Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help support individuals with pelvic health conditions through the Pelvic Partnership; and what specific support and service provision is currently available in Derbyshire.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are rolling out perinatal pelvic health services to improve the prevention, identification, and referral to treatment for pelvic health problems during pregnancy and at least one year following birth. As of January 2026, 36 of the 42 local systems have perinatal pelvic health services in place, and NHS England are working closely with the remaining areas which do not yet have fully established services in place. The Department and NHS England do not support individuals through the charity the Pelvic Partnership.
In North Derbyshire, there is a fully operational Perinatal Pelvic Health Service delivered by a dedicated multidisciplinary team.
Within Derby City and South Derbyshire, an established women’s health physiotherapy service is in place and is currently being expanded. The service delivers pelvic floor clinics and pelvic girdle pain clinics.
The Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust also provide assessment and treatment for women and men experiencing bladder, bowel, and pelvic floor conditions.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many outstanding cases involving individuals subject to the Loan Charge she expects to be resolved as a result of the recommendations of the McCann Review.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
At Budget 2024 the Government announced a new independent review of the loan charge. The purpose of the review was to bring the matter to a close for people who have not settled and paid their loan charge liabilities. The review identified affordability as a key barrier preventing those individuals from settling and made recommendations to remove this barrier.
The Government has gone further in supporting people on the lowest incomes by providing an additional £5,000 deduction for those in scope of the review. This entirely removes approximately 10,000 individuals from the charge. Most others will see their liabilities reduced by at least half.
Under the review recommendations, an individual earning £30,000 who used a disguised remuneration scheme for three years would have their liability reduced by 66 percent. Under the Government’s plans, they will instead see 89 percent written off. It represents the Government’s attempt to provide a fair route to resolution for those who have not settled with HMRC. In turn, those people need to come forward and engage with HMRC in good faith.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward proposals to require a single mandatory standard and enforcement regime to apply equally to highway authorities, their contractors, and statutory undertakers for all road and street works on the UK road network, including workmanship, reinstatement quality, inspections, and penalties.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
A strong framework already applies to utilities, contractors and highway authorities, including national reinstatement standards, permit schemes, and performance‑based inspections introduced in 2023, which ensure poor performers face more frequent inspections and associated charges. Recent regulations, in force from January 2026, further strengthen enforcement by increasing penalties for overruns and improving compliance. We will continue to keep the regime under review.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the decision not to require solar photovoltaic panels on all new residential and commercial buildings from 2026 under the updated building regulations, and what are the reasons for not mandating this measure.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Buildings constructed to the Future Homes and Buildings Standards will be future proofed with low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency. The consultation for the Future Homes and Buildings Standards had two proposals for the energy performance requirements of new non-domestic buildings, both of which included the use of solar panels. The government has also confirmed that solar panels are expected to be installed in the majority of new homes.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has spent on Microsoft software licenses in the last 12 months.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
DHSC spent £4.3m on Microsoft licensing for internal use for the period 1 February 2025 to 31 January 2026.
All purchases are based upon a valid business requirement and utilise national pricing agreements negotiated by the Crown Commercial Service to ensure value for the taxpayer.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to answer Question 107246 tabled on 20th January 2026, regarding safeguarding issues and Academies.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
I can confirm that a response has been submitted to my hon. Friend, the Member for South Derbyshire to Question 107246.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that Academies operate lawfully when safeguarding issues are raised.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
All schools must follow ’Keeping Children safe in education’, and ’Working together to safeguard children’ statutory guidance. Academy trusts must also comply with the ’Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014’, which sets safeguarding standards, as a requirement of their funding agreement.
The department considers all safeguarding issues reported to it. Where the department has concerns about an academy trust not meeting its safeguarding responsibilities, it works closely with the trust to ensure those arrangements come into compliance with statutory requirements. This remit does not extend to investigating individual safeguarding matters or commenting on a trust’s handling of incidents.
Failure to comply with regulations may place a trust in breach of its funding agreement with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, which can lead to intervention action as set out in the Academy Trust Handbook.
The department works with other statutory bodies, such as the local authority or Ofsted, as appropriate. Trusts are held to account for standards in their academies through Ofsted inspections. Local authorities have an overarching responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in their area, regardless of the types of educational settings they attend.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the January 2026 Road Traffic Strategy, when she plans to publish the manual for streets.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department intends to publish an updated version of the Manual for Streets before the end of 2026.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's document entitled Guidelines and guidance on the responsible use of veterinary medicines, updated on 8 October 2024, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the inclusion of blanket flea and worming treatments in veterinary health plans on the responsible use of veterinary medicine and antimicrobials in animals.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Flea and tick products play an important role in protecting animal and human health; however, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) recognises increasing concerns about the environmental impacts of substances such as fipronil and imidacloprid. Monitoring in England has detected these substances in some watercourses at levels that may pose a risk to aquatic invertebrates.
The VMD is leading cross‑government work through the Pharmaceuticals in the Environment Group to support responsible use of these products. Recently published VMD‑funded studies (2024–25) have shown that spot‑on flea and tick products can contribute to environmental levels of imidacloprid and fipronil through wastewater pathways and when dogs swim. These findings strengthen the evidence base, but important gaps remain, including understanding the potential unintended consequences if usage patterns change. This is being considered as part of wider stewardship work to ensure future decisions remain proportionate, evidence based and protective of animal welfare.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to answer Question 105030 on Farm Business Tenancy.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
A response was published to Question 105030 on Wednesday 28 January here: PQ 105030. I apologise for the delay in doing so.