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 expand places for neurology at medical school.

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

The Government keeps the total number of medical school places under close review to ensure it meets England’s workforce requirements.

Neurology is a medical specialty, with doctors undertaking speciality training in neurology following medical school, foundation and core training.

In the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government committed to creating 1,000 new specialty training posts over the next three years with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need. Further information on which specialties will receive these places, and when, will be announced in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate she has made of the number of incidents reported to Report Fraud that are not then referred on to a UK police force to consider an investigation; and what percentage this equals of the total number of incidents reported to Report Fraud.

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

Report Fraud is the new and improved national police reporting service for fraud and cybercrime which launched on 4 December 2025. Report Fraud uses the latest technology to enhance the reporting experience, providing report updates for victims, and improves the speed and quality of information shared with police, increasing the chances of successful investigation by police forces and prosecution.

The Home Office regularly reviews the performance of Report Fraud with the City of London Police and will continue to engage with them to ensure the service is delivering improved outcomes for victims and strengthening the national response to fraud. The service offers better management information to track and monitor service performance and a new performance dashboard which supports the Home Office in monitoring outcomes and identifying emerging fraud threats.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will have discussions with Diabetes UK on (a) the ongoing consultation on SEND reform and (b) reforms to the SEND support system more broadly.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

During the 12‑week special educational needs and disabilities consultation period, the department delivered an engagement programme that ensured we listened to children and young people, families, educators and the sector.

A national public engagement programme, delivered in partnership with the Council for Disabled Children, ensured that families, practitioners and young people can engage meaningfully with the proposals. This included:

• Nine regional events.
• 24 children and young people–led sessions.
• Six information webinars for health, education, local authority leaders, social care and parent carers.

Additional departmental forums, including regional improvement for standards and excellence conferences, provided further channels to raise awareness and gather sector feedback. We delivered a national, multi‑channel engagement programme with more than 100 engagement events across a broad spectrum of sectors.

We want engagement to continue. Ministers are holding ongoing stakeholder meetings and I would be happy to meet Diabetes UK should they write to my office.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of offering free GCSE exams to children studying under Elective Home Education across England.

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

The government provides funding to state schools and colleges, which covers examination entries for students who are on roll. When a parent chooses to educate their child outside of the school system, for any reason, they take full responsibility of their child’s education, including all associated costs, such as examination fees. For this reason, the department has not made an assessment of the potential merits of providing free GCSE examinations for home-educated pupils.

The Children Not in School measures of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, when implemented, will introduce a new requirement for local authorities to provide information on accessing GCSE examinations to home-educating families in their areas who are registered with them and who request it, unless it would be unreasonable for them to do so. We will provide additional funding to support local authorities to fulfil their new duties.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact for his policies of (a) expanding permitted development rights or (b) amending guidance to simplify planning applications for antenna installation for amateur radio broadcasters.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 124803 on 10 April 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the review criteria by which Report Fraud make a decision on whether to refer the report of fraud to a police force to consider an investigation.

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

Report Fraud is the new national reporting service for fraud and for cyber crime operated by City of London Police. Reports submitted to Report Fraud are considered by the service’s National Crime Analysis Service and evaluated to assess the information available which could assist an investigation.

Where there is enough evidence available and a viable lead, the case is sent to the appropriate police force or other law enforcement partners to consider whether enforcement activity should take place.

Whilst the HO will provide oversight of the service and its performance to ensure an appropriate standard of service for the public, City of London Police are operationally independent and the Home Office does not have any authority over decisions on whether to refer a report of fraud to police force to consider an investigation.

Report Fraud are unable to disclose the thresholds they use as this would give criminals information which would allow them to be confident of evading justice.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the equity of access to cancer treatment options for patients with the same cancer diagnosis, who are differentially classified as (a) first-line, (b) second-line and (c) third-line treatment patients.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government remains committed to improving access to innovative cancer treatments through the National Cancer Plan for England and to reducing inequalities in cancer outcomes and patient experience. Treatment decisions for individual patients are made by clinicians and multidisciplinary teams, who apply National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance alongside their clinical judgement to determine the most appropriate care.

NICE is the independent body responsible for making independent recommendations on whether medicines and treatments should be routinely funded by the National Health Service in England, based on an assessment of their clinical and cost effectiveness.

NICE recommendations take account of both the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of treatments and interventions. Recommendations are informed by the available evidence for specific patient groups and treatment settings, including where evidence relates to different lines of therapy. NICE’s existing approach already takes account of clinical effectiveness, patient need, and the appropriateness of treatments at different stages of the pathway, informed by clinical evidence and expert input.

The National Health Service is legally required to fund treatments recommended by NICE, helping ensure equitable access for eligible patients across England. In addition, the Cancer Drugs Fund supports earlier access to promising cancer medicines while further evidence is collected. Differences in access between first-line, second line, and later-line treatments reflect the available clinical evidence, licensing, and cost effectiveness of treatments in specific settings, rather than inequity. NICE’s methodology is designed to ensure that patients with similar clinical characteristics are treated consistently and that access decisions are applied uniformly across the NHS.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential benefits of making clinically beneficial cancer treatments available to patients according to (a) patient need and (b) clinical effectiveness and (c) clinicians' assessments, rather than treatment-line status alone.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government remains committed to improving access to innovative cancer treatments through the National Cancer Plan for England and to reducing inequalities in cancer outcomes and patient experience. Treatment decisions for individual patients are made by clinicians and multidisciplinary teams, who apply National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance alongside their clinical judgement to determine the most appropriate care.

