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, whether the funding announced for Stepping Hill Hospital covers the cost of the repairs identified as necessary.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recently announced over Ā£1.5 billion of capital investment to address the most pressing risks across the National Health Service estate, including more than Ā£200 million for major hospital projects. This investment is an important step in addressing infrastructure challenges at the site and forms part of the Government's wider programme to improve the safety and resilience of NHS buildings.
As part of this investment, Stepping Hill Hospital has been allocated Ā£26 million to deliver a new pathology building, helping to protect the testing services doctors rely on to diagnose patients and provide urgent care.
In addition, the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has been allocated Ā£17 million from the estates safety fund to deliver additional schemes at Stepping Hill Hospital. These schemes will address maintenance issues including improving fire safety and ventilation infrastructure.
The Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is responsible for delivering these schemes, including determining delivery timelines and overseeing scheme completion.
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 repair or safety issues at Stepping Hill Hospital the funding will address.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recently announced over Ā£1.5 billion of capital investment to address the most pressing risks across the National Health Service estate, including more than Ā£200 million for major hospital projects. This investment is an important step in addressing infrastructure challenges at the site and forms part of the Government's wider programme to improve the safety and resilience of NHS buildings.
As part of this investment, Stepping Hill Hospital has been allocated Ā£26 million to deliver a new pathology building, helping to protect the testing services doctors rely on to diagnose patients and provide urgent care.
In addition, the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has been allocated Ā£17 million from the estates safety fund to deliver additional schemes at Stepping Hill Hospital. These schemes will address maintenance issues including improving fire safety and ventilation infrastructure.
The Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is responsible for delivering these schemes, including determining delivery timelines and overseeing scheme completion.
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 the timetable is for repair works at Stepping Hill Hospital funded through the Summer Health & Resilience statement made on 9th September, and by what date those works are expected to be completed.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recently announced over Ā£1.5 billion of capital investment to address the most pressing risks across the National Health Service estate, including more than Ā£200 million for major hospital projects. This investment is an important step in addressing infrastructure challenges at the site and forms part of the Government's wider programme to improve the safety and resilience of NHS buildings.
As part of this investment, Stepping Hill Hospital has been allocated Ā£26 million to deliver a new pathology building, helping to protect the testing services doctors rely on to diagnose patients and provide urgent care.
In addition, the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has been allocated Ā£17 million from the estates safety fund to deliver additional schemes at Stepping Hill Hospital. These schemes will address maintenance issues including improving fire safety and ventilation infrastructure.
The Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is responsible for delivering these schemes, including determining delivery timelines and overseeing scheme completion.
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 specific funding Stepping Hill Hospital will receive from the Ā£200 million announced for major estates schemes.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recently announced over Ā£1.5 billion of capital investment to address the most pressing risks across the National Health Service estate, including more than Ā£200 million for major hospital projects. This investment is an important step in addressing infrastructure challenges at the site and forms part of the Government's wider programme to improve the safety and resilience of NHS buildings.
As part of this investment, Stepping Hill Hospital has been allocated Ā£26 million to deliver a new pathology building, helping to protect the testing services doctors rely on to diagnose patients and provide urgent care.
In addition, the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has been allocated Ā£17 million from the estates safety fund to deliver additional schemes at Stepping Hill Hospital. These schemes will address maintenance issues including improving fire safety and ventilation infrastructure.
The Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is responsible for delivering these schemes, including determining delivery timelines and overseeing scheme completion.
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 estimate she has made of the officer time and staffing costs spent by councils in the 14 areas now subject to review, in developing reorganisation proposals since March 2026.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As set out by the Secretary of State in her oral statement of 7 September, the Government has withdrawn the March 2026 decisions for Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, and paused decisions for the other 14 areas while a full review of the local government reorganisation programme is conducted. We recognise the need for clarity and will set out next steps as soon as possible. We also recognise that areas will have committed resources to reorganisation and ministers will consider this matter alongside the review.
