Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what service standards apply to complaints concerning the Health Assessment Advisory Service; and what mechanisms exist where a claimant is unable to access or progress the contractor’s complaints process.

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

Information on the contractual requirements for the creation, retention and availability of assessor consultation notes, paper-based review notes and audio recordings is set out in pages 207 to 212 of the Functional Assessment Service (FAS) contract and available here.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) holds Health Assessment Advisory Service (HAAS) suppliers to a robust set of contractual performance measures. Suppliers are required to meet a series of Target Performance Levels (TPLs), which are monitored through management information, performance reviews and governance arrangements. Where performance falls below the required standard, contractual remedies, including improvement plans and financial measures, may be applied.

The TPLs and wider contractual obligations are set out in the FAS contract, which is published on Contracts Finder and available here.

The Department and its assessment suppliers are committed to ensuring that claimants are treated fairly, sensitively and with respect throughout the assessment process. Suppliers are contractually required to consider and, where reasonably practicable, provide reasonable adjustments to support claimants’ needs. Compliance is monitored through contractual performance measures, including TPL11, which assesses the extent to which reasonable adjustment requests are met.

Further information on reasonable adjustments is available in the Personal Independence Payment Assessment Guide which is accessible here.

The Department continues to monitor supplier performance and keep its processes under review to ensure assessment services remain accessible and supportive for all claimants.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure Maximus’s compliance with reasonable-adjustment requirements when delivering the Health Assessment Advisory Service.

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

Information on the contractual requirements for the creation, retention and availability of assessor consultation notes, paper-based review notes and audio recordings is set out in pages 207 to 212 of the Functional Assessment Service (FAS) contract and available here.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) holds Health Assessment Advisory Service (HAAS) suppliers to a robust set of contractual performance measures. Suppliers are required to meet a series of Target Performance Levels (TPLs), which are monitored through management information, performance reviews and governance arrangements. Where performance falls below the required standard, contractual remedies, including improvement plans and financial measures, may be applied.

The TPLs and wider contractual obligations are set out in the FAS contract, which is published on Contracts Finder and available here.

The Department and its assessment suppliers are committed to ensuring that claimants are treated fairly, sensitively and with respect throughout the assessment process. Suppliers are contractually required to consider and, where reasonably practicable, provide reasonable adjustments to support claimants’ needs. Compliance is monitored through contractual performance measures, including TPL11, which assesses the extent to which reasonable adjustment requests are met.

Further information on reasonable adjustments is available in the Personal Independence Payment Assessment Guide which is accessible here.

The Department continues to monitor supplier performance and keep its processes under review to ensure assessment services remain accessible and supportive for all claimants.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what contractual requirements apply to the creation, retention and availability of assessor consultation notes, paper-based review notes and audio recordings of PIP assessments.

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

Information on the contractual requirements for the creation, retention and availability of assessor consultation notes, paper-based review notes and audio recordings is set out in pages 207 to 212 of the Functional Assessment Service (FAS) contract and available here.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) holds Health Assessment Advisory Service (HAAS) suppliers to a robust set of contractual performance measures. Suppliers are required to meet a series of Target Performance Levels (TPLs), which are monitored through management information, performance reviews and governance arrangements. Where performance falls below the required standard, contractual remedies, including improvement plans and financial measures, may be applied.

The TPLs and wider contractual obligations are set out in the FAS contract, which is published on Contracts Finder and available here.

The Department and its assessment suppliers are committed to ensuring that claimants are treated fairly, sensitively and with respect throughout the assessment process. Suppliers are contractually required to consider and, where reasonably practicable, provide reasonable adjustments to support claimants’ needs. Compliance is monitored through contractual performance measures, including TPL11, which assesses the extent to which reasonable adjustment requests are met.

Further information on reasonable adjustments is available in the Personal Independence Payment Assessment Guide which is accessible here.

The Department continues to monitor supplier performance and keep its processes under review to ensure assessment services remain accessible and supportive for all claimants.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what procedures apply where a claimant’s email address is recorded by the DWP but a contractor acting on behalf of the DWP is unable to verify or use that email address.

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

Assessment suppliers are only allowed to use email as a method of communication when it has been agreed by DWP as a reasonable adjustment. Where a contractor acting on behalf of the Department receives notification that an email to a claimant has not been delivered, they will check that the email address held is correct. If necessary, the email will be resent using the correct address. Where the address is confirmed as correct and delivery remains unsuccessful, the contractor will contact the Department to investigate further. Suppliers will also try other methods of communication available to them to establish contact with the customer, if possible.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Timms review of Personal Independence Payment considers the needs of people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

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

The Review is being co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, and other experts.

