Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will collect and publish city-specific data on the number of grooming gangs identified by police forces.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Baroness Casey’s rapid national audit into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse set out stark findings on the scale and nature of offending by grooming gangs. This government is committed to exposing the failures that have happened across the country and making sure that it can never happen again. We accepted all of Baroness Casey’s twelve recommendations and are working across government to implement these as quickly as possible.

To improve our understanding of and response to these crimes, we fund a number of policing capabilities, including the Tackling Organised Exploitation (TOEX) programme which uses data and intelligence to increase law enforcement’s capability to respond to organized exploitation. We also fund the Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce to improve how the police investigate child sexual exploitation and abuse, with a focus on group-based offending, and bring more offenders to justice. They have created the Complex and Organised Child Abuse Database (COCAD) to improve our understanding of group-based child sexual exploitation cases. On 10 December 2025, the Taskforce published an annual data report for group-based offending in 2024, which can be found here: https://www.hydrantprogramme.co.uk/publications/hydrant-publications

The Taskforce do not publish data on offending within specific cities.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of allocating newly built council housing to asylum seekers on the availability of social housing for local residents on waiting lists.

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

Newly built social rented homes are not being allocated to asylum seekers. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has issued guidance to local authorities on prioritisation between asylum seekers and local households for access to newly constructed council housing.

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

Newly built social rented homes are not being allocated to asylum seekers. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of Penalty Charge Notice enforcement practices associated with toll bridges on low income motorists.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The operation of each toll bridge is the responsibility of the body that owns it, in this case Halton Borough Council. Furthermore, most toll bridges collect payments at toll-booths which minimises the risk of non-payment. Where free-flow charging is used, as at the Mersey Gateway crossings, operators offer numerous ways to pay to maximise compliance rates. National regulations specify the maximum penalty charge that may be imposed for non-payment at the Dartford Crossing and the Mersey Gateway bridges. If penalty charges go unpaid, enforcement agents may be used to collect the debt. The Enforcement

Conduct Board provides independent oversight of the enforcement industry to ensure that all those who are subject to enforcement action are treated fairly.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential cumulative impact on public houses of business rates, employer National Insurance contributions and recent increases in the National Living Wage.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has assessed the cumulative impacts of measures announced over recent Budgets on businesses and households. Taken together, these measures raise revenue to support the public finances in a fair way, whilst providing targeted support. The Government recognises that recent policy changes will have combined effects on some businesses. Where changes are made, relevant assessments and impact notes are published to inform stakeholders. The Treasury continues to engage with affected sectors to understand the challenges they face and to ensure the UK remains a competitive place to do business. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep our policy approach under review, with future tax decisions taken at fiscal events under the normal process.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of completed housing developments in England where roads remain unadopted for more than three years after first occupation; and what steps he is taking to improve levels of adoption.

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

My Department does not hold the requested data.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Prime Minister on legal powers to restrict the (a) activities and (b) presence in the United Kingdom of Alaa Abd el Fattah.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

We do not routinely comment on individual cases however the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have made clear that Ministers and officials were previously unaware of the historic posts made by Mr El-Fattah.

All British citizens have a Right of Abode (ROA) in the UK which means they are entitled to live in the UK without any immigration restrictions and do not need to obtain the permission of an immigration officer to enter the UK.

Deportation from the UK only applies to foreign nationals. British citizens cannot be deported from the UK.

Deprivation of British citizenship is assessed individually on the basis of all available evidence.

This government and successive governments before it have been clear that the exercise of this tool must be used sparingly, and only against the highest harm and most dangerous individuals.

This includes those who pose a threat to the UK, including terrorists, and those who are involved in serious organised crime. The government does not propose to change the basis on which the power is used.

For those who are not deprived of citizenship but may have acted in a criminal manner, we encourage independent law enforcement to use their full suite of powers.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the return to the United Kingdom of Alaa Abd el Fattah on national security.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

We do not routinely comment on individual cases however the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have made clear that Ministers and officials were previously unaware of the historic posts made by Mr El-Fattah.

All British citizens have a Right of Abode (ROA) in the UK which means they are entitled to live in the UK without any immigration restrictions and do not need to obtain the permission of an immigration officer to enter the UK.

Deportation from the UK only applies to foreign nationals. British citizens cannot be deported from the UK.

Deprivation of British citizenship is assessed individually on the basis of all available evidence.

This government and successive governments before it have been clear that the exercise of this tool must be used sparingly, and only against the highest harm and most dangerous individuals.

This includes those who pose a threat to the UK, including terrorists, and those who are involved in serious organised crime. The government does not propose to change the basis on which the power is used.

For those who are not deprived of citizenship but may have acted in a criminal manner, we encourage independent law enforcement to use their full suite of powers.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether (a) she and (b) officials in her Department reviewed social media posts referring to violence against police officers made by Alaa Abd el Fattah prior to his return to the United Kingdom.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

We do not routinely comment on individual cases however the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have made clear that Ministers and officials were previously unaware of the historic posts made by Mr El-Fattah.

All British citizens have a Right of Abode (ROA) in the UK which means they are entitled to live in the UK without any immigration restrictions and do not need to obtain the permission of an immigration officer to enter the UK.

Deportation from the UK only applies to foreign nationals. British citizens cannot be deported from the UK.

Deprivation of British citizenship is assessed individually on the basis of all available evidence.

This government and successive governments before it have been clear that the exercise of this tool must be used sparingly, and only against the highest harm and most dangerous individuals.

This includes those who pose a threat to the UK, including terrorists, and those who are involved in serious organised crime. The government does not propose to change the basis on which the power is used.

For those who are not deprived of citizenship but may have acted in a criminal manner, we encourage independent law enforcement to use their full suite of powers.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has considered use of deprivation of citizenship powers in relation to Alaa Abd el Fattah.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

We do not routinely comment on individual cases however the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have made clear that Ministers and officials were previously unaware of the historic posts made by Mr El-Fattah.

All British citizens have a Right of Abode (ROA) in the UK which means they are entitled to live in the UK without any immigration restrictions and do not need to obtain the permission of an immigration officer to enter the UK.

Deportation from the UK only applies to foreign nationals. British citizens cannot be deported from the UK.

Deprivation of British citizenship is assessed individually on the basis of all available evidence.

This government and successive governments before it have been clear that the exercise of this tool must be used sparingly, and only against the highest harm and most dangerous individuals.

This includes those who pose a threat to the UK, including terrorists, and those who are involved in serious organised crime. The government does not propose to change the basis on which the power is used.

For those who are not deprived of citizenship but may have acted in a criminal manner, we encourage independent law enforcement to use their full suite of powers.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has assessed whether Alaa Abd el Fattah meets the criteria for deportation.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

We do not routinely comment on individual cases however the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have made clear that Ministers and officials were previously unaware of the historic posts made by Mr El-Fattah.

All British citizens have a Right of Abode (ROA) in the UK which means they are entitled to live in the UK without any immigration restrictions and do not need to obtain the permission of an immigration officer to enter the UK.

Deportation from the UK only applies to foreign nationals. British citizens cannot be deported from the UK.

Deprivation of British citizenship is assessed individually on the basis of all available evidence.

This government and successive governments before it have been clear that the exercise of this tool must be used sparingly, and only against the highest harm and most dangerous individuals.

This includes those who pose a threat to the UK, including terrorists, and those who are involved in serious organised crime. The government does not propose to change the basis on which the power is used.

For those who are not deprived of citizenship but may have acted in a criminal manner, we encourage independent law enforcement to use their full suite of powers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has conducted internal analysis of the potential causes of recent trends in levels of public approval of the Government.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Listing the endless ways the government engages with the public and assesses its relationship with the public would be fruitless, since that is a basic principle behind everything the government does.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has made an assessment of trends in the level of public confidence in the Government since the General Election.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Listing the endless ways the government engages with the public and assesses its relationship with the public would be fruitless, since that is a basic principle behind everything the government does.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what metrics his Department uses to assess the level of public support for the Government’s policy programme.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Listing the endless ways the government engages with the public and assesses its relationship with the public would be fruitless, since that is a basic principle behind everything the government does.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to improve coordination between Government departments in the delivery of policy.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Prime Minister announced a number of changes to Cabinet committees in November to ensure decision-making structures are best able to deliver the Government’s priorities. The list of Cabinet committees can be found online here.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Cabinet-level decision-making structures in delivering the Government’s priorities.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Prime Minister announced a number of changes to Cabinet committees in November to ensure decision-making structures are best able to deliver the Government’s priorities. The list of Cabinet committees can be found online here.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Department has received formal representations from professional medical bodies regarding the PATHWAYS trial since ethical approval was granted.

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

The Government is committed to supporting research that delivers a robust, evidence-based understanding of the needs, and support and treatment options for children and young people living with gender dysphoria. A partnership between NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is working to fund and deliver independent research that fulfils that aim.

One element of this is the PATHWAYS trial, a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the NIHR website, at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530.

This positively responds to the Cass Review’s recommendation that a clinical trial, alongside a broader programme of research, was necessary to gather the evidence required into the most effective way to care for this group of children and young people.