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 estimate she has made of the total cost incurred to date by local authorities in Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk in preparing for local government reorganisation decisions that have been withdrawn.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As set out by the Secretary of State in her oral statement of 7 September, the Government has withdrawn the March 2026 decisions for Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, and paused decisions for the other 14 areas while a full review of the local government reorganisation programme is conducted. We recognise the need for clarity and will set out next steps as soon as possible. We also recognise that areas will have committed resources to reorganisation and ministers will consider this matter alongside the review.
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 estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of conducting the rapid review of the Local Government Reorganisation programme, including staff time.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As set out by the Secretary of State in her oral statement of 7 September, the Government has withdrawn the March 2026 decisions for Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, and paused decisions for the other 14 areas while a full review of the local government reorganisation programme is conducted. We recognise the need for clarity and will set out next steps as soon as possible. We also recognise that areas will have committed resources to reorganisation and ministers will consider this matter alongside the review.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Department has reviewed international evidence on shared parenting arrangements following parental separation and the potential implications for family justice policy in England and Wales.
Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government has not undertaken a specific review of international evidence on shared parenting arrangements.
Decisions aboutāÆwhom a child is to live with or spend timeāÆwith are based on the childās best interests and the individual circumstances of each case. The court must haveāÆparticular regard to the factors set in the āwelfare checklistā in the Children Act 1989, such as the ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child concerned, the impact on the child of any change in circumstances, and how capable each parent is of meeting the childās needs. Where the facts of the specific case suggest a shared parenting arrangement is in the best interests of the child, this will likely be supported by the court.
The safest way to determine parenting arrangements that meet a child's needs is to ensure that decisions are based on the individual circumstances of the case. This enables the court to consider all relevant factors specific to that child to ensure a safe decision is made in their best interests. A prescriptive approach to shared parenting arrangements cannot safely reflect the unique circumstances and welfare considerations of every child. The Government continues to consider relevant evidence, including research, stakeholder engagement and findings from relevant reviews to ensure that the family justice system delivers for children and families.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Department has undertaken an assessment of the potential relationship between family separation, family court proceedings and mental health outcomes.
Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of the potential relationship between family separation, family court proceedings and mental health outcomes. We are aware of the impact that involvement in family court proceedings can have on the mental health of children, parents and other parties.
The Government is committed to rolling out Child Focused Courts nationally by March 2029. This represents significant reform to private law childrenās proceedings and will improve the experience and participation of children and families in the family courts.
In the Child Focussed Courts model, families benefit from a streamlined, problem-solving approach which brings forward a holistic assessment of needs and risks and enables the court to make safe decisions without delay. This approach increases the evidence available to judges earlier in the case, and reduces the number of cases returning to court, protecting children and families from further trauma.
HMCTS training materials highlight resources staff can signpost where they are concerned about a partyās mental health. Cafcass' Child Impact Assessment Framework brings together guidance, practice aids and resources for practitioners relating to mental health, trauma-informed practice and working with adults, children and young people with additional needs.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Department is taking to support children in maintaining meaningful relationships with both parents following separation, where this is safe and in the child's best interests.
Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government recognises theāÆimportant roleāÆthat both parents play in a childās life where that involvement is safe,āÆmeaningfulāÆand positive.
The Government is committed to supporting separating families through measures that encourage parents to resolve disputes and decide child arrangements away from court in the way that best suits them, where appropriate. The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme provides up to Ā£500 to eligible families to cover the costs of mediation to resolve child arrangement matters outside of court.
Where court proceedings are necessary, theāÆchildās welfare must be the courtās paramount consideration when making decisions about parental involvement in a childās life. WhereāÆparental involvement is safe and in the best interests of the child,āÆmaintainingāÆthe childās relationship with both parents will likely be supported by the family courts.
Where contact needs to be supervised Supported Child Contact Centres provide safe, neutral settings for contact. Since 2013 the Ministry of Justice has provided grant funding to support National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC) accredited centres, through the Supported Child Contact Centre Grant.