Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to ensure adequate availability of mental health support services for (a) children and (b) young adults.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are investing an extra £688 million this year to transform mental health services by hiring more staff, delivering more early interventions, and getting waiting lists down.
We have confirmed that we will fulfil our commitment to recruit an additional 8,500 staff across child and young people and adult mental health services by the end of the Parliament, and 6,700 of these extra workers have been recruited since July 2024.
We also want to intervene much earlier to support better outcomes for children and young people. That is why the 10-Year Health Plan sets out how we will work with schools and colleges to better identify and meet children's and young people’s mental health needs by expanding mental health support teams in schools and colleges to cover 100% of pupils by 2029/30 and by embedding mental health support in the new Young Futures hubs, to ensure there is no 'wrong front door' for young people seeking help.
Additionally, we are continuing to provide top-up funding of £7 million to 24 existing early support hubs, to expand their services and to take part in an ongoing evaluation of these services in 2025/26. This funding will enable the supported hubs to deliver at least 10,000 additional mental health and wellbeing interventions, so that more children and young people are supported.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to help reduce the average diagnosis time for endometriosis.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is unacceptable that women can wait too long for an endometriosis diagnosis and this government is committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care for gynaecological conditions including endometriosis.
Tackling waiting lists is a key part of our Health Mission. We have now exceeded our pledge to deliver an extra two million operations, scans, and appointments, having now delivered 4.9 million more appointments.
In November 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence updated its guideline on the diagnosis and management of endometriosis to make firmer recommendations on referral and investigations, which will help women receive a diagnosis and effective treatment faster. This includes updated recommendations that for women with symptoms of endometriosis, initial pharmacological treatment should take place in primary care, and that this can take place in parallel with additional investigations and referral to secondary care if needed. The guideline is available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng73
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a national prostate cancer screening programme.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), which advises ministers on all screening matters, commissioned an evidence review modelling the clinical effectiveness and cost of several approaches to prostate cancer screening. This included different potential ways of screening the whole population and targeted screening aimed at groups of people identified as being at higher-than-average risk, such as black men or men with a family history of cancer.
The modelling and evidence review are now complete, and the reports are being considered by the UK NSC and experts. Subject to no further revisions being required, the UK NSC plans to start a three-month public consultation towards the end of 2025. After this, the UK NSC will make a recommendation about screening for prostate cancer. Ministers will then be asked to consider whether to accept the recommendation.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to help reduce plastic pollution in (a) rivers, (b) seas and (c) other waterways.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is working domestically and internationally to implement measures that will prevent plastic from reaching the environment.
Domestically, bans and restrictions on single-use plastic products, such as cutlery, straws, and polystyrene takeaway containers, plates and bowls have been introduced alongside the single-use carrier bag charge. The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers will introduce a deposit on single-use drinks containers which is redeemable when the empty container is returned. DRS will reduce plastic litter and increase recycling rates. The Government is considering what further steps are needed to help local authorities reduce litter and thus prevent it from entering and damaging our waterways and ecosystems.
Plastic pollution is a global crisis that no country can solve alone. The UK is also working with international partners to conclude an ambitious and effective new international treaty to end plastic pollution which protects the environment and paves the way to a circular economy.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
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 merits of introducing self-sampling for cervical screening as an alternative to clinic-based cervical screening.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Following the announcement to introduce human papilloma virus (HPV) self-sampling in the National Health Service cervical screening programme for the under-screened population, the NHS has begun planning an in-service evaluation (ISE) of HPV self-sampling in the wider population.
The purpose of the ISE is to ensure the self-sampling test is as accurate at detecting HPV compared with a clinician-collected specimen, and to evaluate its impact on cervical screening uptake. The findings of the ISE will inform any future recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee to Ministers to offer self-sampling across the whole population.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of microplastics on health outcomes.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has conducted research to understand if there are potential health risks from exposure to micro and nano plastics through inhalational and oral routes. This was part of the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health.
The potential impact of microplastic materials on human health has been assessed by the UK Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment. The most recent statement was published in 2024 and is available at the following link:
https://cot.food.gov.uk/M-statementsandpositionpapers#microplastics
In 2022, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs initiated a research project to investigate the risks of intentionally added microplastics. This project reviewed the emissions from microplastics, and the risks they pose both to human health and the environment. Earlier this year, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published the Option Appraisal for Intentionally Added Microplastics, which provides a welcome addition to our knowledge on the options to protect human health and the United Kingdom’s environment from the risks of microplastics. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is considering the results of this study, which is available at the following link:
https://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/ProjectDetails?ProjectId=21802
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent support he has provided to local authorities to help tackle fly-tipping.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We want to see local authorities make good use of their enforcement powers and are taking steps to help them do so. For example, we are currently reviewing their powers to seize vehicles of suspected fly-tippers to identify ways in which we help them make better use of this tool.
Defra also chairs the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group through which we work with a wide range of stakeholders, including local authorities, to promote and disseminate good practice with regards to preventing fly-tipping. Various practical tools are available from their webpage which is available at: https://nftpg.com/.
From 2026–27, the Government will deliver the first multi-year Settlement in a decade, fundamentally improving how we fund councils and directing funding to where it’s most needed. We’re committed to simplifying the wider local funding landscape by reducing the number of grants and consolidating them into the Settlement, so councils can plan more effectively. Detailed decisions will follow the funding reform consultation and be set out at the provisional Settlement later this year.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps she has taken to help prevent people who have been sanctioned from concealing property assets in the UK.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
In April, OFSI released a Property Threat Assessment Report. The report identifies key evasion threats, red flags that businesses should be aware of, and observations on areas where compliance could be strengthened.
For the Threat Assessment Report, click here: OFSI_Property_and_Related_Services_Threat_Assessment.pdf
OFSI also has specific guidance for letting agents. This guidance helps to facilitate OFSI’s aim of encouraging better sanctions compliance, raising impacted businesses’ awareness of their sanctions obligations, and assisting OFSI in identifying potential circumvention gaps and financial sanctions breaches. For OFSI’s letting agents guidance, click here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-sanctions-guidance-for-letting-agents/financial-sanctions-guidance-for-letting-agents
Since 2022, OFSI has significantly increased its headcount and capability, including procuring leading tools and training, which means OFSI is able to undertake proactive, intelligence-led sanctions enforcement.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of fly-tipping on private land owners.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
While no recent assessment has been made, we appreciate the difficulty and cost that fly-tipping poses to landowners and we are working with a wide range of interested parties through the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group, such as the National Farmers Union, to promote and disseminate good practice, including how to prevent fly-tipping on private land.
We encourage local authorities to make good use of their enforcement powers which include prosecution. On conviction, a cost order can be made by the court so that a landowner’s costs can be recovered from the perpetrator.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities in (a) Slough and (b) the Thames Valley region on the implementation of mandatory digital waste tracking.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The department has had no recent direct discussions with local authorities in Slough or the Thames Valley region on the implementation of mandatory digital waste tracking. Information is shared with stakeholders including local authorities via our Circular Economy newsletter. Through this newsletter we have invited organisations to sign up to the project’s user panel to get involved in testing of the developing service and provide feedback.