragraph 9.4 places a requirement on them to “notify the IOPC where concerns or issues arise after the initial referral that indicate the matter should be referred [to the IOPC] again” in line with mandatory referral criteria.

The 2002 Act itself sets out the requirements on the IOPC as to how should carry out its functions. It gives the IOPC discretion to decide whether it is necessary that cases that have been referred to it under the mandatory referral criteria should be investigated and, if so, how they should be investigated. For example, the IOPC can decide it is necessary for it to investigate a case independently itself or it can decide that the appropriate authority should do so on its own behalf or that the appropriate authority or another force should investigate as directed by the IOPC. Paragraph 15 of Schedule 3 of the 2002 Act specifically sets this out. Other requirements on the IOPC are set out elsewhere in the 2002 Act and in the Police (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2020.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that older people entitled to Home Responsibilities Protection compensation are not excluded from claiming due to identity verification requirements.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Customers who are unable to access their Personal Tax Account can apply for Home Responsibilities Protection by completing a print and post form (CF411) which is available on GOV.UK. Alternatively, they can contact the National Insurance helpline to request a paper form.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to (a) support local authorities with the availability of larger family homes and (b) ensure that future developments reflect local demand for such housing through neighbourhood planning.

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

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that it is for local planning authorities to assess the size, types and tenure of housing needed for different groups, including (but not limited to) families with children, and to reflect this in their planning policies.

We have already strengthened national policy to encourage the delivery of mixed tenure development and will consider what further steps we can take as part of our intent to produce a set of national policies for decision making later this year.

The government remains of the view that neighbourhood plans can play an important role in the planning system. Communities can continue to prepare neighbourhood plans where they consider that doing so is in their best interests. Neighbourhood planning works best where it builds upon the foundation of the local plan to meet the priorities, preferences, and housing needs of the community.

Government planning policy for traveller sites should be read in conjunction with the National Planning Policy Framework.

Emma Kennedy

Edinburgh Kiltwalk 2025

Award of honorary posthumous England cap to Frank Soo

East Neuk Kilnhouse Great Taste recognition

200th anniversary of the Church of St Martin of Tours, Epsom

Chinook Justice Campaign

Found: Not called_NC22 Chris Hinchliff Ian Sollom Dr Roz Savage Mr Will Forster Ben Maguire Siân Berry John

Submit Evidence (by 4 Nov 2025)

This Environmental Audit Committee inquiry will examine the Climate Change Committee's advice on the Seventh Carbon Budget. It will consider the assumptions and costs underpinning the CCC’s recommendations, explore the balance between emerging and established technologies, the policy choices facing Government, and the potential impacts on households, businesses and the wider economy. The inquiry will also look at how the Government should communicate choices and trade-offs, and how Parliament and the public can best scrutinise delivery plans and progress.