NICE is the independent body responsible for making independent recommendations on whether medicines and treatments should be routinely funded by the National Health Service in England, based on an assessment of their clinical and cost effectiveness.

NICE recommendations take account of both the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of treatments and interventions. Recommendations are informed by the available evidence for specific patient groups and treatment settings, including where evidence relates to different lines of therapy. NICE’s existing approach already takes account of clinical effectiveness, patient need, and the appropriateness of treatments at different stages of the pathway, informed by clinical evidence and expert input.

The National Health Service is legally required to fund treatments recommended by NICE, helping ensure equitable access for eligible patients across England. In addition, the Cancer Drugs Fund supports earlier access to promising cancer medicines while further evidence is collected. Differences in access between first-line, second line, and later-line treatments reflect the available clinical evidence, licensing, and cost effectiveness of treatments in specific settings, rather than inequity. NICE’s methodology is designed to ensure that patients with similar clinical characteristics are treated consistently and that access decisions are applied uniformly across the NHS.

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 with Cabinet colleagues to improve the (a) diagnosis rate and (b) treatment of migraines.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government recognises the significant impact that migraines can have on individuals’ quality of life and is committed to improving care for people living with neurological conditions like migraine.

The Government is working across departments to address the broader determinants of health, such as workplace support and public health initiatives, which can contribute to improved outcomes for people living with migraine.

NHS England is responsible for ensuring that the health system has the capacity and capability to diagnose and treat migraine. Clinicians are supported by guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which sets out evidence‑based recommendations on the diagnosis and management of migraine, including the use of both acute and preventive treatments.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning services to meet the needs of their populations, including access to appropriate primary, community, and specialist neurology services. Decisions about diagnosis and treatment are made by clinicians, based on individual clinical need and the available evidence.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve employers' awareness of migraine symptoms amongst employees.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Employers are crucial in enhancing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions, such as migraines, to thrive in the workforce. All employers have a duty under the Equality Act 2010 to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ in the workplace where a disabled person would otherwise be put at a substantial disadvantage compared with their colleagues. The Equality and Human Rights Commission is responsible for enforcing the Equality Act and providing guidance on reasonable adjustments.

There are a range of existing initiatives that already provide support. The Disability Confident Scheme encourages employers to create disability inclusive workplaces and to support disabled people to get work and get on in work. The scheme provides resources such as the Disability Confident Manager’s Guide, which includes guidance on flexible working and workplace adjustments.

The Government also offers tailored guidance to employers on supporting disabled people and people with health conditions in the workplace, through its Support with Employee Health and Disability service. This includes guidance on disclosures and having conversations about health and disabilities, plus guidance on legal obligations and making reasonable adjustments and we continue to explore ways to increase access to occupational health services. The WorkWell pilot provides low intensity integrated work and health support for people with health-related barriers to work and is live in 15 areas across England. Participants get a holistic assessment, and a tailored support plan that can include employer liaison and advice on workplace adjustments.

In November 2025, Sir Charlie Mayfield published the Keep Britain Working Review, setting out recommendations to help employers create healthier, more inclusive workplaces and to reshape how Government works with employers to improve work and health outcomes. We are now working with volunteer employers, providers and regions through a Vanguard Phase to test and refine approaches that support disabled people and people with long‑term physical and mental health conditions to thrive in work. This includes developing effective stay‑in‑work and return‑to‑work practices, strengthening prevention, and building the evidence needed to spread good practice so that disabled workers and workers with long-term health conditions receive the support they need to remain in employment successfully.

The 10 Year Health Plan, builds on existing work to better integrate health with employment support and states our intention to break down barriers to opportunity by delivering the holistic support that people need to access and thrive in employment by ensuring a better health service for everyone. It outlines how the neighbourhood health service will join up support from across the work, health and skills systems to help address the multiple complex challenges that often stop people finding and staying in work.

Israel death penalty

England men's football team

110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme

Palantir and the NHS

UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures agreement

UK-EU Youth Mobility Scheme

Carers Week 2026

VAT for UK hospitality

Support for the Red Arrows

Civil Service pensions

Enhertu for metastatic breast cancer patients

AI content labelling

NHS maternity services

Draft Code of Practice on Services, public functions and associations

Seven-year anniversary of the mixed-aged couples’ rule

Safety of British nationals following the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla

National Emergency Briefing

Two-state solution in Israel and Palestine

Protection and restoration of ancient woodland

UK arms sales to Israel

Found: mandatory body armour for prison officers Jim Shannon: Freedom of Religion or Belief in Sudan Vikki Slade

Found: Vikki Slade: Hello. I am Vikki Slade, the MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole.

Found: Vikki Slade: Hello. I am Vikki Slade, the MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole.