Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who is responsible for developing the business case for public-private partnerships in Neighbourhood Health Centres.

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

The Government announced in the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy document on 19 June 2025, as well as in the 10-Year Health plan published on 3 July 2025, that it will explore the feasibility of using new Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to deliver certain types of primary and community health infrastructure, including neighbourhood health centres. The business case is being co-developed by the Department of Health and Social Care and the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority. The decision on whether to proceed with the use of PPPs for neighbourhood health centres will be made by HM Treasury and relevant ministers by the 2025 Autumn Budget.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Social Work England’s decision to raise annual registration fees on the (a) recruitment, (b) retention and (c) wellbeing of social workers; and whether her Department plans to (i) review and (ii) mitigate that increase.

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

After undertaking a consultation exercise, Social Work England has increased registration and renewal fees. Social Work England released an equality impact assessment alongside their consultation response.

Registration and renewal fees have not increased since 2015 and the decision to increase fees was necessary to ensure the continuation of effective regulation of the social worker profession, thereby ensuring the protection of the public.

Social workers may be able to claim tax on professional member fees. Details on how to do this can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/professional-fees-and-subscriptions.

Additionally, social workers have the option to pay registration and renewal fees in full or in two instalments in October and the following April.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the press notice entitled 100,000 more people get quicker care thanks to GP funding reform, published on 4 September 2025, whether he plans to allocate funding for advice and guidance services to (a) other areas of primary care and (b) optometry services.

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

The expansion of and funding for Advice and Guidance and referral triage more broadly for 2026/27 are currently under consideration, and a decision will be confirmed later this year.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to ensure greater (a) transparency and (b) accountability in private parking enforcement.

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

This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector.

In accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the government has recently consulted on its proposals for a new code of practice for private parking operators to follow. The consultation closed on 26 September and the government will respond in due course.

This code will better protect and support motorists whilst balancing the legitimate needs of private parking operators.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to regulate (a) SMART PARKING and (b) other private parking firms.

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

This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector.

In accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the government has recently consulted on its proposals for a new code of practice for private parking operators to follow. The consultation closed on 26 September and the government will respond in due course.

This code will better protect and support motorists whilst balancing the legitimate needs of private parking operators.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will set targets for companies to provide accessible human customer service channels.

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

This Government is committed to improving accessibility, customer support, and helping to remove barriers to travel for all users of public transport. The Department recognises the important role staff play in providing face-to-face services on public transport and the reassurance this gives many customers, especially those who may feel vulnerable or may need more support.

Innovation across the sector offers significant opportunities to change and improve customer service. Digitalisation and technological improvements will form part of this, across different modes of transport. These should be inclusive of the needs of all passengers, including disabled people. Where adjustments such as in-person assistance may be required, these should be accounted for in planning and development.

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 expanding primary eye care services through high street optometry practices to support early detection of eye conditions.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for assessing the health needs of their population and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet them.

ICBs already commission National Health Service sight testing services through high street optical practices. Regular sight tests, whether provided by the NHS or privately, play a vital role in the early detection of sight threatening eye conditions.

ICBs can also commission enhanced eye care services from high street optical practices, including minor and urgent eye care services and glaucoma referral refinement services. These services further support the identification and management of eye conditions to prevent avoidable sight loss.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the use of the optometry workforce in (a) early intervention and (b) prevention of avoidable sight loss.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for assessing the health needs of their population and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet them.

ICBs already commission National Health Service sight testing services through high street optical practices. Regular sight tests, whether provided by the NHS or privately, play a vital role in the early detection of sight threatening eye conditions.

ICBs can also commission enhanced eye care services from high street optical practices, including minor and urgent eye care services and glaucoma referral refinement services. These services further support the identification and management of eye conditions to prevent avoidable sight loss.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has held discussions on the development of a National Eye Care Framework in England; and whether patients and sector experts will be consulted as part of that process.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The 10-Year Health Plan supports more locally developed and integrated neighbourhood care rather than a top-down, one-size-fits-all solution. Integrated care boards will want to take different approaches to commissioning primary and secondary eye care services, depending on the skills and resources available to them.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce regional variations in access to eye care services; and what discussions his Department has had with the optometry sector on increasing the use of community-based care.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing the health needs of their population and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet them.

Over the last 12 months I have met with a number of representatives across the eye care sector including The Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee, The Eyes Have It Partnership, as well as members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Eye Health and Visual impairment, which included the Hon. Member for Leicester South, to discuss primary eye care services. Officials in the Department also regularly meet with optometry stakeholders.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with stakeholders in the optometry sector on the future delivery of primary eye care services in the last 12 months.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing the health needs of their population and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet them.

Over the last 12 months I have met with a number of representatives across the eye care sector including The Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee, The Eyes Have It Partnership, as well as members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Eye Health and Visual impairment, which included the Hon. Member for Leicester South, to discuss primary eye care services. Officials in the Department also regularly meet with optometry stakeholders.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the optometry sector on the future delivery of primary eye care services.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing the health needs of their population and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet them.

Over the last 12 months I have met with a number of representatives across the eye care sector including The Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee, The Eyes Have It Partnership, as well as members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Eye Health and Visual impairment, which included the Hon. Member for Leicester South, to discuss primary eye care services. Officials in the Department also regularly meet with optometry stakeholders.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that people with secondary breast cancer can access (a) new and (b) effective treatments; and if he will review National Institute for Health and Care Excellence assessment processes for such treatments.

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

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been monitoring the impact of the severity modifier since it was implemented in 2022. Data up to March 2025 shows that the proportion of positive cancer recommendations is higher (85%) than with the end-of-life modifier it replaced (75%) and the proportion of positive recommendations for advanced cancer treatments is also higher (81% compared to 69%).

Since January 2022, NICE has recommended all but one of the treatments for breast cancer that it has assessed, including treatments for advanced breast cancer (such as Truqap and Korserdu), which are now available to eligible National Health Service patients.

The severity modifier is therefore working as intended and there are currently no plans to adjust or change it in the near future. However, NICE has commissioned research on people’s attitudes to how the severity modifier should be applied that will inform future reviews of NICE’s methods.

Media Plurality and Press Freedom in Parliament

London Underground cleaners

Indefinite leave to remain and settlement

35 years of Macmillan Cancer Support’s Coffee Morning

Conduct of Prince Andrew

World Sight Day 2025

40th anniversary of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Mary's Meals

Provision of trained Family Liaison Officers

Local Healthwatch

Extinction of the slender-billed curlew

Insect decline and pesticide reduction

Access to school and college transport for disabled young people

Five-year indefinite leave to remain pathway for Skilled Worker visa holders

Wonderland Bookshop and the promotion of reading for pleasure amongst children and young people

Pavement parking consultation response

Digital ID

Asylum funding for local authorities

Blood Cancer Awareness Month

Statement on Palestine by children's authors, illustrators and educators