Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the UK’s ability to defend against a large scale conventional military attack.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The National Security Strategy and the Strategic Defence Review acknowledge that the UK and European allies face a new era of threat.
Defence plays a key role in the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence Programme, a whole of Government endeavour, to enhance our national security, resilience and preparedness for crisis and conflict. Defence is central to this, combining its strengths with those of wider Government, industry and society. The department maintains plans in coordination with NATO and wider Government, with the Armed Forces continually exercising their capabilities to ensure they can respond rapidly and effectively to keep Britian safe.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
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 publication of (a) academic and (b) professional material that (i) reframes and (ii) recharacterises female genital mutilation on the effective enforcement of the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is clearly and accurately defined in the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003. It is a crime, it is child abuse, and it can destroy lives. On Thursday 18 December, we published the VAWG Strategy setting out the strategic direction and concrete actions to deliver on the Government’s VAWG ambition, including on FGM.
It is important that we recognise FGM for what it is. It is a procedure that causes irreversible harm where the female genital organs are injured or changed and there is no medical reason for this. It is a very traumatic and violent act and can cause lifelong physical and psychological suffering. The Government’s approach to tackling FGM is focused on preventing these crimes from happening, supporting and protecting survivors and those at risk, and bringing perpetrators to justice. We are clear that we must engage with the specialist sector, and most importantly, engage with those directly affected to ensure we keep victims and survivors at the forefront of our work. This is why we are launching a community engagement campaign to raise awareness of the different types of ‘honour’-based abuse including FGM, and to encourage people to come forward for support.
The FGM Act 2003 introduced several measures which demonstrate that FGM is treated as a serious criminal offence and ensure its effectiveness. For example, acknowledging the international and multiple perpetration elements of FGM, the Act created offences for assisting others to perform FGM, including extraterritorial cases.
Regarding enforcement, the Act increased the maximum penalty for committing FGM from 5 years to 14 years imprisonment, reflecting the severity of this crime.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the use of alternative terminology for female genital mutilation in professional and academic contexts on the application of existing criminal law.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is clearly and accurately defined in the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003. It is a crime, it is child abuse, and it can destroy lives. On Thursday 18 December, we published the VAWG Strategy setting out the strategic direction and concrete actions to deliver on the Government’s VAWG ambition, including on FGM.
It is important that we recognise FGM for what it is. It is a procedure that causes irreversible harm where the female genital organs are injured or changed and there is no medical reason for this. It is a very traumatic and violent act and can cause lifelong physical and psychological suffering. The Government’s approach to tackling FGM is focused on preventing these crimes from happening, supporting and protecting survivors and those at risk, and bringing perpetrators to justice. We are clear that we must engage with the specialist sector, and most importantly, engage with those directly affected to ensure we keep victims and survivors at the forefront of our work. This is why we are launching a community engagement campaign to raise awareness of the different types of ‘honour’-based abuse including FGM, and to encourage people to come forward for support.
The FGM Act 2003 introduced several measures which demonstrate that FGM is treated as a serious criminal offence and ensure its effectiveness. For example, acknowledging the international and multiple perpetration elements of FGM, the Act created offences for assisting others to perform FGM, including extraterritorial cases.
Regarding enforcement, the Act increased the maximum penalty for committing FGM from 5 years to 14 years imprisonment, reflecting the severity of this crime.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 in ensuring that female genital mutilation is treated as a serious criminal offence.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is clearly and accurately defined in the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003. It is a crime, it is child abuse, and it can destroy lives. On Thursday 18 December, we published the VAWG Strategy setting out the strategic direction and concrete actions to deliver on the Government’s VAWG ambition, including on FGM.
It is important that we recognise FGM for what it is. It is a procedure that causes irreversible harm where the female genital organs are injured or changed and there is no medical reason for this. It is a very traumatic and violent act and can cause lifelong physical and psychological suffering. The Government’s approach to tackling FGM is focused on preventing these crimes from happening, supporting and protecting survivors and those at risk, and bringing perpetrators to justice. We are clear that we must engage with the specialist sector, and most importantly, engage with those directly affected to ensure we keep victims and survivors at the forefront of our work. This is why we are launching a community engagement campaign to raise awareness of the different types of ‘honour’-based abuse including FGM, and to encourage people to come forward for support.
The FGM Act 2003 introduced several measures which demonstrate that FGM is treated as a serious criminal offence and ensure its effectiveness. For example, acknowledging the international and multiple perpetration elements of FGM, the Act created offences for assisting others to perform FGM, including extraterritorial cases.
Regarding enforcement, the Act increased the maximum penalty for committing FGM from 5 years to 14 years imprisonment, reflecting the severity of this crime.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department records how many patients have withdrawn from treatment or deteriorated clinically while waiting to be added to an elective care waiting list.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not hold the data in this format.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of extended pre-listing delays on patient outcomes and clinical risk in high-volume specialities.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In line with referral to treatment rules, a patient's waiting time clock starts from the moment they are referred for consultant-led elective treatment. According to these rules, there should be no time between a general practice referral and entry onto a consultant-led elective waiting list. The complete time elapsed between referral and treatment will be recorded on the published consultant led referral to treatment waiting time data, with further information available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data-2025-26/
Guidance is provided to NHS England and integrated care boards through the Referral to treatment consultant-led waiting times: rules suite, which is available at the following link:
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department monitors variation between NHS trusts in the time taken to convert GP referrals into entries on consultant led elective waiting lists.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In line with referral to treatment rules, a patient's waiting time clock starts from the moment they are referred for consultant-led elective treatment. According to these rules, there should be no time between a general practice referral and entry onto a consultant-led elective waiting list. The complete time elapsed between referral and treatment will be recorded on the published consultant led referral to treatment waiting time data, with further information available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data-2025-26/
Guidance is provided to NHS England and integrated care boards through the Referral to treatment consultant-led waiting times: rules suite, which is available at the following link:
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the period between GP referral and a patient being added to an elective waiting list has increased or decreased in the past five years.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In line with referral to treatment rules, a patient's waiting time clock starts from the moment they are referred for consultant-led elective treatment. According to these rules, there should be no time between a general practice referral and entry onto a consultant-led elective waiting list. The complete time elapsed between referral and treatment will be recorded on the published consultant led referral to treatment waiting time data, with further information available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data-2025-26/
Guidance is provided to NHS England and integrated care boards through the Referral to treatment consultant-led waiting times: rules suite, which is available at the following link:
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department monitors variation between NHS trusts in the time taken to convert GP referrals into entries on consultant led elective waiting lists.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In line with referral to treatment rules, a patient's waiting time clock starts from the moment they are referred for consultant-led elective treatment. According to these rules, there should be no time between a general practice referral and entry onto a consultant-led elective waiting list. The complete time elapsed between referral and treatment will be recorded on the published consultant led referral to treatment waiting time data, with further information available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data-2025-26/
Guidance is provided to NHS England and integrated care boards through the Referral to treatment consultant-led waiting times: rules suite, which is available at the following link:
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has issued to NHS England and integrated care boards on the recording, monitoring and reporting of delays between referral and formal waiting list entry.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In line with referral to treatment rules, a patient's waiting time clock starts from the moment they are referred for consultant-led elective treatment. According to these rules, there should be no time between a general practice referral and entry onto a consultant-led elective waiting list. The complete time elapsed between referral and treatment will be recorded on the published consultant led referral to treatment waiting time data, with further information available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data-2025-26/
Guidance is provided to NHS England and integrated care boards through the Referral to treatment consultant-led waiting times: rules suite, which is available at the following link: