Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the Curriculum Review to provide algorithm literacy and AI education to help children understand that AI systems can have inaccurate outputs; and what steps will be taken through the curriculum to ensure that young people are educated on the potential harms of AI including a) Deepfakes and CSAM content, b) AI generated online fraud and scams, c) Chatbot algorithmic biases.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department has accepted the Curriculum and Assessment Review’s recommendations for computing and are committed to going further through explicitly including AI within the curriculum, and exploring a potential Level 3 qualification in data science and AI. This will empower students to harness the opportunities of AI, whilst navigating its risks responsibly.
We will work with subject experts to ensure that AI and issues like bias in technology will be included within the refreshed computing curriculum in an age-appropriate way. The exact content will be determined following engagement with experts, and we will publicly consult on the draft proposals next year.
It is worth noting that algorithms and online harms are currently covered in the curriculum, through computing and relationships, sex and health education (RSHE). In July, the government published updated RSHE statutory guidance introducing new content on AI, online safety and pornography, which will be mandatory from 1 September 2026.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will bring vision rehabilitation services under the same regulatory and monitoring framework as other adult social care services; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of doing so.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have the duty to shape their care market and to commission a range of high-quality, sustainable, and person-centred care and support services to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes encouraging a wide range of service provision to ensure that people, including those with sight loss, have a choice of appropriate services and equipment that maximises independence.
Although the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is not currently required to assess vision rehabilitation services, as regulated activities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, sensory services, including vision rehabilitation, do form part of CQC’s overall assessment of local authorities’ delivery of adult social care.
CQC assessments identify local authorities’ strengths and areas for development, in their delivery of their duties under part 1 of the Care Act. This facilitates the sharing of good practice and helps us to target support where it is most needed. It may be helpful to know that the CQC will report on sensory services when there is something important to highlight, for example, something being done well, innovative practice, or an area for improvement.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children with drug-resistant epilepsy have been prescribed cannabis-based medicinal products through private prescriptions in each of the last three years; and what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of access to cannabis-based medicinal products for children with severe epilepsy unable to afford private prescriptions.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The NHS Business Services Authority does not hold the information in the form requested. National Health Service or private controlled drug prescription forms to do contain information on the condition being treated, or why a medicine has been prescribed.
No assessment has been made of trends in the level of access to cannabis-based medicinal products for children with severe epilepsy unable to afford private prescriptions.
The Department does not make provision for the funding of medicines outside of the NHS’ commissioning systems and it remains that the cost of treatments sought privately are the responsibility of patients.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of unspecified price increases in fixed-term telecoms contract on consumers; and whether her Department has had discussions with Ofcom about reviewing the regulation of such increases.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
It is imperative that people feel empowered when interacting with the telecoms market and that they can be confident they are getting a fair deal.
The Secretary of State wrote to Ofcom’s CEO on 31 October to seek Ofcom’s assessment of existing consumer protections and to explore what could be done further and faster on transparent and fair pricing. The Secretary of State has also met with consumer advocate Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert, to discuss issues raised in the letter and ideas to further strengthen protections for ordinary people.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions her department has had with a) telecoms companies b) consumer groups on unspecified discretionary price rises in consumer telecoms contracts.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
It is imperative that people feel empowered when interacting with the telecoms market and that they can be confident they are getting a fair deal.
The Secretary of State wrote to Ofcom’s CEO on 31 October to seek Ofcom’s assessment of existing consumer protections and to explore what could be done further and faster on transparent and fair pricing. The Secretary of State has also met with consumer advocate Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert, to discuss issues raised in the letter and ideas to further strengthen protections for ordinary people.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the (a) adequacy of the time taken by HMRC to process inheritance tax queries and (b) potential impact of the time taken on the ability of executors to settle estates without incurring interest charges.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is consistently exceeding its service standards of processing over 80% of inheritance tax returns for estates within 15 working days. Once these returns have been processed, most customers will be able to pay any inheritance tax due on time and proceed to apply for probate.
