Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support Commonwealth war graves in the North East.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
During the Financial Year 2024-25, the Ministry of Defence paid the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) £56.31 Million Grant-in-Aid funding so that it may continue to honour, in perpetuity, the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died during the First and Second World Wars by caring for 23,000 war memorials and war cemeteries around the world. Within CWGC’s North East region, more than 22,500 personnel are commemorated at almost 1,360 locations, including war memorials and cemeteries in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Durham, Yorkshire and Humberside.
Asked by: Sonia Kumar (Labour - Dudley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of mediation services on resolving disputes for residents in Dudley; and what steps he is taking to ensure equality of access to those services.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Government encourages the use of dispute resolution such as mediation, to allow parties to resolve their disputes earlier and more consensually, which saves them time, money and stress, and reduces the waiting time for a judicial hearing for cases that do not settle.
Since 2024, all parties to money claims under £10,000 in the county courts in England and Wales are required to attend a free, one-hour mediation appointment with HMCTS’ Small Claims Mediation Service as an integrated step in the litigation journey. Parties can request any necessary adjustments, including translation or interpretation services, to ensure full participation in mediation appointments, and HMCTS assesses these needs individually to maintain accessibility.
The Government is also committed to supporting more families reach agreement outside of court through mediation, where it is safe and appropriate to do so. The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, introduced in April 2021, is available to families across England and Wales including those living in Dudley. The scheme offers up to £500 towards mediation costs and has already supported over 49,000 families. The Government has committed to continue funding the scheme until at least March 2026. Analysis of the first 7,200 cases completed under the scheme shows that 69% of participants reached a whole or partial agreement and did not need to go to court to resolve their issues.
In addition, civil legal aid is available, subject to a means assessment, for the mediation of family disputes (for example over contact or financial arrangements) that the mediator has assessed as suitable for mediation.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the annual cost to the NHS of staff being required to undertake duplicate First Aid training when working across multiple NHS trusts.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Due to the number of professional clinicians working across the National Health Service, first aid training is not a requirement for NHS staff and is only relevant in settings where clinicians do not work.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a (a) national standard and (b) mutual recognition framework for First Aid training across NHS trusts.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Due to the number of professional clinicians working across the National Health Service, first aid training is not a requirement for NHS staff and is only relevant in settings where clinicians do not work.
The mutual recognition agreement, signed by 262 NHS organisations across England, covers all Core Skills Training Framework Subjects, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Additionally, the Statutory and Mandatory e-learning programme includes four resuscitation sessions which are freely available to all health and social care staff.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
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 increase defibrillator training in schools in North Shropshire constituency.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department for Education has published guidance on automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for schools, including on maintenance and registration with The Circuit. This guidance is available at the following link:
NHS England provides training sessions on first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of AEDs both in the community and in schools, under the under Restart a Heart initiative. NHS England has trained over 35,800 adults and children in CPR and defibrillation.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether first responders are (a) trained and (b) equipped to administer EpiPens in emergency situations; and what guidance is in place on their use.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Since October 2017, the Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2017 has allowed all schools to buy adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) without a prescription, for emergency use on children who are at risk of anaphylaxis but whose own device is not available or not working. The Department has published non-statutory guidance to accompany this legislative change, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/using-emergency-adrenaline-auto-injectors-in-schools
This guidance advises schools on the recognition and management of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis, and outlines when and how an AAI should be administered for pupils. The guidance makes clear that any AAIs held by a school should be considered as a spare device and not a replacement for a pupil’s own AAI. It also states that children at risk of anaphylaxis should have their own prescribed AAIs at school for use in an emergency, and that they should carry two devices at all times.
There are many implications that would need to be given careful consideration if AAIs were to be located in public places such as shopping centres, sports venues, or transport hubs. For example, we would need to consider the impacts on the supplies of AAIs for patients who are currently prescribed them.
In June 2023, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with the support of allergy awareness advocates, launched a safety campaign to raise awareness of anaphylaxis and to provide advice on the use of AAIs. The MHRA produced a toolkit of resources for health and social care professionals to support the safe and effective use of AAIs.
Ambulance staff are trained in how to treat a range of conditions, including anaphylaxis. Treatment options may include a dose of adrenalin via a syringe or use of AAIs. The Community First Responder (CFR) programme enables volunteers trained by the ambulance service to attend certain types of emergency calls in the area where they live or work. CFRs have had first aid training but are not medically trained. CFRs are trained in the administration of a patient’s own AAI, which would ensure the correct medication and dose for that patient. In general, CFRs do not carry medication.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
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 adequacy of the availability of EpiPens in (a) schools, (b) shopping centres, (c) sports venues, (d) transport hubs and (e) other public places.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Since October 2017, the Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2017 has allowed all schools to buy adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) without a prescription, for emergency use on children who are at risk of anaphylaxis but whose own device is not available or not working. The Department has published non-statutory guidance to accompany this legislative change, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/using-emergency-adrenaline-auto-injectors-in-schools
This guidance advises schools on the recognition and management of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis, and outlines when and how an AAI should be administered for pupils. The guidance makes clear that any AAIs held by a school should be considered as a spare device and not a replacement for a pupil’s own AAI. It also states that children at risk of anaphylaxis should have their own prescribed AAIs at school for use in an emergency, and that they should carry two devices at all times.