The Terms of Reference give the Review’s steering group a broad remit to look at whether the current assessment effectively captures the impact of all long-term health conditions and disabilities, including Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

The steering group has adopted a mix of approaches to engage with a wide range of views and voices, including its call for evidence which received over 38,000 responses, the ‘workshop in a box’ program, and shaping recommendations workshops. This has enabled it to build a strong evidence base to refine its recommendations.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that claimants understand whether correspondence concerning PIP is being handled by his Department or by a contracted assessment provider.

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

The Department works to ensure that claimants understand the different organisations involved in the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment process. While contracted assessment suppliers are responsible for issuing communications relating to assessments, including appointment invitations and reminder messages, these communications are issued using Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) branding to provide a consistent claimant experience.

Assessment related correspondence clearly relates to the PIP assessment process and includes information about the assessment provider where relevant. This helps claimants understand the purpose of the communication and the role of the assessment supplier contacting them, while maintaining a clear and recognisable DWP identity throughout the customer journey.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that disabled PIP claimants can communicate electronically with the DWP and contractors delivering the Health Assessment Advisory Service where email is required as a reasonable adjustment.

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

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides email as a reasonable adjustment where a claimant is unable to, or experiences difficulty in, communicating through standard channels.

Email communication can support the use of assistive technologies such as JAWS, Dragon, ZoomText, Fusion and Windows Magnifier, enabling customers to read or listen to information in a way that meets their accessibility needs.

Before email is established as a reasonable adjustment, customers are informed of the risks associated with personal information being sent outside DWP's secure IT systems. Email is only implemented once the claimant understands these risks and where alternative communication methods would otherwise place them at a clear disadvantage. The Department's security policies and procedures are followed in all cases.

Where email is agreed as the appropriate reasonable adjustment, DWP also notifies the relevant assessment supplier so that communications can be aligned with the customer's agreed accessibility requirements.

Assessment suppliers delivering the Health Assessment Advisory Service are required to implement reasonable adjustments for disabled claimants where appropriate, including communication needs. Where email communication has been agreed by DWP as a reasonable adjustment, assessment suppliers are expected to use the communication channels available to them to support effective engagement with claimants throughout the assessment process.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding her Department is providing for brain cancer research in the current financial year; and whether the level of this has changed following the debate on Brain Cancer, Monday 15 June 2026, cc271WH-296WH.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Further to the answer provided on 25 June in response to Question 9944, I refer the Hon. Members to the press release published on GOV.UK on 14 October concerning new action the Government is taking to improve the diagnosis and treatment of brain cancer, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brain-cancer-patients-to-see-faster-development-of-new-treatments

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what work her Department is undertaking to (a) support brain cancer suffers and (b) increase the proportion of funding available for clinicial trials and research.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Further to the answer provided on 25 June in response to Question 9944, I refer the Hon. Members to the press release published on GOV.UK on 14 October concerning new action the Government is taking to improve the diagnosis and treatment of brain cancer, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brain-cancer-patients-to-see-faster-development-of-new-treatments

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the (a) social and (b) economic impact of AI fraud on music streaming sites on the (i) media and (ii) music industry.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is committed to ensuring the UK music sector remains globally competitive, resilient against market pressures, and protected against the growing threat of AI-driven fraud on streaming platforms. As generative AI 'slop' increasingly risks undermining the royalty system and diluting human creativity, we welcome proactive industry-led initiatives to build a transparent and fair digital ecosystem.

We continue to actively consider where further action is needed to address the risks posed by rapidly evolving AI technologies. That is why we committed to consult on digital replicas, seeking views on how we can address harms while protecting legitimate innovation. We will also establish a new taskforce which will identify best practice for labelling AI generated content and advise government on next steps.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle deepfake AI music fraud on streaming platforms.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is committed to ensuring the UK music sector remains globally competitive, resilient against market pressures, and protected against the growing threat of AI-driven fraud on streaming platforms. As generative AI 'slop' increasingly risks undermining the royalty system and diluting human creativity, we welcome proactive industry-led initiatives to build a transparent and fair digital ecosystem.

We continue to actively consider where further action is needed to address the risks posed by rapidly evolving AI technologies. That is why we committed to consult on digital replicas, seeking views on how we can address harms while protecting legitimate innovation. We will also establish a new taskforce which will identify best practice for labelling AI generated content and advise government on next steps.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her department is taking to tackle AI fraud on music streaming sites.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is committed to ensuring the UK music sector remains globally competitive, resilient against market pressures, and protected against the growing threat of AI-driven fraud on streaming platforms. As generative AI 'slop' increasingly risks undermining the royalty system and diluting human creativity, we welcome proactive industry-led initiatives to build a transparent and fair digital ecosystem.

We continue to actively consider where further action is needed to address the risks posed by rapidly evolving AI technologies. That is why we committed to consult on digital replicas, seeking views on how we can address harms while protecting legitimate innovation. We will also establish a new taskforce which will identify best practice for labelling AI generated content and advise government on next steps.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the (a) level and (b) potential impact on the British music industry of AI fraud on music streaming sites.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is committed to ensuring the UK music sector remains globally competitive, resilient against market pressures, and protected against the growing threat of AI-driven fraud on streaming platforms. As generative AI 'slop' increasingly risks undermining the royalty system and diluting human creativity, we welcome proactive industry-led initiatives to build a transparent and fair digital ecosystem.