The trial was designed and will be delivered by an independent research team. This was in conjunction with patient and public involvement as well as independent clinical and legal experts, including those who specialise on medical ethics. This team is responsible for the protocol design, including eligibility criteria, consent, and outcomes.

The proposal has been through all the usual review and approval stages ahead of set up and opening to recruitment. These include independent academic peer review, NIHR funding committee consideration, and a full regulatory review, including a focus on ethics. It has obtained approval from the regulatory authorities, including the Health Research Authority Ethics Committee and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what indemnity arrangements are in place for clinicians involved in prescribing puberty blockers under the PATHWAYS trial.

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

The Government is committed to supporting research that delivers a robust, evidence-based understanding of the needs, and support and treatment options for children and young people living with gender dysphoria. A partnership between NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is working to fund and deliver independent research that fulfils that aim.

One element of this is the PATHWAYS trial, a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the NIHR website, at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530.

This positively responds to the Cass Review’s recommendation that a clinical trial, alongside a broader programme of research, was necessary to gather the evidence required into the most effective way to care for this group of children and young people.

The trial was designed and will be delivered by an independent research team. This was in conjunction with patient and public involvement as well as independent clinical and legal experts, including those who specialise on medical ethics. This team is responsible for the protocol design, including eligibility criteria, consent, and outcomes.

The proposal has been through all the usual review and approval stages ahead of set up and opening to recruitment. These include independent academic peer review, NIHR funding committee consideration, and a full regulatory review, including a focus on ethics. It has obtained approval from the regulatory authorities, including the Health Research Authority Ethics Committee and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what role NHS England played in determining the eligibility criteria for children recruited into the PATHWAYS trial.

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

The Government is committed to supporting research that delivers a robust, evidence-based understanding of the needs, and support and treatment options for children and young people living with gender dysphoria. A partnership between NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is working to fund and deliver independent research that fulfils that aim.

One element of this is the PATHWAYS trial, a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the NIHR website, at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530.

This positively responds to the Cass Review’s recommendation that a clinical trial, alongside a broader programme of research, was necessary to gather the evidence required into the most effective way to care for this group of children and young people.

The trial was designed and will be delivered by an independent research team. This was in conjunction with patient and public involvement as well as independent clinical and legal experts, including those who specialise on medical ethics. This team is responsible for the protocol design, including eligibility criteria, consent, and outcomes.

The proposal has been through all the usual review and approval stages ahead of set up and opening to recruitment. These include independent academic peer review, NIHR funding committee consideration, and a full regulatory review, including a focus on ethics. It has obtained approval from the regulatory authorities, including the Health Research Authority Ethics Committee and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether Ministers approved the commencement of the PATHWAYS puberty blocker trial.

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

The Government is committed to supporting research that delivers a robust, evidence-based understanding of the needs, and support and treatment options for children and young people living with gender dysphoria. A partnership between NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is working to fund and deliver independent research that fulfils that aim.

One element of this is the PATHWAYS trial, a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the NIHR website, at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530.

This positively responds to the Cass Review’s recommendation that a clinical trial, alongside a broader programme of research, was necessary to gather the evidence required into the most effective way to care for this group of children and young people.

The trial was designed and will be delivered by an independent research team. This was in conjunction with patient and public involvement as well as independent clinical and legal experts, including those who specialise on medical ethics. This team is responsible for the protocol design, including eligibility criteria, consent, and outcomes.

The proposal has been through all the usual review and approval stages ahead of set up and opening to recruitment. These include independent academic peer review, NIHR funding committee consideration, and a full regulatory review, including a focus on ethics. It has obtained approval from the regulatory authorities, including the Health Research Authority Ethics Committee and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the asylum accommodation pilot on levels of irregular migration to the United Kingdom.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

While we remain committed to supporting those who are destitute, we must also ensure that the offer of accommodation is decent and humane without becoming a pull factor or placing an excessive burden on taxpayers.

We are moving at pace to fulfil the Government’s commitment to close every asylum hotel by the end of this parliament. Work to facilitate this exit is ongoing, and we are looking at a range of more appropriate sites including ex-military sites so we can reduce the impact on communities.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the asylum accommodation pilot involving the construction of new council housing.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.

This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which local authorities are participating in the asylum accommodation pilot involving the construction of new council housing.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.

This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the value for money of constructing new council housing for asylum seekers.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.

This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

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 to ensure that Parliament is provided with adequate opportunities for scrutinising progress and outcomes of the PATHWAYS trial while it is ongoing.

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

The Government is committed to supporting research that delivers a robust, evidence-based understanding of the needs, and support and treatment options for children and young people living with gender dysphoria. A partnership between NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is working to fund and deliver independent research that fulfils that aim.

One element of this is the PATHWAYS trial, a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the NIHR website, at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530.

This positively responds to the Cass Review’s recommendation that a clinical trial, alongside a broader programme of research, was necessary to gather the evidence required into the most effective way to care for this group of children and young people.

The trial was designed and will be delivered by an independent research team. This was in conjunction with patient and public involvement as well as independent clinical and legal experts, including those who specialise on medical ethics. This team is responsible for the protocol design, including eligibility criteria, consent, and outcomes.

The proposal has been through all the usual review and approval stages ahead of set up and opening to recruitment. These include independent academic peer review, NIHR funding committee consideration, and a full regulatory review, including a focus on ethics. It has obtained approval from the regulatory authorities, including the Health Research Authority Ethics Committee and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which international clinical guidelines were used in the design of the PATHWAYS trial.

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

The Government is committed to supporting research that delivers a robust, evidence-based understanding of the needs, and support and treatment options for children and young people living with gender dysphoria. A partnership between NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is working to fund and deliver independent research that fulfils that aim.

One element of this is the PATHWAYS trial, a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the NIHR website, at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530.

This positively responds to the Cass Review’s recommendation that a clinical trial, alongside a broader programme of research, was necessary to gather the evidence required into the most effective way to care for this group of children and young people.

The trial was designed and will be delivered by an independent research team. This was in conjunction with patient and public involvement as well as independent clinical and legal experts, including those who specialise on medical ethics. This team is responsible for the protocol design, including eligibility criteria, consent, and outcomes.

The proposal has been through all the usual review and approval stages ahead of set up and opening to recruitment. These include independent academic peer review, NIHR funding committee consideration, and a full regulatory review, including a focus on ethics. It has obtained approval from the regulatory authorities, including the Health Research Authority Ethics Committee and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data sharing agreements are in place governing access to PATHWAYS trial participant data by external researchers or academic institutions.

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

The Government is committed to supporting research that delivers a robust, evidence-based understanding of the needs, and support and treatment options for children and young people living with gender dysphoria. A partnership between NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is working to fund and deliver independent research that fulfils that aim.

One element of this is the PATHWAYS trial, a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the NIHR website, at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530.

This positively responds to the Cass Review’s recommendation that a clinical trial, alongside a broader programme of research, was necessary to gather the evidence required into the most effective way to care for this group of children and young people.

The trial was designed and will be delivered by an independent research team. This was in conjunction with patient and public involvement as well as independent clinical and legal experts, including those who specialise on medical ethics. This team is responsible for the protocol design, including eligibility criteria, consent, and outcomes.

The proposal has been through all the usual review and approval stages ahead of set up and opening to recruitment. These include independent academic peer review, NIHR funding committee consideration, and a full regulatory review, including a focus on ethics. It has obtained approval from the regulatory authorities, including the Health Research Authority Ethics Committee and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that the PATHWAYS trial does not adversely affect a participant’s future access to NHS care.

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

The Government is committed to supporting research that delivers a robust, evidence-based understanding of the needs, and support and treatment options for children and young people living with gender dysphoria. A partnership between NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is working to fund and deliver independent research that fulfils that aim.

One element of this is the PATHWAYS trial, a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the NIHR website, at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530.

This positively responds to the Cass Review’s recommendation that a clinical trial, alongside a broader programme of research, was necessary to gather the evidence required into the most effective way to care for this group of children and young people.

The trial was designed and will be delivered by an independent research team. This was in conjunction with patient and public involvement as well as independent clinical and legal experts, including those who specialise on medical ethics. This team is responsible for the protocol design, including eligibility criteria, consent, and outcomes.

The proposal has been through all the usual review and approval stages ahead of set up and opening to recruitment. These include independent academic peer review, NIHR funding committee consideration, and a full regulatory review, including a focus on ethics. It has obtained approval from the regulatory authorities, including the Health Research Authority Ethics Committee and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the compatibility of the PATHWAYS trial with the Cass Review recommendations on clinical caution and evidence thresholds.

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

The Government is committed to supporting research that delivers a robust, evidence-based understanding of the needs, and support and treatment options for children and young people living with gender dysphoria. A partnership between NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is working to fund and deliver independent research that fulfils that aim.

One element of this is the PATHWAYS trial, a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the NIHR website, at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530.

This positively responds to the Cass Review’s recommendation that a clinical trial, alongside a broader programme of research, was necessary to gather the evidence required into the most effective way to care for this group of children and young people.

