Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of whether the current legal framework on employment status adequately protects licensed private hire drivers working through digital platform operators.

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)

Entitlement to employment rights depends on the individual’s employment status.

Private hire drivers in the platform economy can be employees, limb (b) workers, or self-employed, depending on the reality of their working relationship.

The government recognises the potential for new technologies and business models to change the way we work, and our employment framework must continue to adapt and evolve.

We have committed to consult on employment status as soon as possible. The consultation will seek to address issues within the framework which can enable worker exploitation and leave vulnerable workers without core employment protections.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on international efforts to regulate lethal autonomous weapons systems.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The UK will continue to be an active participant in discussions on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems(LAWS) within the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Group of Government Experts (GGE), working closely with other states and civil society to set out potential norms of use and positive obligations to ensure autonomy in weapons systems can be used responsibly and legitimately in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. The UN CCW is the appropriate forum to consider the issue of emerging technologies in the area of LAWS. It is inclusive, expert and consensus based which means that as a forum its conclusions will have the most meaningful impact.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure meaningful human control is retained over decisions to use lethal force by weapons systems that incorporate artificial intelligence.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

We are clear that human responsibility and accountability must always be retained in decisions about the use of force, and that existing international humanitarian law provides a robust framework for ensuring this. There must be context-appropriate human involvement in weapons which identify, select and attack targets. This could mean some form of real-time human supervision, or control exercised through the setting of a system’s operational parameters.

Use of AI within MOD is governed by our Ambitious, Safe, Responsible policy and the Dependable AI JSP 936, which require AI systems to be developed and used in a manner that is in line with our longstanding and robust legal, safety and regulatory compliance regimes. Responsible AI Senior Officers make sure that their organisation has the right processes, policies and escalation methods in place to demonstrate that they have addressed the considerations arising under each of the AI ethical principles in respect to AI-enabled systems.

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/

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to encourage local authorities to provide appropriate waiting areas and toilet facilities for licensed taxi and private hire drivers.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government recognises the importance of clean, safe public toilet provision for all and has taken steps to support this. The Government will provide over £5.6 billion of new grant funding towards local government services, such as toilets, over the next three years. In addition, we continue to provide 100% mandatory business rates relief for separately assessed public toilets, reducing ongoing costs for local authorities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of fare-setting practices by digital private hire operators on the financial sustainability of licensed private hire drivers.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The commercial arrangements between private hire vehicle drivers and the operators they work with or for are, subject to any legal requirements, a matter for those parties.

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 impact of levels of Local Housing Allowance on a) poverty b) homelessness among Universal Credit claimants in Leicester South.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions reviewed Local Housing Allowance (LHA) at the 2025 Autumn Budget and announced that rates would be maintained at their current levels for 2026/27. A range of factors, such as rent levels across the country and poverty impacts, were considered against the fiscal context, including the level of housing support that Government provides overall.

LHA rates are reviewed annually and future decisions on LHA will be taken in the context of the Government’s welfare priorities, and the fiscal context.

Renters receiving housing support who face a shortfall in meeting their rent costs can apply for the Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payment from local authorities in England.

The causes of homelessness are multi-faceted and often complex; they interact dynamically making it difficult to isolate the relative importance of individual factors. DWP continues to work closely with MHCLG on interactions with homelessness.

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 Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Strategic Defence Review provides for the use of autonomous weapons systems capable of selecting and engaging targets without human intervention.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Strategic Defence Review recognises the growing importance of autonomy and uncrewed systems in modern warfare and supports the increased adoption of these technologies across Defence. However, the UK remains committed to the responsible use of military capabilities and retains appropriate human involvement in decisions on the use of force. The Review does not provide for weapons systems operating outside the UK's established legal, ethical and policy frameworks.

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