Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reinstating grant funding for Tell MAMA.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In 2024/25, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government made funding of £1m available for Tell MAMA.
We remain steadfast in our dedication to delivering comprehensive monitoring of anti-Muslim Hatred, and providing support for victims of it. The government has announced a new fund to provide a comprehensive service to monitor anti-Muslim hatred and support victims with applications opening on Monday 7 April 2025.
With cases of anti-Muslim hatred on the rise, up-to-date and detailed information on incidents and drivers of this hatred will play a fundamental part in supporting the government to combat Islamophobia and ensure Muslim communities feel safe and supported. We would encourage Tell MAMA to apply.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) safeguards and (b) support her Department has put in place to help protect people who experience (i) injury and (ii) illness from acupuncture.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Acupuncturists are not statutorily regulated in the United Kingdom. The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) operates a voluntary registers programme, which provides a proportionate means of assurance for unregulated professions and which sits between employer controls and statutory regulation by setting standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for unregulated health and social care occupations.
The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) holds a register of acupuncturists, which is accredited by the PSA. To gain accreditation from the PSA, organisations must meet its nine Standards for Accredited Registers. These standards require organisations: to have a focus on public protection; to have processes for handling complaints against practitioners; to set appropriate levels of education and training for entry to the register; to require registrants to undertake continuing professional development; and to understand and monitor the risks associated with the practices of registrants.
The BAcC is an independent, representative body and as such, does not fall under Government oversight. Therefore, any decisions about the practice requirements for the professions it represents are a matter for the organisation and its members.
The Government would encourage anyone accessing acupuncture services to establish whether their practitioner is registered with a voluntary register accredited by the PSA, such as that held by the BAcC.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what mechanisms his Department has put in place to hold the British Acupuncture Council to account for (a) injuries and (b) illnesses from acupuncture treatment.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Acupuncturists are not statutorily regulated in the United Kingdom. The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) operates a voluntary registers programme, which provides a proportionate means of assurance for unregulated professions and which sits between employer controls and statutory regulation by setting standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for unregulated health and social care occupations.
The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) holds a register of acupuncturists, which is accredited by the PSA. To gain accreditation from the PSA, organisations must meet its nine Standards for Accredited Registers. These standards require organisations: to have a focus on public protection; to have processes for handling complaints against practitioners; to set appropriate levels of education and training for entry to the register; to require registrants to undertake continuing professional development; and to understand and monitor the risks associated with the practices of registrants.
The BAcC is an independent, representative body and as such, does not fall under Government oversight. Therefore, any decisions about the practice requirements for the professions it represents are a matter for the organisation and its members.
The Government would encourage anyone accessing acupuncture services to establish whether their practitioner is registered with a voluntary register accredited by the PSA, such as that held by the BAcC.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Government's welfare reforms on (a) trends in the levels of child poverty and (b) the child poverty reduction strategy.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government's impact assessment regarding Health and Disability Reform is available at Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Impacts.
This Government have inherited unacceptably high levels of child poverty which is why delivering our manifesto commitment to tackle child poverty is a priority. The Child Poverty Taskforce are progressing urgent work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy and are exploring all available levers to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty
Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, with some information published here alongside the Spring Statement.
A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support British Muslim communities.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government recognises the importance of supporting faith and belief groups.
The Secretary of State and the Minister for Faith, Communities and Resettlement work closely together to demonstrate support for Muslim communities nationwide, connecting with women, young people, and community leaders through extensive outreach efforts. This has included engagement with numerous Muslim leaders in the aftermath of the Southport incident and subsequent riots and attending numerous Iftars during Ramadan to emphasise the important contributions that Muslim communities make to our society.
The Secretary of State is also committed to tackling all forms of hate crime. She has recently committed to the new working group on an anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia definition which will advise government on how to best understand, quantify and define prejudice, discrimination, and hate crime targeted against Muslims.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of individuals that will have their benefit funding reduced under the Government's proposed welfare reforms.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department published an Impact Analysis alongside the Spring Statement on 26 March 2025.
This document contains forecast estimates of the numbers of individuals who will be affected by the proposed welfare reforms.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure the delivery plan for myalgic encephalomyelitis will contain mechanisms for (a) scruitnising and (b) measuring progress.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are committed to improving care and support for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). We recognise how devastating the symptoms can be, and the significant impact they can have on patients and their families.
We intend to provide additional support to ME/CFS researchers to develop high quality funding applications and to access existing National Institute for Health and Care Research and Medical Research Council research funding. All research funding applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Our forthcoming ME/CFS delivery plan will outline the additional support we will offer to the research community to increase the volume and quality of applications and, therefore, increase the allocation of funding to this area.
While no specific assessment has been made of the impact of ME/CFS on the economy, we know that long-term conditions like ME/CFS not only impact negatively on patients and their loved ones, but also come at a cost to health and care services and the wider economy through, for example, loss of work and an increased benefits bill.
The content of the delivery plan has not yet been finalised. The responses to the 2023 interim delivery plan consultation, along with continued close engagement with stakeholders, will inform the development of the final delivery plan. We have listened to key ME/CFS stakeholders to allow for more time to develop the plan and help ensure we can be as ambitious as possible across the three themes, to make the most impact for those living with ME/CFS. As such, we aim to publish the plan by the end of June. As well as boosting research, the plan will focus on improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease.