The trial was designed and will be delivered by an independent research team. This was in conjunction with patient and public involvement as well as independent clinical and legal experts, including those who specialise on medical ethics. This team is responsible for the protocol design, including eligibility criteria, consent, and outcomes.

The proposal has been through all the usual review and approval stages ahead of set up and opening to recruitment. These include independent academic peer review, NIHR funding committee consideration, and a full regulatory review, including a focus on ethics. It has obtained approval from the regulatory authorities, including the Health Research Authority Ethics Committee and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether children previously discharged from NHS gender services will be eligible for the PATHWAYS trial.

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

The Government is committed to supporting research that delivers a robust, evidence-based understanding of the needs, and support and treatment options for children and young people living with gender dysphoria. A partnership between NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is working to fund and deliver independent research that fulfils that aim.

One element of this is the PATHWAYS trial, a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the NIHR website, at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530.

This positively responds to the Cass Review’s recommendation that a clinical trial, alongside a broader programme of research, was necessary to gather the evidence required into the most effective way to care for this group of children and young people.

The trial was designed and will be delivered by an independent research team. This was in conjunction with patient and public involvement as well as independent clinical and legal experts, including those who specialise on medical ethics. This team is responsible for the protocol design, including eligibility criteria, consent, and outcomes.

The proposal has been through all the usual review and approval stages ahead of set up and opening to recruitment. These include independent academic peer review, NIHR funding committee consideration, and a full regulatory review, including a focus on ethics. It has obtained approval from the regulatory authorities, including the Health Research Authority Ethics Committee and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to review national protocols that require the automatic cessation of Clozapine following a single red blood result, in the context of cases where such results have subsequently been found to be spurious.

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

Clozapine is used to treat people with schizophrenia in whom other medicines have not worked and it is also used to treat severe disturbances in the thoughts, emotions, and behaviour of people with Parkinson’s disease in whom other medicines have not worked.

Clozapine is associated with potentially life threatening side effects including the risk of agranulocytosis. Patients must have regular blood tests to ensure their white blood cell count doesn’t drop too low which is classified as a red result. Clozapine may only be taken if the patient has a normal blood count.

As with all medicines, the safety of clozapine is kept under continual review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) using a number of data sources including reports of suspected side effects through the Yellow Card Scheme, data from marketing authorisation holders, and research published in the scientific literature.

The MHRA is currently reviewing the blood monitoring requirements associated with clozapine, to ensure these continue to minimise the risk of agranulocytosis whilst allowing patients to access clozapine when needed. Currently, the product information for clozapine, including the summary of product characteristics states that patients must stop clozapine if a red result is obtained and that they should not be re-exposed to clozapine.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultation she has undertaken with local residents in areas selected for the construction of council housing for asylum seekers.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.

This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to expand the asylum accommodation pilot involving new council housing beyond participating local authorities.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.

This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria she used to select local authorities to participate in the asylum accommodation pilot involving new council housing.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.

This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the asylum accommodation pilot funding will be from (a) the Government and (b) local authorities.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.

This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

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 potential merits of completing the Data Linkage Study to help inform safe PATHWAYS trial design.

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

Children’s healthcare must always be evidence-led. That’s why we are following expert, independent advice from the Cass Review to implement a programme of research to support the National Health Service to provide the best support to children and young people with gender incongruence.

The programme includes a data linkage study which will provide valuable information about the needs, experiences, and outcomes of former Gender Identity Development Service patients. However, the study will not provide high-quality or ‘causal’ data about the relative benefits and harms of puberty supressing hormones, when administered to current National Health Service patients alongside an improved model of care. Only a high-quality prospective clinical trial can provide that data.

Therefore, the Government has commissioned the PATHWAYS study, which will provide new evidence directly relevant to the current cohort of children and young people accessing newly designed NHS gender services which reflect the Holistic Assessment Framework proposed by the Cass Review. The study includes the PATHWAYS trial, which is a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the National Institute for Health and Care Research website at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530

It includes details on eligibility criteria, control group design, and follow up. It includes details of HORIZON INTENSIVE, which will provide a non-randomised control group of young people with gender incongruence not receiving puberty-suppressing hormones.

The trial has been subject to independent scientific, ethical, and regulatory scrutiny and peer review and has received the necessary research approvals. The study design, including inclusion criteria and safety protocols, has been thoroughly scrutinised to protect young people's wellbeing. Acceptance into the trial is subject to robust procedures including consent from a parent/carer and informed assent from the young person, a diagnosis of gender incongruence for at least two years, receipt of tailored psychosocial support, and the puberty suppression being deemed clinically appropriate, within the context of a study, by both their NHS care team and the national multi-disciplinary team. The research sponsor is responsible for organising insurance for the trial.

After the first two years, all participants will be included in annual follow-up throughout the study period. Follow-up into adult life is important and participants will also be asked to consent to long-term follow-up through ongoing involvement with the PATHWAYS team, with a national health registry for gender care and linkage to health information routinely collected by NHS Digital.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria will be used to decide whether PATHWAYS trial participants are offered cross sex hormones at the end of the study.

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

Children’s healthcare must always be evidence-led. That’s why we are following expert, independent advice from the Cass Review to implement a programme of research to support the National Health Service to provide the best support to children and young people with gender incongruence.

The programme includes a data linkage study which will provide valuable information about the needs, experiences, and outcomes of former Gender Identity Development Service patients. However, the study will not provide high-quality or ‘causal’ data about the relative benefits and harms of puberty supressing hormones, when administered to current National Health Service patients alongside an improved model of care. Only a high-quality prospective clinical trial can provide that data.

Therefore, the Government has commissioned the PATHWAYS study, which will provide new evidence directly relevant to the current cohort of children and young people accessing newly designed NHS gender services which reflect the Holistic Assessment Framework proposed by the Cass Review. The study includes the PATHWAYS trial, which is a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the National Institute for Health and Care Research website at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530

It includes details on eligibility criteria, control group design, and follow up. It includes details of HORIZON INTENSIVE, which will provide a non-randomised control group of young people with gender incongruence not receiving puberty-suppressing hormones.

The trial has been subject to independent scientific, ethical, and regulatory scrutiny and peer review and has received the necessary research approvals. The study design, including inclusion criteria and safety protocols, has been thoroughly scrutinised to protect young people's wellbeing. Acceptance into the trial is subject to robust procedures including consent from a parent/carer and informed assent from the young person, a diagnosis of gender incongruence for at least two years, receipt of tailored psychosocial support, and the puberty suppression being deemed clinically appropriate, within the context of a study, by both their NHS care team and the national multi-disciplinary team. The research sponsor is responsible for organising insurance for the trial.

After the first two years, all participants will be included in annual follow-up throughout the study period. Follow-up into adult life is important and participants will also be asked to consent to long-term follow-up through ongoing involvement with the PATHWAYS team, with a national health registry for gender care and linkage to health information routinely collected by NHS Digital.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) detransitioners and (b) whistleblowers were consulted in the design of the PATHWAYS trial.

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

Children’s healthcare must always be evidence-led. That’s why we are following expert, independent advice from the Cass Review to implement a programme of research to support the National Health Service to provide the best support to children and young people with gender incongruence.

The programme includes a data linkage study which will provide valuable information about the needs, experiences, and outcomes of former Gender Identity Development Service patients. However, the study will not provide high-quality or ‘causal’ data about the relative benefits and harms of puberty supressing hormones, when administered to current National Health Service patients alongside an improved model of care. Only a high-quality prospective clinical trial can provide that data.

Therefore, the Government has commissioned the PATHWAYS study, which will provide new evidence directly relevant to the current cohort of children and young people accessing newly designed NHS gender services which reflect the Holistic Assessment Framework proposed by the Cass Review. The study includes the PATHWAYS trial, which is a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the National Institute for Health and Care Research website at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530

It includes details on eligibility criteria, control group design, and follow up. It includes details of HORIZON INTENSIVE, which will provide a non-randomised control group of young people with gender incongruence not receiving puberty-suppressing hormones.

The trial has been subject to independent scientific, ethical, and regulatory scrutiny and peer review and has received the necessary research approvals. The study design, including inclusion criteria and safety protocols, has been thoroughly scrutinised to protect young people's wellbeing. Acceptance into the trial is subject to robust procedures including consent from a parent/carer and informed assent from the young person, a diagnosis of gender incongruence for at least two years, receipt of tailored psychosocial support, and the puberty suppression being deemed clinically appropriate, within the context of a study, by both their NHS care team and the national multi-disciplinary team. The research sponsor is responsible for organising insurance for the trial.

After the first two years, all participants will be included in annual follow-up throughout the study period. Follow-up into adult life is important and participants will also be asked to consent to long-term follow-up through ongoing involvement with the PATHWAYS team, with a national health registry for gender care and linkage to health information routinely collected by NHS Digital.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what safeguarding measures are in place to ensure that families do not feel pressured into the PATHWAYS trial.

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

Children’s healthcare must always be evidence-led. That’s why we are following expert, independent advice from the Cass Review to implement a programme of research to support the National Health Service to provide the best support to children and young people with gender incongruence.

