Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
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 support earlier diagnosis of Multiple System Atrophy among healthcare professionals.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, including multiple system atrophy (MSA), under the UK Rare Diseases Framework. We published the fifth annual England action plan in February 2026, where we report on the steps we have taken to advance the priorities of the framework, including getting a diagnosis faster and improving awareness among health professionals.
Earlier diagnosis of MSA relies on clinical guidance, improving recognition in primary care, and ensuring timely access to specialist movement disorder expertise. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guideline Suspected neurological conditions: recognition and referral, reference code NG127, provides primary care clinicians with clear criteria for identifying early features of progressive neurological disorders, including atypical parkinsonian syndromes such as MSA. The guideline sets out when urgent or routine referral to neurology is appropriate, supporting earlier recognition and reducing diagnostic delay in general practice.
To ensure patients with suspected complex movement disorders are assessed promptly, the revised NHS England Specialised Neurology Services (Adults) service specification, from August 2025, requires all tertiary centres to provide specialised movement disorder clinics and to operate within networked integrated neurology systems. These networks strengthen links between primary care, district general hospitals, and specialist centres, enabling clinicians to access specialist advice and refer patients earlier when MSA or other atypical parkinsonian syndromes are suspected.
NHS England’s Neurology Transformation Programme has also developed an Integrated Neurology Care Model and toolkit, which emphasise structured pathways, care coordination, and improved communication across the system. These measures support earlier diagnosis by ensuring patients with concerning movement disorder symptoms reach the appropriate specialist team without unnecessary delay.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
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 publish an impact assessment on the removal of the statutory requirement for councils of governors in NHS foundation trusts, particularly for those from marginalised communities.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Until such time as the Health Bill receives Royal Assent, the statutory requirements for councils of governors (CoGs) remain. All National Health Service foundation trusts (FTs) will be expected to have put in place effective arrangements for community engagement by the time the bill provisions to remove CoGs have commenced.
To ensure the effectiveness of these arrangements, they will be tested as part of ongoing assurance processes, including provider capability assessments, Care Quality Commission well-led assessments, and the assessment process for advanced foundation trust status.
If arrangements are found to be ineffective, there are a range of escalation approaches available. The appropriate intervention would depend on the circumstances and whether there were wider failures at the FT, but it could involve finding the trust in breach of the conditions of its provider licence and requiring the FT to develop and deliver a plan to address the issue.
The Department has published impact assessments for the Health Bill, which include an assessment of reform to the foundation trust model. This is available at the following link:
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/59-02/0009/ia_Structural_measures_to_ICBs.pdf
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take where an NHS foundation trust is found to have ineffective arrangements in place for local engagement.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Until such time as the Health Bill receives Royal Assent, the statutory requirements for councils of governors (CoGs) remain. All National Health Service foundation trusts (FTs) will be expected to have put in place effective arrangements for community engagement by the time the bill provisions to remove CoGs have commenced.
To ensure the effectiveness of these arrangements, they will be tested as part of ongoing assurance processes, including provider capability assessments, Care Quality Commission well-led assessments, and the assessment process for advanced foundation trust status.
If arrangements are found to be ineffective, there are a range of escalation approaches available. The appropriate intervention would depend on the circumstances and whether there were wider failures at the FT, but it could involve finding the trust in breach of the conditions of its provider licence and requiring the FT to develop and deliver a plan to address the issue.
The Department has published impact assessments for the Health Bill, which include an assessment of reform to the foundation trust model. This is available at the following link:
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/59-02/0009/ia_Structural_measures_to_ICBs.pdf
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
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 NHS Trust community engagement following the removal of the statutory requirement for Councils of Governors in the Ten Year Health Plan.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Until such time as the Health Bill receives Royal Assent, the statutory requirements for councils of governors (CoGs) remain. All National Health Service foundation trusts (FTs) will be expected to have put in place effective arrangements for community engagement by the time the bill provisions to remove CoGs have commenced.
To ensure the effectiveness of these arrangements, they will be tested as part of ongoing assurance processes, including provider capability assessments, Care Quality Commission well-led assessments, and the assessment process for advanced foundation trust status.
If arrangements are found to be ineffective, there are a range of escalation approaches available. The appropriate intervention would depend on the circumstances and whether there were wider failures at the FT, but it could involve finding the trust in breach of the conditions of its provider licence and requiring the FT to develop and deliver a plan to address the issue.