We continue to actively consider where further action is needed to address the risks posed by rapidly evolving AI technologies. That is why we committed to consult on digital replicas, seeking views on how we can address harms while protecting legitimate innovation. We will also establish a new taskforce which will identify best practice for labelling AI generated content and advise government on next steps.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that AI is not illegally used for music fraud on music streaming sites.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is committed to ensuring the UK music sector remains globally competitive, resilient against market pressures, and protected against the growing threat of AI-driven fraud on streaming platforms. As generative AI 'slop' increasingly risks undermining the royalty system and diluting human creativity, we welcome proactive industry-led initiatives to build a transparent and fair digital ecosystem.

We continue to actively consider where further action is needed to address the risks posed by rapidly evolving AI technologies. That is why we committed to consult on digital replicas, seeking views on how we can address harms while protecting legitimate innovation. We will also establish a new taskforce which will identify best practice for labelling AI generated content and advise government on next steps.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what support her Department provides to (a) artists and (b) music streaming platforms been affected by AI fraud.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is committed to ensuring the UK music sector remains globally competitive, resilient against market pressures, and protected against the growing threat of AI-driven fraud on streaming platforms. As generative AI 'slop' increasingly risks undermining the royalty system and diluting human creativity, we welcome proactive industry-led initiatives to build a transparent and fair digital ecosystem.

We continue to actively consider where further action is needed to address the risks posed by rapidly evolving AI technologies. That is why we committed to consult on digital replicas, seeking views on how we can address harms while protecting legitimate innovation. We will also establish a new taskforce which will identify best practice for labelling AI generated content and advise government on next steps.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to (a) support the Live Comedy Association and (b) recognise the grassroots live comedy sector alongside the grassroots live music sector and (c) offer those working in live comedy the same support as people working in live music.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The government recognises the vital role of grassroots live comedy and is actively working to support the sector.

Arts Council England (ACE) awarded a £45,000 grant in October 2026 to the Live Comedy Association (LCA) for a 10-month support programme to benefit the sector including grassroots organisations. Officials are also advising on the LCA’s annual survey.

ACE delivered a dedicated funding information session to help comedy organisations and artists, including those working at grassroots level, access available funding.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help make apprenticeships more affordable for businesses and specifically a) small businesses and b) businesses in the business service sector.

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

We are transforming the Apprenticeships Levy into a new Growth and Skills Levy in England, backed by £1 billion of additional investment, which will support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, give employers greater flexibility to develop the workforce they need, and support the industrial strategy.

We are providing considerable financial support to employers, particularly smaller employers who play such a vital role in creating apprenticeship opportunities for young people.

We have introduced a new apprenticeship hiring payment of £2,000 for non-levy paying employers (typically SMEs) that take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. Employers hiring apprentices aged 18-24 who have been on Universal Credit for over six months are also eligible for the new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant.

Additionally, the government provides £1,000 to employers of all sizes when they take on apprentices aged under 19, or 19-to-24-year-old apprentices who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC) or have been, or are, in care.

These payments can be added together where the employer and/or apprentice are eligible. Employers can choose how they spend these payments and use them to offset the additional costs associated with supporting young apprentices.

The government also fully funds apprenticeship training for all eligible under 25s at employers of all sizes, as we prioritise funding toward young people.

Furthermore, employers are not required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25 (when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year).

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress she has made to increase the level of freezer capacity in NHS England for brain cancer tissues.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer to the Hon Member to the answer given on 22 September to Question HL2877.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that welfare reforms proposed by the Milburn Review take into account the needs of people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Right Honourable Alan Milburn has been commissioned to author a report that will seek to understand the drivers of the increase in the number of young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).

The Author is committed to engaging with experts across the labour market, welfare and health sectors, as well as employers and people with lived experience.

The final report is intended to take a holistic view of the welfare, health, skills and employment systems and identify areas for reform.

The Author will provide a full and final report this Autumn.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he plans to take to improve the humanitarian conditions in (a) Sudan and (b) other fragile and conflict-affected states.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As the third largest humanitarian donor in Sudan, we are spending £146 million this financial year (FY26/27). This will support those responding to Sudan's humanitarian crisis, providing life-saving aid to nearly 2 million people affected by the conflict. The UK plans to spend approximately £1.4 billion each year in the places with the highest humanitarian need over the next three years, in addition to our planned commitment to the UN and Red Cross for humanitarian work. This includes protecting our funding to Ukraine, Palestine and Sudan. The proportion of spending in Fragile and Conflict Affected States (FCAS) will increase by around 13 percentage points to over 70 per cent of all country and regional spending by 2028/29.

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