The programme includes a data linkage study which will provide valuable information about the needs, experiences, and outcomes of former Gender Identity Development Service patients. However, the study will not provide high-quality or ‘causal’ data about the relative benefits and harms of puberty supressing hormones, when administered to current National Health Service patients alongside an improved model of care. Only a high-quality prospective clinical trial can provide that data.

Therefore, the Government has commissioned the PATHWAYS study, which will provide new evidence directly relevant to the current cohort of children and young people accessing newly designed NHS gender services which reflect the Holistic Assessment Framework proposed by the Cass Review. The study includes the PATHWAYS trial, which is a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the National Institute for Health and Care Research website at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530

It includes details on eligibility criteria, control group design, and follow up. It includes details of HORIZON INTENSIVE, which will provide a non-randomised control group of young people with gender incongruence not receiving puberty-suppressing hormones.

The trial has been subject to independent scientific, ethical, and regulatory scrutiny and peer review and has received the necessary research approvals. The study design, including inclusion criteria and safety protocols, has been thoroughly scrutinised to protect young people's wellbeing. Acceptance into the trial is subject to robust procedures including consent from a parent/carer and informed assent from the young person, a diagnosis of gender incongruence for at least two years, receipt of tailored psychosocial support, and the puberty suppression being deemed clinically appropriate, within the context of a study, by both their NHS care team and the national multi-disciplinary team. The research sponsor is responsible for organising insurance for the trial.

After the first two years, all participants will be included in annual follow-up throughout the study period. Follow-up into adult life is important and participants will also be asked to consent to long-term follow-up through ongoing involvement with the PATHWAYS team, with a national health registry for gender care and linkage to health information routinely collected by NHS Digital.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he made of the potential merits of (a) a feasibility study and (b) external peer review of the PATHWAYS trial.

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

Children’s healthcare must always be evidence-led. That’s why we are following expert, independent advice from the Cass Review to implement a programme of research to support the National Health Service to provide the best support to children and young people with gender incongruence.

The programme includes a data linkage study which will provide valuable information about the needs, experiences, and outcomes of former Gender Identity Development Service patients. However, the study will not provide high-quality or ‘causal’ data about the relative benefits and harms of puberty supressing hormones, when administered to current National Health Service patients alongside an improved model of care. Only a high-quality prospective clinical trial can provide that data.

Therefore, the Government has commissioned the PATHWAYS study, which will provide new evidence directly relevant to the current cohort of children and young people accessing newly designed NHS gender services which reflect the Holistic Assessment Framework proposed by the Cass Review. The study includes the PATHWAYS trial, which is a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the National Institute for Health and Care Research website at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530

It includes details on eligibility criteria, control group design, and follow up. It includes details of HORIZON INTENSIVE, which will provide a non-randomised control group of young people with gender incongruence not receiving puberty-suppressing hormones.

The trial has been subject to independent scientific, ethical, and regulatory scrutiny and peer review and has received the necessary research approvals. The study design, including inclusion criteria and safety protocols, has been thoroughly scrutinised to protect young people's wellbeing. Acceptance into the trial is subject to robust procedures including consent from a parent/carer and informed assent from the young person, a diagnosis of gender incongruence for at least two years, receipt of tailored psychosocial support, and the puberty suppression being deemed clinically appropriate, within the context of a study, by both their NHS care team and the national multi-disciplinary team. The research sponsor is responsible for organising insurance for the trial.

After the first two years, all participants will be included in annual follow-up throughout the study period. Follow-up into adult life is important and participants will also be asked to consent to long-term follow-up through ongoing involvement with the PATHWAYS team, with a national health registry for gender care and linkage to health information routinely collected by NHS Digital.

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 potential merits of including a control group of children who receive no puberty suppression in the PATHWAYS trial.

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

Children’s healthcare must always be evidence-led. That’s why we are following expert, independent advice from the Cass Review to implement a programme of research to support the National Health Service to provide the best support to children and young people with gender incongruence.

The programme includes a data linkage study which will provide valuable information about the needs, experiences, and outcomes of former Gender Identity Development Service patients. However, the study will not provide high-quality or ‘causal’ data about the relative benefits and harms of puberty supressing hormones, when administered to current National Health Service patients alongside an improved model of care. Only a high-quality prospective clinical trial can provide that data.

Therefore, the Government has commissioned the PATHWAYS study, which will provide new evidence directly relevant to the current cohort of children and young people accessing newly designed NHS gender services which reflect the Holistic Assessment Framework proposed by the Cass Review. The study includes the PATHWAYS trial, which is a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the National Institute for Health and Care Research website at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530

It includes details on eligibility criteria, control group design, and follow up. It includes details of HORIZON INTENSIVE, which will provide a non-randomised control group of young people with gender incongruence not receiving puberty-suppressing hormones.

The trial has been subject to independent scientific, ethical, and regulatory scrutiny and peer review and has received the necessary research approvals. The study design, including inclusion criteria and safety protocols, has been thoroughly scrutinised to protect young people's wellbeing. Acceptance into the trial is subject to robust procedures including consent from a parent/carer and informed assent from the young person, a diagnosis of gender incongruence for at least two years, receipt of tailored psychosocial support, and the puberty suppression being deemed clinically appropriate, within the context of a study, by both their NHS care team and the national multi-disciplinary team. The research sponsor is responsible for organising insurance for the trial.

After the first two years, all participants will be included in annual follow-up throughout the study period. Follow-up into adult life is important and participants will also be asked to consent to long-term follow-up through ongoing involvement with the PATHWAYS team, with a national health registry for gender care and linkage to health information routinely collected by NHS Digital.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what therapeutic or psychosocial interventions must be provided before a child is considered for the PATHWAYS trial.

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

Children’s healthcare must always be evidence-led. That’s why we are following expert, independent advice from the Cass Review to implement a programme of research to support the National Health Service to provide the best support to children and young people with gender incongruence.

The programme includes a data linkage study which will provide valuable information about the needs, experiences, and outcomes of former Gender Identity Development Service patients. However, the study will not provide high-quality or ‘causal’ data about the relative benefits and harms of puberty supressing hormones, when administered to current National Health Service patients alongside an improved model of care. Only a high-quality prospective clinical trial can provide that data.

Therefore, the Government has commissioned the PATHWAYS study, which will provide new evidence directly relevant to the current cohort of children and young people accessing newly designed NHS gender services which reflect the Holistic Assessment Framework proposed by the Cass Review. The study includes the PATHWAYS trial, which is a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the National Institute for Health and Care Research website at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530

It includes details on eligibility criteria, control group design, and follow up. It includes details of HORIZON INTENSIVE, which will provide a non-randomised control group of young people with gender incongruence not receiving puberty-suppressing hormones.

The trial has been subject to independent scientific, ethical, and regulatory scrutiny and peer review and has received the necessary research approvals. The study design, including inclusion criteria and safety protocols, has been thoroughly scrutinised to protect young people's wellbeing. Acceptance into the trial is subject to robust procedures including consent from a parent/carer and informed assent from the young person, a diagnosis of gender incongruence for at least two years, receipt of tailored psychosocial support, and the puberty suppression being deemed clinically appropriate, within the context of a study, by both their NHS care team and the national multi-disciplinary team. The research sponsor is responsible for organising insurance for the trial.

After the first two years, all participants will be included in annual follow-up throughout the study period. Follow-up into adult life is important and participants will also be asked to consent to long-term follow-up through ongoing involvement with the PATHWAYS team, with a national health registry for gender care and linkage to health information routinely collected by NHS Digital.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the PATHWAYS trial will distinguish true clinical effects from placebo or expectation effects in an open label design.

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

Children’s healthcare must always be evidence-led. That’s why we are following expert, independent advice from the Cass Review to implement a programme of research to support the National Health Service to provide the best support to children and young people with gender incongruence.

The programme includes a data linkage study which will provide valuable information about the needs, experiences, and outcomes of former Gender Identity Development Service patients. However, the study will not provide high-quality or ‘causal’ data about the relative benefits and harms of puberty supressing hormones, when administered to current National Health Service patients alongside an improved model of care. Only a high-quality prospective clinical trial can provide that data.

Therefore, the Government has commissioned the PATHWAYS study, which will provide new evidence directly relevant to the current cohort of children and young people accessing newly designed NHS gender services which reflect the Holistic Assessment Framework proposed by the Cass Review. The study includes the PATHWAYS trial, which is a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the National Institute for Health and Care Research website at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530

It includes details on eligibility criteria, control group design, and follow up. It includes details of HORIZON INTENSIVE, which will provide a non-randomised control group of young people with gender incongruence not receiving puberty-suppressing hormones.

The trial has been subject to independent scientific, ethical, and regulatory scrutiny and peer review and has received the necessary research approvals. The study design, including inclusion criteria and safety protocols, has been thoroughly scrutinised to protect young people's wellbeing. Acceptance into the trial is subject to robust procedures including consent from a parent/carer and informed assent from the young person, a diagnosis of gender incongruence for at least two years, receipt of tailored psychosocial support, and the puberty suppression being deemed clinically appropriate, within the context of a study, by both their NHS care team and the national multi-disciplinary team. The research sponsor is responsible for organising insurance for the trial.

