Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the High Court's ruling on the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra cannot comment regarding an ongoing legal case.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to introduce mandatory labelling of precision-bred (gene-edited) foods.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra cannot comment regarding an ongoing legal case.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a public register of individuals convicted of animal cruelty offences.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has no plans to introduce a publicly assessable animal cruelty register.

All prosecutions for animal cruelty offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 are currently stored on the Police National Computer. This information may be shared with appropriate organisations under Police Common Law. In cases of concern, the information may be shared with the public at the Police’s discretion when requested.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how rescue centres, breeders and veterinary practices can verify whether a prospective owner is subject to a disqualification order.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has no plans to introduce a publicly assessable animal cruelty register.

All prosecutions for animal cruelty offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 are currently stored on the Police National Computer. This information may be shared with appropriate organisations under Police Common Law. In cases of concern, the information may be shared with the public at the Police’s discretion when requested.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure full traceability of precision-bred organisms across the food and farming supply chain.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra cannot comment regarding an ongoing legal case.

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 impact of General Medical Council fitness-to-practise investigations on the wellbeing of doctors, and what steps are being taken to ensure those processes are proportionate and timely.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The General Medical Council (GMC) is independent of the Government, is directly accountable to Parliament, and is responsible for operational matters concerning the discharge of its statutory duties. The United Kingdom’s model of healthcare professional regulation is founded on the principle of regulators operating independently from the Government.

The GMC provides guidance and support for doctors who are under investigation, which includes an initial personalised contact at the start of an investigation and the creation of a bespoke communication plan for each doctor. The GMC has also commissioned the British Medical Association to run the Doctor Support Service which offers confidential support from another doctor who is experienced in providing peer support and is completely independent from the GMC.

The Government is committed to modernising the regulation of all healthcare professionals in the UK. As a first step, on 24 March 2026, we published our Reforming the General Medical Council legislative framework consultation, which sets out proposals to modernise the GMC’s regulatory framework. The consultation runs until 21 July 2026. The draft General Medical Council Order 2026 includes a modernised fitness to practise process for the GMC. The framework consultation is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reforming-the-general-medical-council-legislative-framework/reforming-the-general-medical-council-legislative-framework-consultation-document

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential role of social media monetisation and advertising revenue in incentivising the creation and spread of extremist, misogynistic and radicalising content.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

Under the Online Safety Act, platforms must tackle illegal content, including terrorist content and religious or race-based hatred, and protect children from legal but harmful content like abuse. The Government aims to halve violence against women and girls within a decade and has taken action, including requiring providers to remove NCII content within at least 48 hours upon receiving a valid report.

DSIT recognises concerns that social media can enable the monetisation of harmful content. DSIT and DCMS have committed to developing options to reduce inadvertent monetisation through advertising and are engaged with cross-sector experts on this issue while considering proposals via DCMS’ Online Advertising Taskforce.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many disqualification orders preventing the ownership or keeping of animals were made by the courts under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in each of the last three years.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This data is not held centrally by Defra. Data on disqualification orders under the Animal Welfare Act is held by HM Courts and Tribunals Service and is available to relevant enforcement agencies through the Police National Database.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Department takes to monitor and enforce compliance with disqualification orders for animal ownership.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Under section 34(9) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it is a criminal offence to breach a disqualification order. The police and local authority inspectors have powers to investigate offences and take enforcement action where such orders are breached, and local authorities may bring prosecutions.

In practice, monitoring and enforcement activity is informed by a combination of intelligence and risk led approaches to assess compliance with animal welfare legislation.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what consideration she has given to the potential merits of restricting or removing monetisation for accounts that repeatedly promote extremist content, harassment, misogyny or misinformation.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

Under the Online Safety Act, platforms must tackle hateful online content where it is illegal or harmful to children. They must take steps to ensure their algorithms do not target users with this content. Under new duties to be introduced next year, the largest user-to-user platforms will be required to set out in Terms of Service content prohibited on their services, then apply these Terms consistently.

