Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what evaluation has been undertaken of the use of artificial intelligence and enhanced NHS App tools in supporting patients with complex needs; how progress is being monitored towards the commitment that 95% of people with complex needs will have a personalised care plan by 2027; and what the current estimate is of progress towards meeting that target.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England is in the early stages of exploring how the use of artificial intelligence (AI) can improve patient access to services through the NHS App, including patients with complex needs. We are currently piloting AI triage in the NHS App in one area and plan to extend to three more areas by the end of the 2026/27 financial year to inform best approach.
Work is also underway to define an approach to enable patients with long term conditions to co-manage their care with clinical teams via the NHS App. Priority use cases will be agreed in the first half of the next financial year to take forward into delivery.
The Government is fully committed to the 10-Year Health Plan ambition that 95% of people with complex needs will have an agreed care plan by 2027, and the work required to deliver this commitment is in active development.
This includes how emerging technologies, including enhanced NHS App functionality, can support people with complex needs to be active participants in their own care. Through the Transforming People and Patient Facing Services programme, we are exploring how care plans can be made visible to patients via the NHS App. This work is currently in the discovery phase, examining priority use cases and the safest and most effective ways to present care plan information digitally.
We have also developed proxy access for the NHS App and are building and piloting the National Proxy Service to make it easier for people to manage healthcare on behalf of others, including those with complex needs.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to help ensure that individuals who commit assaults and may require mental health assessment are managed safely; and how the Department is working to prevent them returning to commit further assaults.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Where, due to someone’s mental disorder, an individual poses a risk to others, mental health services have a role to play in identifying and managing that risk, including treating the person’s disorder, maintaining safety whilst the treatment starts to work, for however long this may take, engaging in safeguarding, and multi-agency liaison as required.
Mental health services can only treat individuals who have a diagnosable mental disorder. Where an individual does not have a diagnosable mental health need, mental health services will discharge the individual to their general practice and if other needs are identified, the appropriate multi-agency referrals should be made.
The police have powers under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act to remove someone from, or keep them at, a “place of safety” for the purpose of enabling them to be examined by a registered medical practitioner and to be interviewed by an Approved Mental Health Professional and of making any necessary arrangements for the person’s treatment or care. Police can use this power if a person appears to a constable to be suffering from mental disorder and to be in immediate need of care or control, and if they think it is necessary in the interests of that person or for the protection of others. Arrangements for the person's treatment of care can include an application to detain for assessment or treatment under the Mental Health Act, or for ongoing community mental health support.
People in prison and on remand may be also detained under Part 3 of the Mental Health Act where they meet the relevant threshold for detention, which allows them to be diverted to hospital for treatment instead of prison.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the level of economic growth required to support long‑term defence spending commitments.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
This Government has announced a significant uplift in defence spending over the Spending Review period, paid for by a reduction to ODA. This uplift is underpinned by our non-negotiable fiscal rules; reducing borrowing whilst investing in defence to keep the UK and allies safe and thus providing the stability that underpins the plans to boost economic growth. Future years’ spending allocations will be considered at the next Spending Review in 2027, which will be underpinned by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility’s economic and fiscal forecasts.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that banks respond more rapidly to reported fraud by freezing suspected scam accounts immediately pending investigation.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government takes the issue of fraud very seriously and is dedicated to protecting the public from this appalling crime.
Financial institutions are required to maintain robust systems and controls to detect and prevent financial crime under the Money Laundering Regulations. Banks must report certain suspicious activity, including fraud, to the National Crime Agency under the Proceeds of Crime Act, and banks may already freeze or block accounts where suspicious activity is detected.
We introduced new rules allowing banks to delay and investigate suspicious payments for up to 72 hours. This supports interception of suspicious payments — complementing existing account‑freezing powers — by giving firms more time to prevent funds reaching fraudsters when complex cases are identified
As set out in the Fraud Strategy published on 9 March, we are now taking decisive additional action to reinforce the system‑wide response. The new Online Crime Centre will bring together law enforcement, intelligence agencies and private‑sector partners, including the financial services industry, to improve real‑time data sharing and analysis, helping firms spot suspected scam accounts sooner and act more quickly to freeze or restrict them where appropriate. Alongside this, we have launched a call for evidence on economic‑crime information sharing to remove barriers that currently prevent firms acting on intelligence earlier.
The Strategy also tasks the FCA with developing best‑practice guidance on preventing APP fraud and money‑mule activity, supporting firms to identify, investigate and close suspicious accounts more effectively, and improving protections for customers at risk.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 104873, what additional steps her Department is taking beyond existing licensing‑authority and police powers to prevent glassware attacks; whether she is considering any new enforceable national measures; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of current Home Office‑led actions in reducing such incidents.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
As set out in my earlier response, the police have a responsibility to protect the public by detecting and preventing crime, including violent crime within the nighttime economy. They already have a wide range of powers to do this effectively, including those provided under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 in relation to the possession and use of offensive weapons.
The Home Office keeps existing powers under review and would consider any new or emerging evidence as appropriate.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to Question UIN 102267, what progress has been made on the development of the withdrawal scheme for owners wishing to de‑register dogs incorrectly classified as XL Bullies; when her Department expects to publish information on the scheme; and what indicative timeframe has been set for making these details publicly available.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra is continuing to develop a withdrawal scheme so that owners who no longer believe that their dog is an XL Bully type can apply to have their certificate of exemption withdrawn.
Defra does not have a definitive timeline for when this process will be available. Officials are working diligently to develop the withdrawal scheme as soon as possible and further details will be shared once finalised.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department plans to assess whether national speed‑limit guidance remains adequate in light of changes to traffic volumes, vehicle technology and road‑safety developments; and when it intends to publish the updated guidance linked to the forthcoming Road Safety Strategy, including what information it will contain.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Work to update the Setting Local Speed Limits guidance is expected to commence shortly. No timetable has yet been set for the publication of the revised guidance.
This update will ensure the guidance remains aligned with current policy priorities and emerging evidence. The detailed scope and content of the updated guidance will be developed as that work progresses.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2026 to Question 106379, what measures her Department is using to evaluate public understanding of, and compliance with, the 2022 Highway Code changes.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
I refer the Hon. Member to the Answer given on 5th March to PQ UIN 116052.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has assessed the impact of not having access to statutory paid parental leave on kinship carers; and whether he is taking steps to consider options for improving employment support for kinship carers.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government’s Parental Leave and Pay Review will conclude in early 2027 with a set of findings which outline next steps for implementing any reforms.
In addition to considering all current and upcoming parental leave and pay entitlements, the Review is considering the needs of other working families who do not qualify for existing leave and pay entitlements, such as kinship carers.
The Government is also supporting kinship carers through other mechanisms and has recently launched a kinship pilot to support around 5,000 children by paying eligible carers an allowance equivalent to the Fostering National Minimum Allowance.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department will publish the guidance issued to local authorities in the 1990s on the inclusion of part‑time teachers in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme following maternity leave.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
I refer the hon. Member for North East Hampshire to the answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 103065.