After the first two years, all participants will be included in annual follow-up throughout the study period. Follow-up into adult life is important and participants will also be asked to consent to long-term follow-up through ongoing involvement with the PATHWAYS team, with a national health registry for gender care and linkage to health information routinely collected by NHS Digital.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason the PATHWAYS trial follow up period is limited to two years.

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

Children’s healthcare must always be evidence-led. That’s why we are following expert, independent advice from the Cass Review to implement a programme of research to support the National Health Service to provide the best support to children and young people with gender incongruence.

The programme includes a data linkage study which will provide valuable information about the needs, experiences, and outcomes of former Gender Identity Development Service patients. However, the study will not provide high-quality or ‘causal’ data about the relative benefits and harms of puberty supressing hormones, when administered to current National Health Service patients alongside an improved model of care. Only a high-quality prospective clinical trial can provide that data.

Therefore, the Government has commissioned the PATHWAYS study, which will provide new evidence directly relevant to the current cohort of children and young people accessing newly designed NHS gender services which reflect the Holistic Assessment Framework proposed by the Cass Review. The study includes the PATHWAYS trial, which is a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the National Institute for Health and Care Research website at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530

It includes details on eligibility criteria, control group design, and follow up. It includes details of HORIZON INTENSIVE, which will provide a non-randomised control group of young people with gender incongruence not receiving puberty-suppressing hormones.

The trial has been subject to independent scientific, ethical, and regulatory scrutiny and peer review and has received the necessary research approvals. The study design, including inclusion criteria and safety protocols, has been thoroughly scrutinised to protect young people's wellbeing. Acceptance into the trial is subject to robust procedures including consent from a parent/carer and informed assent from the young person, a diagnosis of gender incongruence for at least two years, receipt of tailored psychosocial support, and the puberty suppression being deemed clinically appropriate, within the context of a study, by both their NHS care team and the national multi-disciplinary team. The research sponsor is responsible for organising insurance for the trial.

After the first two years, all participants will be included in annual follow-up throughout the study period. Follow-up into adult life is important and participants will also be asked to consent to long-term follow-up through ongoing involvement with the PATHWAYS team, with a national health registry for gender care and linkage to health information routinely collected by NHS Digital.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the PATHWAYS trial is insured against potential (a) loss of fertility, (b) impaired bone or cognitive development and (c) other long-term harms.

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

Children’s healthcare must always be evidence-led. That’s why we are following expert, independent advice from the Cass Review to implement a programme of research to support the National Health Service to provide the best support to children and young people with gender incongruence.

The programme includes a data linkage study which will provide valuable information about the needs, experiences, and outcomes of former Gender Identity Development Service patients. However, the study will not provide high-quality or ‘causal’ data about the relative benefits and harms of puberty supressing hormones, when administered to current National Health Service patients alongside an improved model of care. Only a high-quality prospective clinical trial can provide that data.

Therefore, the Government has commissioned the PATHWAYS study, which will provide new evidence directly relevant to the current cohort of children and young people accessing newly designed NHS gender services which reflect the Holistic Assessment Framework proposed by the Cass Review. The study includes the PATHWAYS trial, which is a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the National Institute for Health and Care Research website at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530

It includes details on eligibility criteria, control group design, and follow up. It includes details of HORIZON INTENSIVE, which will provide a non-randomised control group of young people with gender incongruence not receiving puberty-suppressing hormones.

The trial has been subject to independent scientific, ethical, and regulatory scrutiny and peer review and has received the necessary research approvals. The study design, including inclusion criteria and safety protocols, has been thoroughly scrutinised to protect young people's wellbeing. Acceptance into the trial is subject to robust procedures including consent from a parent/carer and informed assent from the young person, a diagnosis of gender incongruence for at least two years, receipt of tailored psychosocial support, and the puberty suppression being deemed clinically appropriate, within the context of a study, by both their NHS care team and the national multi-disciplinary team. The research sponsor is responsible for organising insurance for the trial.

After the first two years, all participants will be included in annual follow-up throughout the study period. Follow-up into adult life is important and participants will also be asked to consent to long-term follow-up through ongoing involvement with the PATHWAYS team, with a national health registry for gender care and linkage to health information routinely collected by NHS Digital.

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 compatibility of the PATHWAYS trial with the requirement that clinical trials minimise foreseeable risks to child development.

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

Children’s healthcare must always be evidence-led. That’s why we are following expert, independent advice from the Cass Review to implement a programme of research to support the National Health Service to provide the best support to children and young people with gender incongruence.

The programme includes a data linkage study which will provide valuable information about the needs, experiences, and outcomes of former Gender Identity Development Service patients. However, the study will not provide high-quality or ‘causal’ data about the relative benefits and harms of puberty supressing hormones, when administered to current National Health Service patients alongside an improved model of care. Only a high-quality prospective clinical trial can provide that data.

Therefore, the Government has commissioned the PATHWAYS study, which will provide new evidence directly relevant to the current cohort of children and young people accessing newly designed NHS gender services which reflect the Holistic Assessment Framework proposed by the Cass Review. The study includes the PATHWAYS trial, which is a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the National Institute for Health and Care Research website at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530

It includes details on eligibility criteria, control group design, and follow up. It includes details of HORIZON INTENSIVE, which will provide a non-randomised control group of young people with gender incongruence not receiving puberty-suppressing hormones.

The trial has been subject to independent scientific, ethical, and regulatory scrutiny and peer review and has received the necessary research approvals. The study design, including inclusion criteria and safety protocols, has been thoroughly scrutinised to protect young people's wellbeing. Acceptance into the trial is subject to robust procedures including consent from a parent/carer and informed assent from the young person, a diagnosis of gender incongruence for at least two years, receipt of tailored psychosocial support, and the puberty suppression being deemed clinically appropriate, within the context of a study, by both their NHS care team and the national multi-disciplinary team. The research sponsor is responsible for organising insurance for the trial.

After the first two years, all participants will be included in annual follow-up throughout the study period. Follow-up into adult life is important and participants will also be asked to consent to long-term follow-up through ongoing involvement with the PATHWAYS team, with a national health registry for gender care and linkage to health information routinely collected by NHS Digital.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what long term monitoring will be in place to track adult reproductive, sexual and psychological outcomes of PATHWAYS trial participants.

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

Children’s healthcare must always be evidence-led. That’s why we are following expert, independent advice from the Cass Review to implement a programme of research to support the National Health Service to provide the best support to children and young people with gender incongruence.

The programme includes a data linkage study which will provide valuable information about the needs, experiences, and outcomes of former Gender Identity Development Service patients. However, the study will not provide high-quality or ‘causal’ data about the relative benefits and harms of puberty supressing hormones, when administered to current National Health Service patients alongside an improved model of care. Only a high-quality prospective clinical trial can provide that data.

Therefore, the Government has commissioned the PATHWAYS study, which will provide new evidence directly relevant to the current cohort of children and young people accessing newly designed NHS gender services which reflect the Holistic Assessment Framework proposed by the Cass Review. The study includes the PATHWAYS trial, which is a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial protocol is publicly available on the National Institute for Health and Care Research website at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR167530

It includes details on eligibility criteria, control group design, and follow up. It includes details of HORIZON INTENSIVE, which will provide a non-randomised control group of young people with gender incongruence not receiving puberty-suppressing hormones.

The trial has been subject to independent scientific, ethical, and regulatory scrutiny and peer review and has received the necessary research approvals. The study design, including inclusion criteria and safety protocols, has been thoroughly scrutinised to protect young people's wellbeing. Acceptance into the trial is subject to robust procedures including consent from a parent/carer and informed assent from the young person, a diagnosis of gender incongruence for at least two years, receipt of tailored psychosocial support, and the puberty suppression being deemed clinically appropriate, within the context of a study, by both their NHS care team and the national multi-disciplinary team. The research sponsor is responsible for organising insurance for the trial.

After the first two years, all participants will be included in annual follow-up throughout the study period. Follow-up into adult life is important and participants will also be asked to consent to long-term follow-up through ongoing involvement with the PATHWAYS team, with a national health registry for gender care and linkage to health information routinely collected by NHS Digital.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Sport England will remain as a statutory consultee on planning applications involving playing fields.

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

I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 103087 on 13 January 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many public houses in England received discretionary business rates relief in 2024 to 25, and what the total value of that relief was.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down next year. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

Without this support, pubs would have faced a 45% increase in the total bills they pay next year. However, because of the support the Government has put in place, this has fallen to just 4%.

More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by introducing permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, while ensuring that warehouses used by online giants will pay more. The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since COVID.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since COVID. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has considered introducing a sector specific business rates valuation approach for public houses.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down next year. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

Without this support, pubs would have faced a 45% increase in the total bills they pay next year. However, because of the support the Government has put in place, this has fallen to just 4%.

