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 with (a) the World Health Organization and (b) other regional health partners to establish medical corridors for the treatment of critically ill children from Gaza.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Members to My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s Written Statement to the House on 1 September 2025, available at the following link:

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-09-01/hcws899

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered introducing temporary (a) medical visas and (b) emergency sponsorship routes for critically ill children from Gaza requiring urgent medical treatment in the UK.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Members to My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s Written Statement to the House on 1 September 2025, available at the following link:

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-09-01/hcws899

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 impact of (a) delays of over 12 months for diagnoses to secure medication and (b) temporary inability to work until that medication is secured on (i) the economy and (ii) the NHS.

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

We have not made such an assessment on the impact of delays to diagnoses to secure medication or on the impact of patients waiting for medication being out of work.

It is a priority of the Government to bring down National Health Service waiting lists. As set out in the Plan for Change, we are committed to returning to the NHS constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment by March 2029. Where clinically appropriate, treatment will include medication.

Most patients will require one or more diagnostic test as part of their care. While most patients will receive a diagnostic test within weeks, there remain too many patients waiting in excess of six weeks. In June 2025, the period of the latest published data, 21.3% of patients waiting for a diagnostic test had been waiting for six weeks or more.

One of the reasons it is so important we focus on bringing down waiting lists for patients to receive treatment they need, including medication, is to allow them to continue with their day-to-day activities and employment. The Joint Work and Health Directorate is collaborating with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to improve the evidence on the relationship between health and labour market outcomes.

The ONS plans to link NHS waiting times data, to which they recently acquired access, to Census, Department for Work and Pensions Benefits and HM Revenue and Customs Pay As You Earn records to analyse the relationship between waiting time duration, for various health conditions and procedures, and labour market outcomes such as employment status, gross pay and benefit receipt in England. ONS will confirm in due course when related analysis will be made available.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what mechanisms exist at a national level to prevent the misuse of performance management tools within NHS Trusts.

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

All National Health Service trusts are independent employers and are required to comply with employment legislation and relevant Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service codes. Local human resources (HR) policies and procedures should follow best practice guidance, which may include model HR policies developed nationally.

At a national level, safeguards also exist to help prevent the misuse of performance management tools. The NHS Constitution commits employers to fair and supportive treatment of staff. The Care Quality Commission’s inspection framework includes workforce culture and governance, which can highlight poor practice. Every trust is required to have a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, giving staff a confidential route to raise concerns. The annual NHS Staff Survey provides transparency on staff experience and fairness, enabling action to be taken where concerns are identified.

In 2025, NHS England also published the expectations of line managers in relation to people management, alongside the launch of the NHS Management and Leadership Programme to ensure that NHS leaders and managers at all levels meet the standards and competencies expected of them, have access to professional development and support, and that the NHS continues to attract, develop and retain the best talent while strengthening public confidence in NHS leadership.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will consider the potential merits of establishing an (a) Ombudsman service and (b) similar government-supported body to support park home owners.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 63787 on 4 July 2025.

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 the provision of long-term (a) mental health and (b) trauma-informed support for (i) adult survivors of child sexual abuse and (ii) adult survivors of child sexual abuse who disclose as an adult.

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

Protecting and supporting child and adult victims and survivors of sexual abuse is a core priority for NHS England, delivered through a network of 48 specialist sexual assault referral centres across the country.

NHS England has established local pathfinder projects for enhanced trauma-informed mental health support for sexual abuse victims and survivors with the most complex needs. There is now dedicated enhanced mental health support in five of the seven commissioning regions.

NHS England is currently working in partnership with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the National Network of Designated Healthcare Professionals to refresh the paediatric elements of the current specification that sets out what care should be provided to survivors, alongside a parallel review of the adult specification. This will ensure both pathways deliver consistent, high-quality support and equitable access to services for all survivors, regardless of age.

Furthermore, NHS Talking Therapies offer psychological and talking therapies approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, such as counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy, for adults in England with mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Individuals experiencing these conditions, including victims of sexual violence and rape, can access these therapies via their general practitioner, or by self-referring to their local NHS Talking Therapies service. Details on how to do so are available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies

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 reduce waiting lists for psychiatric diagnoses in Greater Manchester.

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

Nationally, the Government is investing an extra £688 million this year to transform mental health services.

We are also delivering on our commitment to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers for children and adults by the end of this Parliament. We are more than halfway towards this target, which will help to ease pressure on busy mental health services.

