Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
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 potential merits of introducing the gluten-free subsidy card scheme operating in Wales across England.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No assessment has been made of the potential merits of introducing the gluten-free (GF) subsidy card scheme used in Wales across England.
In the UK, health is a largely devolved matter and local health arrangements such as the Welsh GF subsidy card are a matter for the devolved administrations. The devolved nations make their own decisions on GF prescription and other charges and may choose to spend proportionately more of their budget on the provision of gluten free food against other competing priorities.
The national prescribing position in England is that gluten-free bread and mixes can be provided to coeliac patients on National Health Service prescription and a wide range of these items are listed in Part XV of the Drug Tariff. However, local Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) can restrict or end the prescribing of GF food locally. ICBs are autonomous bodies and as such they retain the right to make prescribing policies that meet the needs of their local population within their allocated resource.
Targeted financial support schemes have been shown to introduce additional complexity for patients and the NHS. Similar schemes piloted at a local level for gluten free food were discontinued due to lack of patient engagement and the administrative burden involved.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the decision to make inheritance tax applicable to private businesses on (a) SME owners, (b) employees and (c) tax revenues.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. The Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992 when the rate of relief was a maximum of 50 per cent on all agricultural and business assets, including the first £2.5 million. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.
The reforms announced by the Government are expected to result in up to 185 estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. This means around 85 per cent of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax.
Excluding estates only holding shares designated as ‘not listed’ on the markets of recognised stock exchanges, the reforms are also expected to result in up to 220 estates across the UK only claiming business property relief paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. This means just over 80 per cent of such estates making claims are forecast to not pay any more inheritance tax.
A tax information and impact note has been published, which sets out the reforms are not expected to have a significant macroeconomic impact. This is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-changes.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to uprate the mileage rate that can be claimed for tax purposes.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. These rates are also used by self-employed drivers to claim tax relief on business mileage (simplified motoring expenses) and can be used by organisations to reimburse volunteers who use their own vehicle for voluntary purposes. Employees can claim up to 45p/mile for the first 10,000 miles annually, followed by 25p/mile thereafter. An additional 5p/mile can be claimed for each passenger transported.
As with all taxes, the Government welcomes representations from the public on how the tax system can be improved. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of public finances.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will consider establishing a grace period following the full enforcement of Electronic Travel Authorisation checks for children living abroad who hold dual citizenship having inherited British citizenship from a parent who do not have British passports and have pre-booked visits to the UK in the next three months.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We have been clear on the requirement for dual British citizens, including children and families, to travel with a valid British passport or Certificate of Entitlement. Dual British citizens should prove their permission to travel and enter the UK with a valid British passport or a passport containing a Certificate of Entitlement (CoE) to the right of abode. We have published an ETA guide for dual nationals on gov.uk, including at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/electronic-travel-authorisation-eta-guide-for-dual-citizens . There is also guidance on GOV.UK to help people determine whether they or their family members qualify for British citizenship at: https://www.gov.uk/check-british-citizenship.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to introduce testing for neurodiversity in educational settings for students aged 16 and above.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream settings is a key part of the government’s ambition to ensure that all children and young people receive the support they need to achieve and thrive, in the most appropriate setting.
The department has recently announced a new £200 million landmark teacher training programme which will support the workforce in identifying and supporting the individual needs of learners.
By 2028, we will have invested up to £15 million to build the evidence base for the National Inclusion Standards. This will include a digital library of high-quality identification tools and provision across the 0-25 system covering all layers of support and making clear what provision should be available in every setting.
The special educational needs and disabilities Code of Practice sets out expectations for supporting neurodiverse learners, and places strong emphasis on inclusive practice.
It remains the case that providers have responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments for all their disabled students.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
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 potential impact of the removal of ringfenced funding for maternity services on (a) numbers of NHS midwives, (b) maternal safety and (c) infant safety.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has instructed the National Health Service to improve maternity services, as part of a drive to improve quality, as a priority in the Medium‑Term Planning Framework.
While the ring-fenced funding for maternity services has been removed, the same level of funding is being delivered. This is to allow local healthcare system leaders more autonomy to meet the needs of their local population. The Government will continue to monitor integrated care board investment in maternity services.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to increase funding for police forces that is ring-fenced for (a) drivers' road safety education and (b) the enforcement of traffic laws.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
This Government takes road safety extremely seriously and is committed to ensuring police forces are supported and have the resources they need ensure road safety and reduce the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads, as well as tackling behaviours that make our roads less safe.
Total funding to police forces in 2026-27 will be up to £18.4 billion, an increase of up to £796 million compared to the 2025-26 police funding settlement.
The police are operationally independent, and it is a matter for Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Officers to determine how to best to use their available resources, including for road safety on enforcement of traffic laws, taking into account local known problems and priorities.
The Department for Transport continues to run the THINK! Campaign which offers a suite of road safety teaching resources for children (used by teaching intermediaries) and aims to educate young drivers (working alongside police and local authorities). THINK! also delivers paid campaigns aimed at high-risk groups (primarily men aged 17-24), and targets priority issues such as drink driving and speeding. The government will continue to encourage safer road user behaviours via THINK!.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
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 issue neighbourhood health guidelines for maternal services.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
While there are currently no plans to issues guidelines specifically for maternal services, we are developing guidance to provide greater clarity and consistency for systems in developing and scaling neighbourhood health.
We expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations, and involve National Health Service, local authority, and voluntary sector services.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2026 to Question 109011 on Kidney Diseases: Health Services, when he plans to bring forward a Modern Service Framework for kidney disease.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government will consider long-term conditions for future waves of modern service frameworks (MSFs). The criteria for determining other conditions for future MSFs will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity. After the initial wave of MSFs is complete, the National Quality Board will determine the conditions to prioritise for new MSFs as part of its work programme.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is planning to take to assess the potential impact of the removal of the wear and tear allowance within Making Tax Digital on the (a) sustainability of the childminding sector and (b) availability of childcare for local families.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Childminders make a significant contribution to children’s development, learning, and wellbeing. The Government has eased rules on working from schools and community centres and increased early years funding rates above 2023 average fees. These increases reflect increased costs, and from April 2026, local authorities must pass at least 97 per cent of funding to providers.
Only a small proportion of childminders with qualifying income over £50,000 will be mandated into Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax from April 2026. Childminders moving to MTD for income tax can continue to claim tax relief for household costs, wear and tear of household items and furniture, and food and drink, by deducting actual business costs. This ensures childminders receive tax relief for all of the costs that they incur in relation to their childminding business.
The Government will monitor the impact of MTD for income tax on childminders and other home-based childcare providers in the same way as it will for all sole traders moving to MTD for income tax.