More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by introducing permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, while ensuring that warehouses used by online giants will pay more. The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since COVID.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since COVID. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what modelling her Department has undertaken of the potential impact of the removal or reduction of business rates relief on hospitality businesses employing fewer than 50 staff.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down next year. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

Without this support, pubs would have faced a 45% increase in the total bills they pay next year. However, because of the support the Government has put in place, this has fallen to just 4%.

More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by introducing permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, while ensuring that warehouses used by online giants will pay more. The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since COVID.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since COVID. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many public houses have closed in England in each year since 2019, and what proportion of those closures her Department attributes primarily to business rates liabilities.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down next year. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

Without this support, pubs would have faced a 45% increase in the total bills they pay next year. However, because of the support the Government has put in place, this has fallen to just 4%.

More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by introducing permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, while ensuring that warehouses used by online giants will pay more. The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since COVID.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since COVID. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the average annual business rates bill for a public house in England in 2025 to 26, and how that compares with 2023 to 24.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down next year. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

Without this support, pubs would have faced a 45% increase in the total bills they pay next year. However, because of the support the Government has put in place, this has fallen to just 4%.

More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by introducing permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, while ensuring that warehouses used by online giants will pay more. The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since COVID.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since COVID. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of recent changes to business rates policy on the financial viability of public houses in England.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down next year. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

Without this support, pubs would have faced a 45% increase in the total bills they pay next year. However, because of the support the Government has put in place, this has fallen to just 4%.

More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by introducing permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, while ensuring that warehouses used by online giants will pay more. The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since COVID.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since COVID. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what protocols Veterans UK follows to ensure compliance with directions issued by First-tier Tribunal judges in War Pension appeals; and whether performance against those protocols is independently monitored.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Tribunal directions can be issued at several stages of the appeal. In all circumstances the directions are actioned by caseworkers.

Tribunal directions typically include directed timeframes, where on occasion the caseworker would respectfully request from Tribunal Clerk, extensions to any unachievable timeframes.

Compliance with deadlines is monitored internally using internal trackers. The Tribunal clerks monitor responses to directions and raise any concerns or issues, with the caseworkers until the direction has been appropriately actioned.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department records the number of War Pension cases in which tribunal outcomes identify factual inconsistencies or errors in medical evidence provided by Veterans UK.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

As part of a War Pension Tribunal outcome, written reasons for the decision are provided. The Ministry of Defence does not keep a separate record of whether any factual inconsistencies are identified.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Veterans UK complies with disclosure obligations in War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme cases, particularly in relation to evidence provided to tribunals.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Evidence Bundles at Tribunals consists of all the information and documents used to make the decision on the claim including any advice received from the Ministry of Defence Medical Advisor. A full copy is provided to the appellant with all documents used to make the decision, and the appellant has the opportunity to raise any concerns or provide any comments.

Deadlines for submission of evidence bundles are monitored using internal trackers, markers on the hard copy files and independently by the Tribunal Clerks.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what processes are in place to assure the accuracy of medical reports produced for War Pension claims.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence does not produce medical reports for War Pension Scheme claims. All medical records are obtained from an individual's General Practitioner and/or hospital to ensure the information is sourced from qualified medical professionals.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consideration she has given to maintaining distinct licensing processes for shotguns and rifles.

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

The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025, included a commitment to having a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns to bring them more into line with the controls on other firearms in the interests of public safety. The Government response set out the reasons why the Government considers this consultation to be important, and we intend to publish this shortly.

We will carefully consider all of the views put forward in response to the consultation once it is published, before taking any decisions on whether and what changes may be necessary in the interests of public safety. The Government will also provide an assessment of the impact of any changes that we intend to bring forward, including to policing and certificate holders, at the relevant time.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the forthcoming consultation on the proposed merger of shotgun and rifle licensing regimes will publish an impact assessment setting out the anticipated costs to police forces and to certificate holders.

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

The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025, included a commitment to having a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns to bring them more into line with the controls on other firearms in the interests of public safety. The Government response set out the reasons why the Government considers this consultation to be important, and we intend to publish this shortly.

We will carefully consider all of the views put forward in response to the consultation once it is published, before taking any decisions on whether and what changes may be necessary in the interests of public safety. The Government will also provide an assessment of the impact of any changes that we intend to bring forward, including to policing and certificate holders, at the relevant time.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the forthcoming consultation on the proposed merger of shotgun and rifle licensing regimes will publish the evidence underpinning that proposal.

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

The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025, included a commitment to having a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns to bring them more into line with the controls on other firearms in the interests of public safety. The Government response set out the reasons why the Government considers this consultation to be important, and we intend to publish this shortly.

We will carefully consider all of the views put forward in response to the consultation once it is published, before taking any decisions on whether and what changes may be necessary in the interests of public safety. The Government will also provide an assessment of the impact of any changes that we intend to bring forward, including to policing and certificate holders, at the relevant time.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of whether the presence in the UK of Alaa Abd el Fattah is conducive to the public good.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

We do not routinely comment on individual cases however the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have made clear that Ministers and officials were previously unaware of the historic posts made by Mr El-Fattah.

Further, all British citizens automatically have a Right of Abode (ROA) in the UK which means they are entitled to live in the UK without any immigration restrictions and do not need to obtain the permission of an immigration officer to enter the UK.

For those who are not deprived of citizenship but may have acted in a criminal manner, we encourage independent law enforcement to use their full suite of powers.

Depriving an individual of British citizenship is one of the most powerful tools in the Home Secretary’s arsenal as it keeps the very worst, high harm offenders out of the UK. Each case is assessed individually on the basis of all available evidence.

This government and successive government before it, have been clear that the exercise of this powerful tool will be used sparingly, and against the highest harm and most dangerous individuals.

This includes those who pose a threat to the UK, and who are involved in serious organised crime. The government does not propose to change the basis on which the power is used. The Government considers that deprivation on ‘conducive grounds’ is an appropriate response to activities such as those involving:

• National security, including espionage and acts of terrorism directed at this country or an allied power;
• Unacceptable behaviour of the kind mentioned in the then Home Secretary’s statement of 24 August 2005 (‘glorification’ of terrorism etc);
• War crimes; and
• Serious organised crime.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on what statutory basis compensation was paid to Fuad Awale; and what the criteria are for such payments.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Compensation and legal costs were paid in order to comply with an order of the High Court. Failure to do so would have constituted a breach of the court order.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date the Prime Minister was advised by officials of the content of Alaa Abd El-Fattah’s historic social media posts.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the Foreign Secretary's letter to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 29 December, and the statement of 5 January, Official Report, Column 111.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has conducted an equality impact assessment relating to the effect of an Islamophobia definition on religious minorities other than Muslims.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

All forms of racial and religious discrimination are completely unacceptable, and this Government is committed to tackling this wherever it manifests. The Government established an independent working group to advise on a non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia, including on how to best understand, quantify and define prejudice, discrimination, and hate crime targeted against Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim. The Working Group have now submitted their advice to ministers for consideration.

The working group have engaged widely to ensure the advice given to the Government reflects the diverse perspectives and implications for different groups. To strengthen engagement, the Working Group launched a Call for Evidence on 20 July 2025. It was open to the public, and any individual or organisation, including Hindu community groups, were able to submit advice.

The Working Group operated according to its established terms of reference, which stated that any definition must be compatible with free speech and the right to criticise religions and religious practices. The Government will consider their advice in view of this.

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 potential impact of an Islamophobia definition on the ability to scrutinise religious ideology or practice.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

All forms of racial and religious discrimination are completely unacceptable, and this Government is committed to tackling this wherever it manifests. The Government established an independent working group to advise on a non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia, including on how to best understand, quantify and define prejudice, discrimination, and hate crime targeted against Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim. The Working Group have now submitted their advice to ministers for consideration.

The working group have engaged widely to ensure the advice given to the Government reflects the diverse perspectives and implications for different groups. To strengthen engagement, the Working Group launched a Call for Evidence on 20 July 2025. It was open to the public, and any individual or organisation, including Hindu community groups, were able to submit advice.

The Working Group operated according to its established terms of reference, which stated that any definition must be compatible with free speech and the right to criticise religions and religious practices. The Government will consider their advice in view of this.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has received representations from Hindu community groups on the potential impact of an Islamophobia definition on freedom of expression.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

All forms of racial and religious discrimination are completely unacceptable, and this Government is committed to tackling this wherever it manifests. The Government established an independent working group to advise on a non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia, including on how to best understand, quantify and define prejudice, discrimination, and hate crime targeted against Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim. The Working Group have now submitted their advice to ministers for consideration.

The working group have engaged widely to ensure the advice given to the Government reflects the diverse perspectives and implications for different groups. To strengthen engagement, the Working Group launched a Call for Evidence on 20 July 2025. It was open to the public, and any individual or organisation, including Hindu community groups, were able to submit advice.