Responsibility for commissioning of mental health services sits with integrated care boards (ICBs). It is the role of local ICBs to consider what mental health services are needed for their populations and include the perspectives of healthcare professionals, patient advocacy groups and local authorities.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has a planned timeline for consultation on the proposed International Tuition Fee Levy; and which higher education institutions she has (a) met with and (b) plans to meet with in the future in relation to that proposal.

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

The immigration White Paper sets out a series of measures that will achieve a reduction in net migration, while maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting our skills base.

This includes the commitment to explore the introduction of a levy on higher education provider income from international students, with proceeds to be reinvested in the domestic higher education (HE) and skills system. The department will engage with the HE sector on the design of the international student levy and wants to understand providers’ views on this work.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential financial impact of the proposed International Tuition Fee Levy on English Universities.

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

The immigration White Paper sets out a series of measures that will achieve a reduction in net migration, while maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting our skills base.

This includes the commitment to explore the introduction of a levy on higher education provider income from international students, with proceeds to be reinvested in the domestic higher education (HE) and skills system. The department will engage with the HE sector on the design of the international student levy and wants to understand providers’ views on this work.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed International Tuition Fee Levy on the global competitiveness of higher education and research in England.

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

The immigration White Paper sets out a series of measures that will achieve a reduction in net migration, while maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting our skills base.

This includes the commitment to explore the introduction of a levy on higher education provider income from international students, with proceeds to be reinvested in the domestic higher education (HE) and skills system. The department will engage with the HE sector on the design of the international student levy and wants to understand providers’ views on this work.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of British Nationals (Overseas) visa holders on the white paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future. Further details of all measures announced in the Immigration White Paper will be set out in the normal way in due course, and where necessary, will be subject to consultation.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply and guidance is available to applicants to help them make their application.

We regularly engage with representatives of the Hong Kong diaspora in the UK on issues related to the BN(O) visa and will continue to do so.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she plans to take to support British National (Overseas) visa holders who (a) have nearly reached the end of the five-year settlement period and (b) will be subject to the planned ten-year settlement period.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future. Further details of all measures announced in the Immigration White Paper will be set out in the normal way in due course, and where necessary, will be subject to consultation.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply and guidance is available to applicants to help them make their application.

We regularly engage with representatives of the Hong Kong diaspora in the UK on issues related to the BN(O) visa and will continue to do so.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support artists in adapting to the growing presence of AI-generated music in the music industry.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

This government is committed to supporting UK artists, including emerging talent, to succeed and reach their full potential.

As part of this Government’s Industrial Strategy, the Creative Industries Sector Plan published in June set out our ambition to unlock new opportunities for innovation across the creative sector and wider economy while ensuring a trusted copyright regime that values and protects human creativity. We continue to engage with industry to understand the challenges and opportunities it faces, including from AI, and are putting in place measures and funding that help create the conditions for UK artists to remain globally competitive.

The Creative Industries Sector Plan also announced the new Music Growth Package of up to £30 million over three years from 2026; more than doubling funding for the grassroots music sector. This funding will support new artists with touring, performance, mentoring and export opportunities and ensure they have the resources and guidance to grow their careers, reach wider audiences and remain competitive as new technologies such as AI impact the music industry landscape.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing financial support for pensioners in single-person households who have higher per-person energy costs than those in households with more than one person.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government knows that more needs to be done to support vulnerable households which are struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power. The Department’s Warm Home Discount (WHD) provides a £150 rebate off winter energy bills for eligible low-income households. On 19 June we announced that we are expanding the Warm Home Discount to around an additional 2.7 million households. This means that from next winter, around 6 million low-income households will receive the £150 support to help with their energy bill costs.