The inheritance tax helpline is also meeting HMRC’s telephony service levels by handling over 85% of customer calls to advisers.
HMRC has recently increased numbers deployed to wider inheritance tax work to ensure we meet or exceed those service standards.
Inheritance tax on estates must be paid six months from the end of the month in which the death occurred, although customers can make payments on account if the final Inheritance Tax liability is not yet agreed, to reduce or avoid interest.
Late payment interest is charged whenever tax is paid late.
If an error or delay by HMRC has contributed to the late payment, customers may appeal the late payment interest.
The government announced at Autumn Budget 2024 that it is investing in digitalising the inheritance tax service from 2027-28 to provide a modern, easy-to-use system, making returns and paying tax simpler and quicker.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress his Department has made on working with expert stakeholders to review the impact of four-weekly employer pay cycles on Universal Credit payments.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are committed to reviewing Universal Credit, to make sure it is doing the job we want it to, to make work pay and tackle poverty. As part of the review we have considered the impact that fluctuating incomes including those paid on a four-weekly cycle has on households including engaging with expert stakeholders and those with direct experience. The Department is considering this insight and will provide updates on the review in due course.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
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 support clinical trials for multi-compound cannabis-based medicinal products for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy in children.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR is funding two trials to investigate the safety and efficacy of cannabinoid treatments for drug-resistant epilepsy in both adults and children. Further detail on the trials can be found on the NIHR’s website, at the following link:
https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR131309
The Department is committed to ensuring that all patients, including those with epilepsy, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments. We are working to fast-track clinical trials to drive global investment into life sciences, improve health outcomes, and accelerate the development of the medicines and therapies of the future, including treatments for epilepsy.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that Integrated Care Boards prioritise ADHD and autism assessments for children and young people approaching (a) key educational stages, (b) GCSEs and (c) post-16 transition points.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise that transitions between life stages can be particularly challenging for those who find change difficult, including many autistic people and people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The Medium-Term Planning Framework, published 24 October, was explicit that integrated care boards (ICBs) and providers are expected to optimise existing resources to reduce long waits for autism and ADHD assessments and improve the quality of assessments by implementing existing and new guidance, as published.
On 5 April 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance to help ICBs and the National Health Service to deliver improved outcomes for people referred to an autism assessment service. The guidance also sets out what support should be available before an assessment and following a recent diagnosis of autism. They make clear that autism assessment provision is needed throughout the lifespan and that ICBs should ensure that people of all ages can access an autism assessment locally.
NHS England established an ADHD taskforce which brought together those with lived experience with experts from the NHS, education, charity, and justice sectors to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including in accessing timely and equitable access to services and support. We are pleased that the final report was published on 6 November, and we are carefully considering its recommendations.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
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 help tackle regional inequalities in access to gluten free prescriptions for patients with coeliac disease.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Decisions about the commissioning and funding of local health services are the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). It is the responsibility of ICBs, working with clinicians, service users, and patient groups, to develop local services and care pathways that meet patients’ needs.
NHS England guidance on Prescribing Gluten-Free foods in Primary Care states that commissioners should restrict the prescribing of gluten-free (GF) foods to bread and mixes only. Under the current legislation, ICBs may choose to further restrict product choice, or end prescribing of GF foods altogether, if they feel that this is appropriate for their population, whilst taking account of their legal duties to advance equality and having regard to reducing health inequalities.
The national prescribing position in England remains that GF bread and mixes can be provided to coeliac patients on an NHS prescription, and a wide range of these items continue to be listed in Part XV of the Drug Tariff. This means that prescribers can issue NHS prescriptions, based on a shared decision between prescriber and patient, while also being mindful of local and national guidance.
Health is largely a devolved matter and local health arrangements for GF prescribing in Scotland and Wales are a matter for the devolved administrations.