The Working Group operated according to its established terms of reference, which stated that any definition must be compatible with free speech and the right to criticise religions and religious practices. The Government will consider their advice in view of this.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has assessed the compatibility of a proposed Islamophobia definition with hate crime legislation.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

All forms of racial and religious discrimination are completely unacceptable, and this Government is committed to tackling this wherever it manifests. The Government established an independent working group to advise on a non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia, including on how to best understand, quantify and define prejudice, discrimination, and hate crime targeted against Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim. The Working Group have now submitted their advice to ministers for consideration.

The working group have engaged widely to ensure the advice given to the Government reflects the diverse perspectives and implications for different groups. To strengthen engagement, the Working Group launched a Call for Evidence on 20 July 2025. It was open to the public, and any individual or organisation, including Hindu community groups, were able to submit advice.

The Working Group operated according to its established terms of reference, which stated that any definition must be compatible with free speech and the right to criticise religions and religious practices. The Government will consider their advice in view of this.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which organisations and representative groups were consulted by his Department prior to consideration of an Islamophobia definition.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

All forms of racial and religious discrimination are completely unacceptable, and this Government is committed to tackling this wherever it manifests. The Government established an independent working group to advise on a non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia, including on how to best understand, quantify and define prejudice, discrimination, and hate crime targeted against Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim. The Working Group have now submitted their advice to ministers for consideration.

The working group have engaged widely to ensure the advice given to the Government reflects the diverse perspectives and implications for different groups. To strengthen engagement, the Working Group launched a Call for Evidence on 20 July 2025. It was open to the public, and any individual or organisation, including Hindu community groups, were able to submit advice.

The Working Group operated according to its established terms of reference, which stated that any definition must be compatible with free speech and the right to criticise religions and religious practices. The Government will consider their advice in view of this.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what engagement his Department has had with Hindu community organisations on the development and adoption of an Islamophobia definition.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

All forms of racial and religious discrimination are completely unacceptable, and this Government is committed to tackling this wherever it manifests. The Government established an independent working group to advise on a non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia, including on how to best understand, quantify and define prejudice, discrimination, and hate crime targeted against Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim. The Working Group have now submitted their advice to ministers for consideration.

The working group have engaged widely to ensure the advice given to the Government reflects the diverse perspectives and implications for different groups. To strengthen engagement, the Working Group launched a Call for Evidence on 20 July 2025. It was open to the public, and any individual or organisation, including Hindu community groups, were able to submit advice.

The Working Group operated according to its established terms of reference, which stated that any definition must be compatible with free speech and the right to criticise religions and religious practices. The Government will consider their advice in view of this.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the evidence underpinning the proposal to merge Section 1 and Section 2 firearms licensing systems; and whether the Department has evaluated the current rate of serious incidents involving legally held shotguns.

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

The Government has committed to publishing a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns. This was set out in the Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025.

Recommendations to strengthen the controls on shotguns had been made to Government by the Coroner following the inquest into the deaths of those who were shot and killed in Keyham, Plymouth in August 2021. Similar recommendations had also been made by the Independent Office for Police Conduct following its investigation into the Plymouth shootings, and by the Scottish Affairs Committee following a fatal shooting with a shotgun in Skye in August 2022.

We intend to publish the consultation shortly and we will carefully consider all of the views put forward in response to it, before taking any decision on whether and what changes may be necessary in the interests of public safety. The Government will also provide an assessment of the impact of any changes that we intend to bring forward, including to policing and to the business community in rural areas, at the relevant time.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has assessed the potential economic impact on (a) rural communities, (b) sporting shooting activities and (c) conservation work of merging shotgun and rifle licensing regimes.

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

The Government has committed to publishing a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns. This was set out in the Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025.

Recommendations to strengthen the controls on shotguns had been made to Government by the Coroner following the inquest into the deaths of those who were shot and killed in Keyham, Plymouth in August 2021. Similar recommendations had also been made by the Independent Office for Police Conduct following its investigation into the Plymouth shootings, and by the Scottish Affairs Committee following a fatal shooting with a shotgun in Skye in August 2022.

We intend to publish the consultation shortly and we will carefully consider all of the views put forward in response to it, before taking any decision on whether and what changes may be necessary in the interests of public safety. The Government will also provide an assessment of the impact of any changes that we intend to bring forward, including to policing and to the business community in rural areas, at the relevant time.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the additional workload that would fall on police firearms licensing units if Section 1 licence conditions were applied to Section 2 shotgun certificates.

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

The Government has committed to publishing a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns. This was set out in the Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025.

Recommendations to strengthen the controls on shotguns had been made to Government by the Coroner following the inquest into the deaths of those who were shot and killed in Keyham, Plymouth in August 2021. Similar recommendations had also been made by the Independent Office for Police Conduct following its investigation into the Plymouth shootings, and by the Scottish Affairs Committee following a fatal shooting with a shotgun in Skye in August 2022.

We intend to publish the consultation shortly and we will carefully consider all of the views put forward in response to it, before taking any decision on whether and what changes may be necessary in the interests of public safety. The Government will also provide an assessment of the impact of any changes that we intend to bring forward, including to policing and to the business community in rural areas, at the relevant time.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of merging Section 1 and Section 2 licensing on existing waiting times for firearms licensing; and whether the merger could exacerbate current delays.

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

The Government has committed to publishing a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns. This was set out in the Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025.

Recommendations to strengthen the controls on shotguns had been made to Government by the Coroner following the inquest into the deaths of those who were shot and killed in Keyham, Plymouth in August 2021. Similar recommendations had also been made by the Independent Office for Police Conduct following its investigation into the Plymouth shootings, and by the Scottish Affairs Committee following a fatal shooting with a shotgun in Skye in August 2022.

We intend to publish the consultation shortly and we will carefully consider all of the views put forward in response to it, before taking any decision on whether and what changes may be necessary in the interests of public safety. The Government will also provide an assessment of the impact of any changes that we intend to bring forward, including to policing and to the business community in rural areas, at the relevant time.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of delays by the Child Maintenance Service on (a) parents and (b) children who rely on child maintenance payments.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

We know that children in separated families are more likely to live in poverty than those in non-separated families. Child maintenance payments through both statutory and non-statutory arrangements keep approximately 120,000 children out of poverty each year.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) works hard to make sure parents pay in full and on time to minimise delays in payments.

Where parents fail to take responsibility for paying for their children, the CMS will not hesitate to use the range enforcement powers available. The CMS is committed to using these powers fairly and in the best interests of children and separated families. CMS has implemented significant improvements to speed up action when payments first break down, targeting enforcement actions more effectively.

CMS undertake regular quality assurance checks to ensure processes are delivered accurately, reducing the requirement for rework and reinforcing our aim to ‘get it right first time’. These measures demonstrate our commitment to minimising delays and ensuring that child maintenance reaches children promptly.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Child Maintenance Service is meeting its internal target times for progressing cases and taking enforcement action.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is committed to providing a modern and efficient service for all customers.

The CMS continues to strengthen its enforcement activity to ensure that parents meet their financial responsibilities. Where parents can afford to pay but do not, the CMS has a range of strong enforcement powers that it can and does use swiftly to influence a return to compliance.

Published statistics show a significant increase in compliance, with the proportion of paying parents who paid some maintenance rising from 64% in the quarter ending September 2022 to 74% in the quarter ending September 2025.

The published quarterly CMS statistics provide information on application clearances, change of circumstances clearances and Collect and Pay compliance, with the latest data available for quarter ending September 2025.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of delays in Child Maintenance Service case reviews on the likelihood of later corrective or enforcement action.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) relies on receiving accurate and current information to make child maintenance assessments. If additional or new evidence is provided after a child maintenance assessment has been made for example a Mandatory Reconsideration this can lead to corrective action being taken.

As more customers apply to the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) the demand for the service is increasing. To allow the CMS to meet this demand and provide an efficient service the service continuously looks at the resources they have and where it should focus their efforts to get the greatest value for money and deliver the best service to their customers.

The CMS reviews overall resource supply and takes appropriate steps to ensure that staffing levels meet current demands. The CMS has an ongoing recruitment campaign for 2026; this will ensure the CMS is resourced to meet current and future forecasted demand.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of delays in Child Maintenance Service case reviews on administrative costs.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) relies on receiving accurate and current information to make child maintenance assessments. If additional or new evidence is provided after a child maintenance assessment has been made for example a Mandatory Reconsideration this can lead to corrective action being taken.

As more customers apply to the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) the demand for the service is increasing. To allow the CMS to meet this demand and provide an efficient service the service continuously looks at the resources they have and where it should focus their efforts to get the greatest value for money and deliver the best service to their customers.

The CMS reviews overall resource supply and takes appropriate steps to ensure that staffing levels meet current demands. The CMS has an ongoing recruitment campaign for 2026; this will ensure the CMS is resourced to meet current and future forecasted demand.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of staffing levels and caseload pressures within the Child Maintenance Service.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

As more customers apply to the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) the demand for its service is increasing. To allow it to meet this demand and provide an efficient service, the CMS continuously reviews its resources and where to focus its efforts to get the greatest value for money and deliver the best service to customers.

The CMS reviews its overall resource supply and takes appropriate steps to ensure that staffing levels meet current demands. The service is currently resourced at a level appropriate to its operational demand, ensuring that support is directed to the teams and functions where it is most needed.