The Warm Home Discount regulations expire in 2026, and we will want to consider all options for future bill support beyond this point. In the interim, one of the biggest practical barriers to providing help to households that need it, is the availability of the right data to target financial support and advice. The Department is working closely with other Government Departments to unlock the data that will enable us to more effectively target support to those who need help with their energy bills.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he made a comparative assessment of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers with and other hydrogen (a) storage and (b) transport methods to inform the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government continues to review the range of potential hydrogen carriers, including liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs), and their role in the long-distance transport, storage and trade of hydrogen. Our ongoing assessment highlights the need for further research, demonstration and learning from deployment in order to optimise carrier options, whilst ensuring environmental and safety concerns have been fully considered and mitigated. This assessment will help to inform the potential of hydrogen carriers in enabling hydrogen deployment and their contribution to delivering the infrastructure needed to unlock hydrogen’s role in clean power, providing new home-grown energy and good jobs in our industrial heartlands.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make a comparative assessment of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers with other hydrogen (a) storage and (b) transport methods, to inform the 2025 update to the UK Hydrogen Strategy.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government continues to review the range of potential hydrogen carriers, including liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs), and their role in the long-distance transport, storage and trade of hydrogen. Our ongoing assessment highlights the need for further research, demonstration and learning from deployment in order to optimise carrier options, whilst ensuring environmental and safety concerns have been fully considered and mitigated. This assessment will help to inform the potential of hydrogen carriers in enabling hydrogen deployment and their contribution to delivering the infrastructure needed to unlock hydrogen’s role in clean power, providing new home-grown energy and good jobs in our industrial heartlands.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers in facilitating the green transition of fossil fuel infrastructure.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government continues to review the range of potential hydrogen carriers, including liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs), and their role in the long-distance transport, storage and trade of hydrogen. Our ongoing assessment highlights the need for further research, demonstration and learning from deployment in order to optimise carrier options, whilst ensuring environmental and safety concerns have been fully considered and mitigated. This assessment will help to inform the potential of hydrogen carriers in enabling hydrogen deployment and their contribution to delivering the infrastructure needed to unlock hydrogen’s role in clean power, providing new home-grown energy and good jobs in our industrial heartlands.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment made of the potential merits of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers in the development of the hydrogen economy.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government continues to review the range of potential hydrogen carriers, including liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs), and their role in the long-distance transport, storage and trade of hydrogen. Our ongoing assessment highlights the need for further research, demonstration and learning from deployment in order to optimise carrier options, whilst ensuring environmental and safety concerns have been fully considered and mitigated. This assessment will help to inform the potential of hydrogen carriers in enabling hydrogen deployment and their contribution to delivering the infrastructure needed to unlock hydrogen’s role in clean power, providing new home-grown energy and good jobs in our industrial heartlands.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of requests for an EHCP assessment which are not decided within the 6 week deadline are subsequently approved in (a) each of the ten districts of Greater Manchester and (b) England.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The total number of requests for an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment which were not decided within six weeks can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans/2025. This has been available since 26 June 2025.

A further breakdown of these figures showing the outcomes of requests for an EHC needs assessment, which were not decided within six weeks, is shown in the attached table.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what measures are in place to ensure that allegations of racial bias in (a) schools and (b) academy trusts are adequately (i) investigated and (ii) monitored.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

All public bodies, including maintained schools and academies, are subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), which requires them to take steps to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations across all protected characteristics, including between people of different ethnic backgrounds. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published technical guidance for schools on the Equality Act, including the requirements of the PSED: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/equality/equality-act-2010/technical-guidance-schools-england.

Schools should address any intolerant, racist or discriminatory views, expressed by pupils, through their wider anti-bullying and safeguarding policies. All schools are required by law to have a behaviour policy which outlines measures to encourage good behaviour and prevent all forms of bullying amongst pupils.

Should there be any concerns about a school meeting their duties under the Equality Act, complaints can be made to the governing body of the school or the Chair of the Academy Trust and progressed through the setting’s published complaints process.

If following the complaint, there are still concerns, then a complaint can be made to the Secretary of State for Education to be investigated further.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that survivors of child sexual abuse (a) receive support in a timely manner and (b) are assured that support will be provided.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office recognises the devastating impacts that child sexual exploitation and abuse can have on victims and survivors and is committed to ensuring that all victims and survivors, including men and boys, receive better care and support.

As set out in the Government’s Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Progress Update in April, we are working across Government to develop ambitious proposals to improve therapeutic support services for victims of child sexual abuse.

This year the Home Office is doubling funding for adult victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, to a total investment of £2.59 million in the Support for Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse (SVSCSA) fund. This includes funding for support helplines, in-person and remote counselling, group support, and training for professionals working with victims.

We also recognise the importance of ensuring that all staff supporting victims have sufficient guidance on child sexual abuse to deliver effective trauma informed support. The Government is providing funding to the independent Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse to strengthen professional responses to child sexual abuse through evidence-based training and resources.