The Department has published impact assessments for the Health Bill, which include an assessment of reform to the foundation trust model. This is available at the following link:
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/59-02/0009/ia_Structural_measures_to_ICBs.pdf
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding his Department has allocated to research into Multiple System Atrophy.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and has funded a range of research through the NIHR infrastructure policy programmes, including research into multiple system atrophy (MSA). This research includes testing new treatments that could slow down or stop disease progression, developing better ways to diagnose the disease earlier and more accurately, and understanding how health and care services work so that people receive better support after diagnosis and improved end-of-life care.
MSA is a rare neurodegenerative condition and is therefore frequently studied alongside related atypical Parkinsonian syndromes and broader neurodegenerative disorders. In the last five financial years, from 2020/21 to 2024/25, through the NIHR, the Department committed £1.96 million for new research projects into MSA. This is alongside wider support to NIHR research infrastructure.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of average waiting times between GP referral for suspected musculoskeletal conditions and receipt of MRI scans in Luton.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The latest data available from 2025/2026 shows that the average wait time from the point of requesting a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test to receipt of a scan is 41.5 days for all MRI scans, and 36.1 days for musculoskeletal (MSK) related issues for Luton residents. The average wait time is not collected from the point of general practice (GP) referral as referrals would not normally be directed from GPs.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance recommends that patients with MSK conditions do not have imaging requested by a non-specialist service unless serious underlying pathology is suspected. This means that MRI scans or other imaging should be requested by an MSK service, or other specialist service, and not by a GP unless there is significant, life-threatening, or urgent medical disease or condition, for instance cancer, spinal infection, organ failure, or a fracture.
NHS England publishes data on diagnostic waiting times, including the proportion of patients waiting six weeks or more for diagnostic tests such as MRI scans.
We are committed to improving access to diagnostics and have expanded capacity through community diagnostic centres, which are delivering additional MRI and other tests closer to patients’ homes and helping to reduce waiting times.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
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 level of value for money of current arrangements with private providers delivering NHS diagnostic services.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Achieving value for money is primarily the responsibility of integrated care boards, who decide how best to spend fixed budgets to achieve outcomes for their local populations.
In most cases, contracts between integrated care boards and local providers will have to comply with the NHS Payment Scheme, a set of prices and rules used by providers of National Health Service care and commissioners to deliver the most efficient, cost-effective care to patients. These unit prices apply to both independent sector and NHS providers.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of adequacy of the 18 month period for bereavement support payment.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Bereavement Support Payment aims to provide support during the acute period following a bereavement by way of an initial lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly instalments with a higher amount paid for those with children.
Longer-term financial support is delivered through the wider welfare system, including through Universal Credit, Child Benefit and other forms of local support where appropriate. The Government keeps the adequacy of all benefits under review.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
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 delays in access to diagnostic imaging for patients experiencing severe pain and inability to work while awaiting MRI scans.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the impact that delays in diagnostic imaging can have on patients, particularly those in severe pain or unable to work.
We are taking a range of steps to improve access to imaging, including expanding capacity through community diagnostic centres (CDCs). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a core test within CDCs and at present we have 143 MRIs in 125 sites that provide it, having delivered nearly 2.9 million MRI tests since 2021. We have also funded new MRI scanners to increase access and availability to MRI scanning.
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.
To support people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions more broadly, we are working to deliver the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) MSK Community Delivery Programme. GIRFT teams are working with health system leaders to reduce community MSK waiting lists. Patients with MSK conditions will also soon be able to directly access community services, including physiotherapy, pain management, and orthopaedics, in the NHS App. The landmark change will deliver faster treatment for the flare up of existing conditions, including arthritis, backpain, and joint pain.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress his Department has made on the feasibility study into estimating the prevalence of forced marriage and FGM.
Answered by Natalie Fleet
In 2023, the Home Office commissioned the University of Birmingham to conduct a study on the feasibility of producing a prevalence estimate of forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM).
Building on this, “Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls”, published in December 2025, committed to conducting an additional study to explore the viability of the University’s recommended approach to producing a national prevalence estimate. The additional study concluded in March 2026
The Government is currently reviewing the findings of both studies and considering next steps.