In Protecting What Matters, the government’s social cohesion strategy, DSIT and DCMS committed to developing options for reducing the inadvertent monetisation of harmful online content. We have engaged with platforms, the ad industry, and civil society on this issue.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what powers under the Online Safety Act 2023 she has used to address the financial incentives that reward harmful online content, and whether the Government plans to strengthen those powers.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

Under the Online Safety Act, platforms must tackle hateful online content where it is illegal or harmful to children. They must take steps to ensure their algorithms do not target users with this content. Under new duties to be introduced next year, the largest user-to-user platforms will be required to set out in Terms of Service content prohibited on their services, then apply these Terms consistently.

In Protecting What Matters, the government’s social cohesion strategy, DSIT and DCMS committed to developing options for reducing the inadvertent monetisation of harmful online content. We have engaged with platforms, the ad industry, and civil society on this issue.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions her Department has had with social media platforms on demonetising accounts that repeatedly breach platform standards on harmful content.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

Under the Online Safety Act, platforms must tackle hateful online content where it is illegal or harmful to children. They must take steps to ensure their algorithms do not target users with this content. Under new duties to be introduced next year, the largest user-to-user platforms will be required to set out in Terms of Service content prohibited on their services, then apply these Terms consistently.

In Protecting What Matters, the government’s social cohesion strategy, DSIT and DCMS committed to developing options for reducing the inadvertent monetisation of harmful online content. We have engaged with platforms, the ad industry, and civil society on this issue.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking through the High Streets Strategy to support post offices as community hubs.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

This year MHCLG will bring forward a new High Streets Strategy; we are working closely with businesses and representative bodies to inform this, including Post Office Ltd.

We recognise the vital role post offices play as community and economic hubs on high streets across the country. The Green Paper published last year outlining the Government’s vision for the Post Office, included an objective for the Post Office network to support high streets.

Post Office Ltd has an ambition to expand access to face-to-face in-person advisory services available on the high street through the Post Office network. The forthcoming Post Office pilots, due to launch this summer, represent an important first step in testing and expanding that advisory offer.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will consider an exemption for dependants of care workers who were lawfully resident in the UK with their sponsoring partner before dependant rule changes came into force.

Answered by Mike Tapp

Immigration Rules preventing those holding leave as a care worker from having dependant applications associated with their visas took effect on 11 March 2024 and transitional arrangements were put in place to protect those already in the route. Dependants who are born whilst the worker in the UK, and those who are settled in the UK were not affected by the change.

The rules are clear, and it is reasonable to expect those with families to bear them in mind when making decisions about whether to apply for a Health and Care visa as a care worker, no matter where they intend to make that application from.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what transitional arrangements are in place for dependants of care workers who were already lawfully resident in the UK with their sponsoring partner before the changes to the dependant rules took effect.

Answered by Mike Tapp

Immigration Rules preventing those holding leave as a care worker from having dependant applications associated with their visas took effect on 11 March 2024 and transitional arrangements were put in place to protect those already in the route. Dependants who are born whilst the worker in the UK, and those who are settled in the UK were not affected by the change.

The rules are clear, and it is reasonable to expect those with families to bear them in mind when making decisions about whether to apply for a Health and Care visa as a care worker, no matter where they intend to make that application from.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to dependant rules for care workers on family unity for those settled in the UK.

Answered by Mike Tapp

Immigration Rules preventing those holding leave as a care worker from having dependant applications associated with their visas took effect on 11 March 2024 and transitional arrangements were put in place to protect those already in the route. Dependants who are born whilst the worker in the UK, and those who are settled in the UK were not affected by the change.

The rules are clear, and it is reasonable to expect those with families to bear them in mind when making decisions about whether to apply for a Health and Care visa as a care worker, no matter where they intend to make that application from.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications by dependants of care workers under SOC 6135 have been (a) received and (b) refused since changes to dependant rules were introduced.