In line with the Inquiries Act 2005, the Chair of the National Inquiry into Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, once appointed, will play a central role in shaping the inquiry’s Terms of Reference. These will be published in draft and consulted on with stakeholders, including victims and survivors, before being finalised. The Inquiry will have full statutory powers to investigate systemic and institutional failings wherever they are found.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of support services available to male survivors of child sexual abuse; and what plans she has to help improve those support services through (a) changes to her Department's (i) policies and (ii) guidance on safeguarding and (b) the terms of reference for the forthcoming inquiry into grooming gangs announced on 16 June 2025.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office recognises the devastating impacts that child sexual exploitation and abuse can have on victims and survivors and is committed to ensuring that all victims and survivors, including men and boys, receive better care and support.

As set out in the Government’s Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Progress Update in April, we are working across Government to develop ambitious proposals to improve therapeutic support services for victims of child sexual abuse.

This year the Home Office is doubling funding for adult victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, to a total investment of £2.59 million in the Support for Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse (SVSCSA) fund. This includes funding for support helplines, in-person and remote counselling, group support, and training for professionals working with victims.

We also recognise the importance of ensuring that all staff supporting victims have sufficient guidance on child sexual abuse to deliver effective trauma informed support. The Government is providing funding to the independent Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse to strengthen professional responses to child sexual abuse through evidence-based training and resources.

In line with the Inquiries Act 2005, the Chair of the National Inquiry into Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, once appointed, will play a central role in shaping the inquiry’s Terms of Reference. These will be published in draft and consulted on with stakeholders, including victims and survivors, before being finalised. The Inquiry will have full statutory powers to investigate systemic and institutional failings wherever they are found.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of including the adequacy of support services for adult survivors of child sexual abuse in the terms of reference for the planned independent inquiry into grooming gangs announced on 16 June 2025.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

In line with the Inquiries Act 2005, the Chair of the National Inquiry into Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, once appointed, will play a central role in shaping the inquiry's Terms of Reference. These will be published in draft and consulted on with stakeholders, including victims and survivors, before being finalised. The Inquiry will have full statutory powers to investigate systemic and institutional failings wherever they are found. Where the Inquiry finds evidence of potential criminal wrongdoing, it will provide the material to the relevant police force for investigation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on the introduction of medals for emergency service personnel injured in the line of duty.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Any official award is a gift from the Government, on behalf of His Majesty The King to recognise individuals within policing and emergency services personnel. The creation of a new award requires cross Government consensus and approval from the Committee on The Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, before advice is put to HM The King to make his final decision.

The Home Office will continue to consider proposals for new awards for members of the emergency services. It is only right that we recognise the sacrifices made by the emergency services, and it is important to make sure this is considering fully and carefully to ensure any changes are proportionate and effective.

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 a recent estimate of the potential impact of Myalgic encephalomyelitis on the economy.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We recognise the negative impact that myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) has on patients and their loved ones, and also the cost to health and care services and the wider economy through, for example, loss of work and an increased benefits bill. We, therefore, recently published the ME/CFS final delivery plan, which focuses on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease.

There are currently no plans to allocate new or ring-fenced funding specifically to support the implementation of the ME/CFS final delivery plan. However, we continue to commission research on ME/CFS services across the United Kingdom, focussing on the most severely affected. The plan includes increased funding for research, awarded through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, into how existing medicines can be used for post-viral conditions, including ME/CFS. Additionally, there are always opportunities for researchers to bid for and secure research funding for ME/CFS through our open research funding calls.

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 that Freedom to Speak Up mechanisms within NHS Trusts are (a) effective and (b) independent; and what procedures are in place for NHS Trusts that retaliate against staff who make protected disclosures.

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

The national Freedom to Speak Up policy, produced by NHS England, provides the minimum standard for local freedom to speak up policies across the National Health Service, so those who work in the NHS know how to speak up and what will happen when they do. This includes information on how to raise concerns internally, such as through the local Freedom to Speak Up Guardian network, as well to external bodies such as NHS England or the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of health and social care services in England.

The Employment Rights Act 1996, as amended, gives employees protection against unfair dismissal and all workers a right not to be subject to any detriment in employment, on the basis that the worker has made a protected disclosure. Where this right is breached, employees and workers have a right to seek a remedy through an employment tribunal.

The Government is also taking forward legislative change so that the Health and Care Professions Council can operate a barring mechanism for NHS board-level managers and their direct reports within this Parliament. This will help to ensure leaders are held professionally accountable for their work, just like their clinical colleagues.

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 that all NHS Trusts allow accompaniment in any meeting where disciplinary action or dismissal is a potential outcome.

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

It is a statutory requirement that all workers are entitled to be accompanied by a work colleague or a trade union representative or official at any disciplinary hearing. This right applies to all National Health Service staff and is set out in the handbook to the NHS Constitution for England.