There are many implications that would need to be given careful consideration if AAIs were to be located in public places such as shopping centres, sports venues, or transport hubs. For example, we would need to consider the impacts on the supplies of AAIs for patients who are currently prescribed them.
In June 2023, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with the support of allergy awareness advocates, launched a safety campaign to raise awareness of anaphylaxis and to provide advice on the use of AAIs. The MHRA produced a toolkit of resources for health and social care professionals to support the safe and effective use of AAIs.
Ambulance staff are trained in how to treat a range of conditions, including anaphylaxis. Treatment options may include a dose of adrenalin via a syringe or use of AAIs. The Community First Responder (CFR) programme enables volunteers trained by the ambulance service to attend certain types of emergency calls in the area where they live or work. CFRs have had first aid training but are not medically trained. CFRs are trained in the administration of a patient’s own AAI, which would ensure the correct medication and dose for that patient. In general, CFRs do not carry medication.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
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 raise public awareness on (a) the signs of anaphylaxis and (b) the appropriate use of EpiPens.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Since October 2017, the Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2017 has allowed all schools to buy adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) without a prescription, for emergency use on children who are at risk of anaphylaxis but whose own device is not available or not working. The Department has published non-statutory guidance to accompany this legislative change, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/using-emergency-adrenaline-auto-injectors-in-schools
This guidance advises schools on the recognition and management of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis, and outlines when and how an AAI should be administered for pupils. The guidance makes clear that any AAIs held by a school should be considered as a spare device and not a replacement for a pupil’s own AAI. It also states that children at risk of anaphylaxis should have their own prescribed AAIs at school for use in an emergency, and that they should carry two devices at all times.
There are many implications that would need to be given careful consideration if AAIs were to be located in public places such as shopping centres, sports venues, or transport hubs. For example, we would need to consider the impacts on the supplies of AAIs for patients who are currently prescribed them.
In June 2023, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with the support of allergy awareness advocates, launched a safety campaign to raise awareness of anaphylaxis and to provide advice on the use of AAIs. The MHRA produced a toolkit of resources for health and social care professionals to support the safe and effective use of AAIs.
Ambulance staff are trained in how to treat a range of conditions, including anaphylaxis. Treatment options may include a dose of adrenalin via a syringe or use of AAIs. The Community First Responder (CFR) programme enables volunteers trained by the ambulance service to attend certain types of emergency calls in the area where they live or work. CFRs have had first aid training but are not medically trained. CFRs are trained in the administration of a patient’s own AAI, which would ensure the correct medication and dose for that patient. In general, CFRs do not carry medication.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of levels of access to legal aid in the Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency; and what steps his Department is taking to improve access.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This Government recognises the important role that legal aid plays in helping some of the most vulnerable in society access legal advice.
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) monitors the numbers of providers in each procurement area and across all categories of law. It takes operational action where it can, to respond to market pressures that may arise and works closely with the Ministry of Justice on policy solutions concerning the supply of legal aid.
The LAA is satisfied that there is adequate access to legal aid services in Ely and East Cambridgeshire across all categories of legal aid.
We have confirmed that we are increasing fees for all housing & debt, and immigration & asylum legal aid work. This is a significant investment of £20 million a year – the first increase since 1996. In addition, we are looking at other potential changes that could support providers, for example, (civil) contractual requirements regarding provider offices and limits to the provision of remote legal aid that providers say are burdensome. Any changes would aim to give providers more autonomy in meeting client need, while maintaining effective in-person provision for clients who need this.
Further, in December 2024, we announced that criminal legal aid solicitors will receive up to £92 million more a year, subject to consultation, to help support the sustainability of the criminal legal aid sector. The consultation launched in May 2025, and we will publish the response later this year.
This is in addition to our response to the Crime Lower consultation, confirming an uplift to the lowest police station fees, introducing a new Youth Court fee scheme, and paying for travel in certain circumstances. Together, these changes provided a £24 million investment for criminal legal aid providers.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with international counterparts on post-ceasefire governance in Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Prime Minister attended the Peace Summit in Egypt on 13 October where he pledged a £20m aid package to deliver essential water, sanitation and hygiene services to 10,000s of Palestinians across Gaza. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 18 October following the announcement of a ceasefire deal. The Foreign Secretary welcomed the release of hostages and urged the need for immediate humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. I co-hosted with the Egyptian government and Palestinian Authority on 13-15 October which was the first conference to look at how we can leverage sustainable private finance to support Gaza’s reconstruction.