Answered by Mike Tapp

The information requested is not available from published statistics and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the April 2026 business rates changes on (a) the post office network and (b) their ability to serve small communities.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to PQ UIN 125750 and UIN 128242.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of dedicated business rates relief for post offices, in the same way as the further relief provided for pubs.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to PQ UIN 125750 and UIN 128242.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance is provided to NHS Trusts on the diagnosis and management of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome in the absence of traditional allergy markers.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

There is currently no National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guideline specifically covering the diagnosis and management of mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). In the absence of condition‑specific national guidance, clinicians are expected to use their professional judgement, drawing on the available evidence, specialist advice, and relevant NICE guidance for related conditions and symptoms.

Care for people with suspected or confirmed MCAS is typically delivered through established allergy, immunology and other relevant specialist services, with management focused on individual symptoms and clinical need. National Health Service trusts are expected to follow recognised standards of evidence‑based practice, work within agreed local pathways, and involve multidisciplinary teams where appropriate, particularly given the complex and multi‑system nature of the condition.

The Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Final Delivery Plan will support improvements for people with overlapping conditions such as MCAS by promoting more coordinated, person-centred care across primary, community and specialist services. Through actions to improve clinical education, strengthen multidisciplinary working, and develop clearer local pathways aligned with NICE guidance, the plan aims to ensure that patients with complex, multi-system presentations are assessed holistically and have their symptoms managed more effectively. While commissioning decisions remain local, this approach will help services better recognise co-existing conditions and provide more joined-up care for those with overlapping needs.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of commissioning an expert clinical review into the use of the Zamar Protocol for patients with severe treatment-resistant bipolar spectrum disorders who fall outside existing NICE guidance; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a pathway for the assessment and potential evaluation of such treatments within the NHS.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

The Department has no current plans to commission an expert clinical review into the use of the Zamar Protocol for patients with severe treatment-resistant bipolar spectrum disorders.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has not considered the Zamar Protocol and its existing guideline on the assessment and management of bipolar disorder does not include recommendations on this intervention. NICE keeps its guidance under review through its established prioritisation process, which considers emerging evidence and the needs of the health and care system.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding his Department has allocated for emerging Duchenne muscular dystrophy treatments; and what plans he has to ensure that future therapies, including gene therapies and exon-skipping treatments, are assessed and funded through the NHS in a timely manner for patients who do not benefit from currently approved treatments.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

The Department understands the impact that Duchenne muscular dystrophy has on those living with it and their families, and the urgent need for new treatment options. The Department has not allocated any funding specifically for emerging treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) evaluates all new licensed medicines, including for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and aims wherever possible to publish guidance close to the time of licensing to ensure that patients are able to benefit from rapid access to effective new treatments. The National Health Service in England is required to fund treatments recommended by NICE.

NICE published final guidance recommending the drug givinostat for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in people six years old and over on 28 May. NHS England is providing interim funding from the Innovative Medicines Fund (IMF) so that eligible patients have been able to access the intervention since the publication of NICE’s positive draft guidance on 8 May 2026. NICE has also previously recommended the drugs ataluren and vamorolone as options for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and these treatments are now routinely funded for eligible patients.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what safeguards are in place to ensure that patients with complex, chronic or rare conditions are not disadvantaged by the requirement to use Advice and Guidance before referral.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Advice and Guidance (A&G) is not, and has not been, mandated for use prior to a formal referral. Practices are expected to use A&G to support clinical decision making in relation to a planned care referral where clinically appropriate, alongside sending traditional referrals and following locally agreed referral pathways, and this reflects longstanding practice.

A&G supports clinical decision making, does not override it, and does not remove the clinician’s decision to refer when referral is in the patient’s best interests.

We continue to support clinicians through guidance, pathway design, and local governance arrangements to ensure specialist triage models such as A&G are used safely, proportionately, and in a way that preserves clear clinical accountability, including for those with complex, chronic, or rare conditions.