Where the outcome of a hearing could result in the worker’s professional career being put at risk, they can request to be accompanied by a legal representative.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered implementing a humanitarian sponsorship or visa scheme for critically ill children from Gaza.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The United Kingdom continues to take additional immediate steps to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Gaza, including working urgently to get some of the critically ill and injured children medically evacuated from Gaza. Further details about that process are set out in the Written Statement my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care made on 1 September, available at the following link:

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-09-01/hcws899

The Government is not currently considering implementing a bespoke visa route for Palestinians fleeing Gaza to come to the UK. Palestinians who wish to settle in the UK can do so via the existing routes available which allow a person to apply to work, study, settle, or join family in the UK.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with (a) NHS England and (b) ICBs to help prevent NHS Trusts from operating outside (i) best practice guidelines, (ii) Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service Codes, (iii) internal HR policies and (iv) not protecting their staff's (A) rights and (B) well-being.

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

All National Health Service trusts are independent employers who are required to comply with employment legislation and any relevant Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service codes. Human resource policies and procedures are developed locally and should follow best practice guidance which may include model HR policies developed by NHS England and the national Social Partnership Forum’s Workforce Issues Group.

The handbook to the NHS Constitution for England summarises some important legal rights for all employees and includes a range of best practice pledges which, although not legally binding, represent a commitment by the NHS to provide high-quality working environments for staff.

As part of the 10 Year Health Plan, we will also work with the Social Partnership Forum to introduce a new set of staff standards for modern employment, covering issues such as access to healthy meals, support to work healthily and flexibly, and tackling violence, racism and sexual harassment in the workplace.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Israel on ensuring that food aid reaches people in Gaza.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the former Foreign Secretary on 1 September, and the joint statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza made alongside 31 overseas partners on 12 August: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-on-the-humanitarian-situation-in-gaza.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the former Foreign Secretary on 1 September, and the joint statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza made alongside 31 overseas partners on 12 August: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-on-the-humanitarian-situation-in-gaza.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the forced evacuation orders in Deir al-Balah and the resultant disruption to humanitarian operations in Gaza.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the former Foreign Secretary on 1 September, and the joint statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza made alongside 31 overseas partners on 12 August: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-on-the-humanitarian-situation-in-gaza.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification of 29 July 2025 which states that Gaza has entered Phase 5 (Catastrophic/Famine conditions); and what steps he is taking in response.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification's (IPC) confirmation of famine in Gaza City and the surrounding neighbourhood on 22 August is utterly horrifying. The former Foreign Secretary issued a statement on 22 August stating that the Israeli government's refusal to allow sufficient aid into Gaza has caused this man-made catastrophe and calling for aid to reach those in need urgently and without delay. He also spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on 23 August to urge for restrictions on humanitarian access to be removed. We coordinated joint statements with over 30 international partners on 12 August and on 21 July calling on Israel to immediately restore the flow of aid into Gaza and enable humanitarian agencies to operate. On 1 September, the UK announced an additional £15 million funding for humanitarian and medical support in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Israeli counterpart on reports that several humanitarian organisations and clinics in Gaza have been forced to evacuate following the launch of an Israeli ground assault on Deir al-Balah.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the former Foreign Secretary on 1 September, and the joint statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza made alongside 31 overseas partners on 12 August: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-on-the-humanitarian-situation-in-gaza.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with NHS England on the effectiveness of its procedures for ensuring that (a) formal governance processes and (b) approved plans and programmes cannot be undermined by NHS senior leaders.

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

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has regular meetings with NHS England to discuss the effectiveness of procedures to hold healthcare leaders accountable for delivering on the Government’s priorities.

There are clear expectations for National Health Service senior leaders, aligned with the NHS Leadership Compact, the Fit and Proper Person Test Framework, and the Nolan Principles. NHS England addresses concerns about poor behaviours through established human resources and governance channels.

On 21 July 2025, we set out plans to regulate NHS managers via a statutory barring system. We will take forward legislative changes so that the Health and Care Professions Council can operate a barring mechanism for NHS board-level managers and their direct reports within this Parliament.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Department is taking to intervene when a multi-academy trust does not investigate serious safeguarding complaints adequately.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

Academy trusts must comply with their statutory safeguarding responsibilities set out in the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014. The regulations require trusts to have regard to the ‘Keeping children safe in education’ and ‘Working together to safeguard children’ statutory guidance. This includes having robust procedures for managing safeguarding concerns. Each academy within a trust must have a designated safeguarding lead responsible for managing referrals and working with external agencies. Failure to act appropriately can trigger external review or intervention.