There is an ongoing recruitment campaign for 2026; this will ensure CMS continues to be resourced to meet current and future forecast demand.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will provide additional resources to the Child Maintenance Service to reduce delays in case progression.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

As more customers apply to the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) the demand for its service is increasing. To allow it to meet this demand and provide an efficient service, the CMS continuously reviews its resources and where to focus its efforts to get the greatest value for money and deliver the best service to customers.

The CMS reviews its overall resource supply and takes appropriate steps to ensure that staffing levels meet current demands. The service is currently resourced at a level appropriate to its operational demand, ensuring that support is directed to the teams and functions where it is most needed.

There is an ongoing recruitment campaign for 2026; this will ensure CMS continues to be resourced to meet current and future forecast demand.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the timing of the announcement of successor arrangements to the Energy Company Obligation on the number of jobs at risk in the energy efficiency supply chain.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

ECO4 has played a part in delivering clean heat technologies; however, issues identified by the NAO and PAC support a shift to a more direct, publicly-funded approach focused on technologies that cut bills and accelerate the transition to clean heat such as heat pumps, solar PV and batteries. The government is providing an additional £1.5 billion—taking planned capital investment to almost £15 billion—to upgrade low‑income homes and scale clean home‑energy technologies. Deployment will be further supported through wider policies and details of this will be set out soon in the Warm Homes Plan.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the planned end of the Energy Company Obligation on levels of redundancy in the energy efficiency and home retrofit sector.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

ECO4 has played a part in delivering clean heat technologies; however, issues identified by the NAO and PAC support a shift to a more direct, publicly-funded approach focused on technologies that cut bills and accelerate the transition to clean heat such as heat pumps, solar PV and batteries. The government is providing an additional £1.5 billion—taking planned capital investment to almost £15 billion—to upgrade low‑income homes and scale clean home‑energy technologies. Deployment will be further supported through wider policies and details of this will be set out soon in the Warm Homes Plan.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of excluding full-time higher-education student households from childcare support schemes when mandatory placements prevent parents from working on those households.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Students with children who are undertaking work placement years with private employers do not qualify for the full-rate partially means-tested loans for living costs or means-tested dependants’ grants (Childcare Grant or Parents’ Learning Allowance). They only qualify for a reduced rate loan for living costs from Student Finance England. The government expects private employers who benefit from students’ work to provide support for students during work placements rather than the taxpayer

The government makes an exception for many work placements in the public sector by making available the full-rate partially means-tested loan for living costs and dependants grants to encourage students to gain work experience in these areas. This ensures that low-income students with children undertaking working placements in the public sector receive targeted support through the student support system.

Public sector work placements include unpaid service with a hospital, with a local authority in relation to the care of children and young persons, health and welfare, with the prison and probation service, and with either House of Parliament. They also include unpaid research at a UK or overseas institution.

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 laboratory and record-keeping systems supporting Clozapine treatment, and whether they meet the standards expected for equivalent safety-critical medicines in physical healthcare.

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

NHS England’s National Patient Safety Team collect records of all patient safety incidents recorded by National Health Service trusts via the Learn From Patient Safety Events service. These records are used to identify new and under-recognised risks to patient safety and to understand themes and trends. The insight generated informs work to improve patient safety across the NHS. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/patient-safety/patient-safety-insight/learning-from-patient-safety-events/using-patient-safety-events-data-to-keep-patients-safe/#

The safety of clozapine is kept under continual review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) using a number of data sources, including reports of suspected side effects through the Yellow Card Scheme, data from marketing authorisation holders, and research published in the scientific literature.

Each clozapine marketing authorisation holder operates a Patient Monitoring Scheme which focuses on the blood monitoring requirements for clozapine. However, regular contact with healthcare professionals caring for patients receiving clozapine has resulted in a high proportion of suspected side effects being reported through the Yellow Card scheme. These reports are published by the MHRA in the interactive drug analysis profile for clozapine, with further information avaiable at the following link:

https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/idaps/CLOZAPINE

The Summary of Product Characteristics for clozapine outlines the monitoring requirements needed to minimise the risks of possible side effects for healthcare professionals. However, the MHRA does not regulate clinical practice or audit NHS record-keeping systems.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Homes England plans to include (a) mandatory road adoption provisions and (b) time limits for entering into Section 38 agreements within future land-disposal contracts with developers.

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

Decisions on whether to adopt roads are matters for the relevant local highway authority.

When disposing of land, Homes England does not currently require the mandatory adoption of roads.

The adoption of roads under s38 of the Highways Act 1980 is reliant on negotiations between the relevant developer and local highways authority. Homes England has no direct role in the process.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has considered requiring developers to enter into a Section 38 agreement before selling properties on new-build estates.

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

Decisions on whether to adopt roads are matters for the relevant local highway authority.

When disposing of land, Homes England does not currently require the mandatory adoption of roads.

The adoption of roads under s38 of the Highways Act 1980 is reliant on negotiations between the relevant developer and local highways authority. Homes England has no direct role in the process.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how learning from serious incidents involving accidental Clozapine withdrawal is being recorded and shared nationally across NHS mental health services.

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

Clozapine is used to treat people with schizophrenia in whom other medicines have not worked. It is also used to treat severe disturbances in the thoughts, emotions, and behaviour of people with Parkinson’s disease in whom other medicines have not worked.

The known side effects of clozapine are outlined in the product information, the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) for healthcare professionals, and the Patient Information Leaflet which is provided in each pack of the medicine. The SPC states that clozapine should be stopped in a number of clinical situations including after developing a low white blood cell count, fever above 38^oC, high blood glucose, also known as hyperglycaemia, as well as jaundice or clinically relevant increases in liver enzymes. If clozapine is restarted it must be carefully titrated and monitoring requirements followed.

Inadvertent withdrawal of clozapine is an issue that is included in the National Health Service’s Time Critical Medicines Safety Improvement Programme, with further information avaiable at the following link:

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/safer-use-of-time-critical-medicines-programme/

The programme is supporting over 50 NHS hospitals to improve the reliability of administration of Time Critical Medicines such as clozapine.

In July 2024 a thematic review of clozapine safety conducted in the North West of England was shared with the NHS England National Medication Safety Officer Network. This included a range of clozapine safety resources published online, such as:

- Managing the risks associated with patients prescribed clozapine, which is avaiable at the following link:
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/managing-the-risks-associated-with-patients-prescribed-clozapine/;

- Clinical considerations for patients prescribed clozapine, which is avaiable at the following link:
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/clinical-considerations-for-patients-prescribed-clozapine/;

- Managing constipation in people taking clozapine, which is avaiable at the following link:
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/managing-constipation-in-people-taking-clozapine/;

- Clozapine use in adults with swallowing difficulties, which is avaiable at the following link:
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/clozapine-use-in-adults-with-swallowing-difficulties/;

- Managing specific interactions with smoking, which is avaiable at the following link:
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/managing-specific-interactions-with-smoking/; and

- Managing complexities of medication use across care boundaries, which includes a podcast on clozapine safety and which is avaiable at the following link:
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/managing-complexities-of-medication-use-across-care-boundaries/.

As with all medicines, the safety of clozapine is kept under continual review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) using a number of data sources. The MHRA is currently reviewing the blood monitoring requirements associated with clozapine.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to increase the availability of parts 2 and 3 of the driving instructor test.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is continually recruiting in to fill its ADI examiner vacancies and increase the capacity for additional part two and part three tests.

DVSA has recently undertaken a campaign to recruit an additional 10 examiners this financial year with additional campaigns planned for 2026-27.

DVSA recommends trainee instructors use the ‘Book to Hold’ service. All tests must be paid for at the time of booking, including where tests are booked to ‘hold’. This gives DVSA an accurate picture of where demand is, and it can then ensure that it deploys its examiner resources in the right areas. Once approved driving instructor examiner programmes have been finalised, DVSA will contact those on the hold list in the order they booked their test to hold to arrange a test whilst also mindful of regulatory deadline for the qualification process.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what actions are being taken to improve compliance with the Victims’ Code for survivors of child sexual abuse, in the context of the recommendation of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government accepted recommendation 14 from the Inquiry to commission a joint inspection of compliance with the Victims’ Code in relation to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. The Criminal Justice Joint Inspectorates have confirmed that the inspection will take place in 2026-27.

Additionally, the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 introduces a new duty on criminal justice Inspectorates to consult the Victims’ Commissioner in developing their individual and joint inspection programmes. This measure was commenced in December 2025. This will support a clearer and sharper focus on how victims and survivors are treated across the system, allowing issues to be identified and solved.

The Government is committed to ensuring that victims can access the information and support they need. The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 created a framework to monitor criminal justice agencies' compliance with the Victims' Code, including legislative duties for agencies to collect and share information on Code compliance. The framework has not yet been commenced but preparatory work is underway with criminal justice agencies on the underlying data that will support the development of the framework.

We will begin consulting on a new Victims’ Code shortly to ensure that we get the foundations for victims right. Part of the consultation will specifically look at how the Code can better support child victims.