Escalation routes for concerns about A&G request outcomes will continue to operate through locally agreed referral pathways and communication processes for general practitioners and patients, supported by improvements to the NHS electronic Referral System. Where patients have concerns regarding outcomes, local patient advice and liaison service teams can provide advice and support.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made in implementing the recommendations of the independent review of Physician Associate and Anaesthesia Associate roles.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government accepted all 18 recommendations of the independent review of physician associate and anaesthesia associate roles published in July 2025, with implementation subject to consultation and further work where required. The Department is now working with NHS England and system partners to implement them.

The review recommended clearer national parameters, including the development of national clinical protocols to define when and how these roles should be deployed, alongside nationally defined initial job descriptions and clear supervision arrangements, including a named senior doctor responsible for oversight.

Implementation is being taken forward through a joint programme between the Department and NHS England, which includes an Implementation Oversight Group chaired by Professor Gillian Leng. Progress includes work to develop national clinical protocols, a consultation on role titles, and work on pathways for career development and progression.

The Department continues to work closely with system partners to ensure these roles are deployed safely and effectively as part of multidisciplinary teams. 

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure clear national standards on the scope of practice and supervision of Physician Associates and Anaesthesia Associates.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government accepted all 18 recommendations of the independent review of physician associate and anaesthesia associate roles published in July 2025, with implementation subject to consultation and further work where required. The Department is now working with NHS England and system partners to implement them.

The review recommended clearer national parameters, including the development of national clinical protocols to define when and how these roles should be deployed, alongside nationally defined initial job descriptions and clear supervision arrangements, including a named senior doctor responsible for oversight.

Implementation is being taken forward through a joint programme between the Department and NHS England, which includes an Implementation Oversight Group chaired by Professor Gillian Leng. Progress includes work to develop national clinical protocols, a consultation on role titles, and work on pathways for career development and progression.

The Department continues to work closely with system partners to ensure these roles are deployed safely and effectively as part of multidisciplinary teams. 

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of mandatory Advice and Guidance pathways on patients' access to hospital specialist care.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Advice and Guidance (A&G) is not, and has not been, mandated for use prior to a formal referral. Practices are expected to use A&G to support clinical decision making in relation to a planned care referral where clinically appropriate, alongside sending traditional referrals and following locally agreed referral pathways, and this reflects longstanding practice.

A&G supports clinical decision making, does not override it, and does not remove the clinician’s decision to refer when referral is in the patient’s best interests.

We continue to support clinicians through guidance, pathway design, and local governance arrangements to ensure specialist triage models such as A&G are used safely, proportionately, and in a way that preserves clear clinical accountability, including for those with complex, chronic, or rare conditions.

Escalation routes for concerns about A&G request outcomes will continue to operate through locally agreed referral pathways and communication processes for general practitioners and patients, supported by improvements to the NHS electronic Referral System. Where patients have concerns regarding outcomes, local patient advice and liaison service teams can provide advice and support.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what financial support and assistance is available to patients required to self fund essential medical equipment.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

National Health Service medical services are free at the point of use for the patient, as the system is taxpayer funded, although patients might be charged for some NHS services, for example, dental treatment, prescriptions, glasses, wigs, and fabric supports. Patients might not have to pay for these services if they receive certain benefits or are on low incomes.

The NHS website sets out what contributions patients are required to make for medical equipment and treatment, which can be found at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/when-you-need-to-pay-towards-nhs-care/

For patients receiving universal credit or on low incomes, financial help with those costs may be available. Information on the NHS Low Income Scheme and how to apply can be found at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/

Glaucoma Awareness Week 2026

Key Stage 2 Sats Results and the Pearson-Administered National Curriculum Assessment

Leicester retains title of England Curry Capital

Leicester Comedy Festival (No. 2)

Parthenon Sculptures

Flooding in Bangladesh

Srebrenica Memorial Week

Impact of Israel’s ingress into Palestinian territory on maternal care

UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Anniversary of the July 5 2009 Urumqi violence and the current situation of Uyghur People

Energy costs

Technology companies and crimes against Palestinians

Air conditioning in hospitals, care homes, schools and nurseries

Special educational needs and disabilities provision

Five-year indefinite leave to remain pathway for Skilled Worker visa holders (No. 2)

Ownership and regulation of water