Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
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 meet the Climate Change Committee’s proposed health targets for a well-adapted UK.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The Department of Health and Social Care is working with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs to develop the fourth National Adaptation Programme which will set out the Government’s strategy to adapt to the impacts of the changing climate. Ongoing action includes the Adverse Weather and Health Plan that provides guidance to reduce the health impacts of heat, £6.75 billion committed over nine years to address the most critical National Health Service infrastructure risks, including to cooling and ventilation, and requiring all New Hospital Programme projects compliant with hospital 2.0 from 2025 and new build neighbourhood health centres to include climate resilience in their design from the outset.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to produce its own climate adaptation strategy to address the impact of extreme weather on (a) education and (b) infrastructure.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department takes the impact of extreme weather seriously and has published a climate risk assessment covering flooding and overheating here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/impact-of-uk-climate-change-risk-on-the-delivery-of-education/summary-of-findings-in-relation-to-3-climate-risks-overheating-flooding-and-water-scarcity.
We have published guidance to support education settings during hot weather, drawing on guidance from the UK Health Security Agency, here: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2025/06/hot-weather-and-heatwaves-guidance-for-schools-and-other-education-settings/.
We are improving infrastructure and strengthening resilience across the education estate through our Education Estates Strategy here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/education-estates-strategy. This includes a new £710 million Renewal and Retrofit Programme to improve condition and climate resilience, investment of almost £3 billion per year by 2034/35 in capital maintenance to improve the condition of the school and college estate, and investment of almost £20 billion through to 2034/35 in the School Rebuilding Programme, delivering climate‑resilient buildings at over 750 schools.
We are also developing our objectives as part of the fourth National Adaptation Programme due in 2028.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether chiropractic integrated Master’s degree programmes currently eligible for Lifelong Learning Entitlement funding at Levels 4–6 will be considered for inclusion in the Additional Priority Entitlement.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) will replace and transform the existing student finance system for higher education (HE) at Levels 4 to 6. When launched, it will support individuals to learn, upskill and retrain across their working lives.
The LLE will continue to fund individuals entering HE through traditional degrees and integrated master’s programmes. Learners studying chiropractic integrated master’s degrees will therefore continue to be able to access tuition fee support.
The subjects eligible for the Priority Additional Entitlement are aligned to the government’s Industrial Strategy priority sectors, informed by Skills England’s analysis of skills shortages as well as employer needs.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
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 merits of establishing a national framework for action for creative health.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
In Autumn 2025, the Department of Health and Social Care identified a policy lead for Creative Health. They are now working with partners including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Arts Council England, and the National Centre for Creative Health to understand and develop the evidence base and consider the policy implications. For this reason, no assessment has been made of the potential merits of establishing a national framework for action for creative health.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he has considered the potential merits of provision for cure to prevention workstreams and the role of social prescribing in formulating the 10 Year Workforce Plan.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to taking a preventive approach to improve health and address health inequalities. We are determined to improve people’s physical and mental health to support them to live longer and healthier lives, and we recognise the role that social prescribing can play in this.
The 10 Year Workforce Plan will put the National Health Service workforce on a sustainable footing so it can deliver the service model set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, including the shift to prevention which is central to our vision for neighbourhood health.
The plan will set out a sustainable approach to workforce planning, one which is responsive and agile to changes in how we deliver care and prevent ill-health, supporting the workforce and growing it where needed to deliver better prevention, better care, and better outcomes.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she will consider the potential merits of aligning biochar with other zero rated soil improvers for VAT classification.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
There is no specific VAT relief that applies to soil improvers.
VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s third largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26.
Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
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 improve the enforceability of s106 agreements.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Section 106 agreements are legal agreements. Local planning authorities may take enforcement action in respect of any breach of the obligations contained within them. Enforcement is at the discretion of the local planning authority and it is therefore for them to determine whether enforcement action is appropriate in each case.
Enforcement action may include applying to the court for an injunction through section 106(5) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. This would allow the local planning authority to prevent the construction or occupation of further dwellings until certain infrastructure defined in the section 106 agreement has been delivered. Alternatively, the local planning authority may enter the land to complete the works and then seek to recover the costs.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if the Lifelong Learning Entitlement Loan will be extended to those studying chiropractic at a Masters Level Degree.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) will replace and transform the existing student finance system for higher education at Levels 4 to 6. When launched, it will support individuals to learn, upskill and retrain across their working lives.
Those wishing to study Level 7 courses, will continue to be funded in the same way as they are now and there will continue to be a tailored loans package for Level 7.
The Postgraduate Master’s Loans administered by Student Finance England currently provides up to £13,206 for courses starting after 1 August 2026 to help fund tuition fees and living costs.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will set out a timeline for the implementation of regulations regarding cosmetic procedures.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In August 2025, the Government announced its plans to introduce legal restrictions which will ensure that the highest risk cosmetic procedures are brought into Care Quality Commission regulation and can only be performed by specified regulated healthcare professionals. In addition, the Government also committed to legislating to introduce a licensing scheme in England for lower risk procedures through powers granted through the Health and Care Act 2022. Under this scheme, which will be operated by local authorities, practitioners will be required to obtain a licence to perform specified cosmetic procedures, and the premises from which they operate will also need to be licensed.
The Government has prioritised work on restrictions on the performance of the highest risk procedures and has been working with a group of expert stakeholders in recent months to develop detailed proposals on which procedures should be subject to the restrictions, and which regulated healthcare professionals should be permitted to perform them. This will include the liquid Brazilian butt lift and other high-risk cosmetic procedures which have the potential to cause serious harm if improperly performed.
We are preparing a consultation on the draft legislation which would bring these proposals into effect.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if NHS England will launch a national procurement for the provision of digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
NHS England is considering the most appropriate approach to supporting access to digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia. Any future commercial activity will be undertaken in line with applicable procurement legislation and associated transparency obligations.
NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression offer low-intensity therapy which may include interventions around sleep hygiene. Individuals who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression can be referred by their general practitioner, or can self-refer, to NHS Talking Therapies. People can also access helpful resources on sleep problems on the Every Mind Matters website at the following link:
https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-health-issues/sleep/