The department follows up safeguarding issues, where appropriate, to obtain assurance that trusts are meeting their statutory responsibilities to safeguard all children in its schools. The department can enforce compliance through the trust’s funding agreement and the Academy Trust Handbook, which includes safeguarding obligations. Breaches may lead to formal intervention and regulatory action such as issuing a notice to improve or terminating the agreement.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department collects data on (a) internal and (b) fixed-term exclusions in primary schools, broken down by race.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The department does not collect data on circumstances where schools remove a pupil from the classroom, for serious disciplinary reasons, and where they are required to spend a limited time out of the classroom. Some schools call this internal suspension.

The department publishes data on suspensions and permanent exclusions in state-funded schools in England. The most recent full academic year release, covering 2023/24, can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/suspensions-and-permanent-exclusions-in-england/2023-24. This has been available since 10 July 2025.

Published data includes numbers and rates of suspensions, by ethnicity, in state-funded primary schools and is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/f3a89f3f-b18e-46c3-a167-08dde2cf2374.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support the Community Security Trust in safeguarding (a) synagogues, (b) Jewish schools and (c) other Jewish community locations.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

There is no excuse for violence or abuse driven by antisemitic hatred and discrimination, and we support the police in taking strong action against those who carry out these crimes.

This Government is committed to supporting the protection of Jewish communities against antisemitic attacks and other security threats.

The Jewish Community Protective Security (JCPS) Grant provides protective security measures (such as security personnel services, CCTV and alarm systems) at synagogues, Jewish educational establishments and community sites. It is managed on behalf of the Home Office by the Community Security Trust.

From 2024/25 to 2027/28, the Community Security Trust has been allocated £18 million annually through the JCPS Grant to continue this important work. We continue to work closely with the CST to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities across the UK.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2025 to Question 67189Pre-school Education: Accidents and Death, what steps she is taking to ensure that early years foundation stage safeguarding requirements are (a) implemented within early years settings, (b) read by staff on a mandatory basis and (c) communicated (i) consistently and (ii) coherently when changed.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework sets the standards and requirements all early years providers must legally follow to ensure that children have the best start in life and are kept healthy and safe. The framework is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2.

Ofsted is responsible for the registration, regulation and inspection of childcare provision in England. Ofsted, as a regulator, has a responsibility to check that providers meet the EYFS requirements.

The EYFS framework states that early years providers must ensure that practitioners are supported and confident to implement the setting’s safeguarding policy and procedures on an ongoing basis.

The safeguarding changes to the EYFS framework in September 2025 were supported by a programme of communications and engagement, including webinars and vodcasts via the Foundation Years website. We worked with the sector and local authorities to ensure they understood the changes being made and how to implement them. The Foundation Years website is available here: https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2025/07/early-years-foundation-stage-eyfs-safeguarding-reforms-2025/.

Final delivery plan on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)

Renewable energy and coal

35 years of Macmillan Cancer Support’s Coffee Morning

40th anniversary of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

National inquiry into child sexual exploitation

Elon Musk at the Unite the Kingdom rally

Cool hubs

Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme

Provision of trained Family Liaison Officers

Safety of British nationals aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla

Blood Cancer Awareness Month

Police officers

Equitable national prostate cancer screening

Pavement parking consultation response

Arts for Recovery in the Community in Stockport

Leasehold reform (No. 2)

Children of Ukraine

CLN2 Batten disease

Access to NHS-funded IVF

Motor neurone disease

Eating disorders and online harms

Access to rail in Hazel Grove

First female Astronomer Royal

National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) grant

Air Ambulance Week 2025 (No. 2)

Oversight of automated moderation by social media companies

Neurodivergent children at school

Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize awarded to Mines Advisory Group

Independence of Healthwatch England

Fertility funding access for LGBTQIA+ people

Award of honorary posthumous England cap to Frank Soo

Ricky Hatton MBE

Farmers, growers and the supermarket supply chain

Mental health care in Gaza

Found: Reynolds Gideon Amos Manuela Perteghella Alex Brewer Cameron Thomas Zöe Franklin Ellie Chowns Tom Morrison

Found: Reynolds Gideon Amos Manuela Perteghella Alex Brewer Cameron Thomas Zöe Franklin Ellie Chowns Tom Morrison