People with ME/CFS deserve the most appropriate treatment, and deserve to be confident that the National Health Service can offer that treatment. We recognise that care for people with ME/CFS has varied widely, and in the worst cases has left some people feeling that their illness is not recognised by the health and care system. We know that more research, better services, and a better understanding of the condition all have the potential to make a huge difference in the quality of life of people with ME/CFS.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will increase funding for biomedical research as part of the cross-Government delivery plan for Myalgic encephalomyelitis.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are committed to improving care and support for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). We recognise how devastating the symptoms can be, and the significant impact they can have on patients and their families.
We intend to provide additional support to ME/CFS researchers to develop high quality funding applications and to access existing National Institute for Health and Care Research and Medical Research Council research funding. All research funding applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Our forthcoming ME/CFS delivery plan will outline the additional support we will offer to the research community to increase the volume and quality of applications and, therefore, increase the allocation of funding to this area.
While no specific assessment has been made of the impact of ME/CFS on the economy, we know that long-term conditions like ME/CFS not only impact negatively on patients and their loved ones, but also come at a cost to health and care services and the wider economy through, for example, loss of work and an increased benefits bill.
The content of the delivery plan has not yet been finalised. The responses to the 2023 interim delivery plan consultation, along with continued close engagement with stakeholders, will inform the development of the final delivery plan. We have listened to key ME/CFS stakeholders to allow for more time to develop the plan and help ensure we can be as ambitious as possible across the three themes, to make the most impact for those living with ME/CFS. As such, we aim to publish the plan by the end of June. As well as boosting research, the plan will focus on improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease.
People with ME/CFS deserve the most appropriate treatment, and deserve to be confident that the National Health Service can offer that treatment. We recognise that care for people with ME/CFS has varied widely, and in the worst cases has left some people feeling that their illness is not recognised by the health and care system. We know that more research, better services, and a better understanding of the condition all have the potential to make a huge difference in the quality of life of people with ME/CFS.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
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 impact of myalgic encephalomyelitis on the economy.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are committed to improving care and support for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). We recognise how devastating the symptoms can be, and the significant impact they can have on patients and their families.
We intend to provide additional support to ME/CFS researchers to develop high quality funding applications and to access existing National Institute for Health and Care Research and Medical Research Council research funding. All research funding applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Our forthcoming ME/CFS delivery plan will outline the additional support we will offer to the research community to increase the volume and quality of applications and, therefore, increase the allocation of funding to this area.
While no specific assessment has been made of the impact of ME/CFS on the economy, we know that long-term conditions like ME/CFS not only impact negatively on patients and their loved ones, but also come at a cost to health and care services and the wider economy through, for example, loss of work and an increased benefits bill.
The content of the delivery plan has not yet been finalised. The responses to the 2023 interim delivery plan consultation, along with continued close engagement with stakeholders, will inform the development of the final delivery plan. We have listened to key ME/CFS stakeholders to allow for more time to develop the plan and help ensure we can be as ambitious as possible across the three themes, to make the most impact for those living with ME/CFS. As such, we aim to publish the plan by the end of June. As well as boosting research, the plan will focus on improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease.
People with ME/CFS deserve the most appropriate treatment, and deserve to be confident that the National Health Service can offer that treatment. We recognise that care for people with ME/CFS has varied widely, and in the worst cases has left some people feeling that their illness is not recognised by the health and care system. We know that more research, better services, and a better understanding of the condition all have the potential to make a huge difference in the quality of life of people with ME/CFS.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of NHS Greater Manchester's financial deficit on (a) patient care and (b) service delivery.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England has a range of mechanisms and guidance in place to support local organisations to improve their financial management. As part of the Oversight Framework, which is currently being refreshed, NHS England closely monitors the financial performance of providers and systems, intervening and providing support where there is concern about a risk of overspending against agreed plans.
The Investigation and Intervention programme was established in 2024/25 to help National Health Service systems that were facing significant risk to their finances. Following a comprehensive review, a series of actions and interventions are implemented to rectify the risks within their plan. The Greater Manchester Integrated Care System entered the Investigation and Intervention programme in July 2024 and has received external support to develop and implement a financial recovery plan that does not adversely impact patient care or service delivery.
Organisations with the largest financial challenges will enter NHS England's Recovery Support Programme (RSP) and will receive assistance from the National Intensive Support Team to strengthen financial control. Support for organisations who have entered the RSP can include, but is not limited to, specialist support to reduce use of agency staffing, implementation of cost controls, and full implementation of the grip and control checklist. The Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust entered the RSP in November 2022 and is currently being supported by its intensive support team to review its spending and recovery plans.
These support mechanisms should ensure the continuity of services and patient safety, and ultimately where NHS trusts need help with cash flow, the Department will provide cash support in the form of Public Dividend Capital. To date, NHS trusts within the Greater Manchester Integrated Care System have received £22.4 million of cash support in 2024/25, with the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust receiving £15.6 million and the Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust receiving £6.8 million.