Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of neurodiversity training and accountability across civil service departments.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
We do not have any specific neurodiversity training available to all Civil Service departments. Civil Service Expectations is an e-learning course for all civil servants which explains why inclusion, diversity and equality is important to the Civil Service and the citizens it serves. We do not actively monitor the training of other departments and departments have delegated authority to develop learning that aligns to their organisational requirements.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen neurodiversity awareness to ensure that every public servant can thrive equally in the workplace.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office is taking a range of steps to strengthen neurodiversity awareness and support available. We have established a dedicated Neurodiversity Network, which provides a platform for colleagues to share lived experiences and access resources that promote understanding of neurodiversity across the department and has a senior active Neurodiversity Champion.
A Disability Line Manager Toolkit has been launched this year providing clear guidance on recognising neurodiversity, outlines common neurodivergent conditions, and highlights key statistics to build awareness among managers. It also explains the support available within the department, including the Workplace Adjustments Passport.
Sessions on the importance of neurodiversity, hosted by our Cabinet Office Diversity Network Champion and Diversity and Inclusion team are run, to help deepen insight and encourage inclusive working practices and we use Line Managers calls to raise awareness.
In addition, the Business Disability Forum, delivers regular Lunch and Learn events on neurodiversity. These sessions provide practical guidance, share best practice, and support managers and teams in fostering an inclusive culture.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat - Tewkesbury)
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 help improve recruitment and training of specialists in Ehlers-Danlos syndromes.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise that doctors can find it challenging to diagnose Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) because of the wide range and variability of symptoms, and that the most common type, hypermobile EDS, currently has no specific genetic test.
Resources such as the Royal College of General Practitioners’ EDS Toolkit, now maintained by Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, are helping general practitioners (GPs) to better recognise, respond to, and manage EDS and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) in primary care. For rarer genetically confirmed types of EDS, NHS England commissions a national diagnostic service for EDS.
A primary goal of the national diagnostic service is to educate referring doctors about the diagnosis, investigation, and management of patients with complex and atypical forms of EDS. While the service focuses on rare types and accepts referrals from secondary and tertiary care, its development of guidelines and educational initiatives also benefit GPs who are on the front line of patient care.
Through the 10-Year Health Plan, we are introducing neighbourhood health centres, and deploying multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic support to people with EDS. Patients will benefit from enhanced NHS App functionality, including My Medicines and My Health, and will be able to self-refer to specialist services where appropriate.
Additionally, the 10-Year Health Plan’s commitments on artificial intelligence will give clinicians advanced tools for faster diagnosis, predictive analytics, and personalised care planning. For people with long-term conditions like EDS, this means earlier interventions, better monitoring of complex needs, and more time for clinicians to focus on patient-centred care rather than administrative tasks. The plan also commits to 95% of people with complex needs to have a personalised care plan by 2027.
The Government will publish the 10 Year Workforce Plan in spring 2026. It will set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. By setting out how we will train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs, the 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure that services are more accessible, proactive, and tailored for all patients, including those with EDS.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat - Tewkesbury)
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 help improve treatment and specialist care of those with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise that doctors can find it challenging to diagnose Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) because of the wide range and variability of symptoms, and that the most common type, hypermobile EDS, currently has no specific genetic test.
Resources such as the Royal College of General Practitioners’ EDS Toolkit, now maintained by Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, are helping general practitioners (GPs) to better recognise, respond to, and manage EDS and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) in primary care. For rarer genetically confirmed types of EDS, NHS England commissions a national diagnostic service for EDS.
A primary goal of the national diagnostic service is to educate referring doctors about the diagnosis, investigation, and management of patients with complex and atypical forms of EDS. While the service focuses on rare types and accepts referrals from secondary and tertiary care, its development of guidelines and educational initiatives also benefit GPs who are on the front line of patient care.
Through the 10-Year Health Plan, we are introducing neighbourhood health centres, and deploying multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic support to people with EDS. Patients will benefit from enhanced NHS App functionality, including My Medicines and My Health, and will be able to self-refer to specialist services where appropriate.
Additionally, the 10-Year Health Plan’s commitments on artificial intelligence will give clinicians advanced tools for faster diagnosis, predictive analytics, and personalised care planning. For people with long-term conditions like EDS, this means earlier interventions, better monitoring of complex needs, and more time for clinicians to focus on patient-centred care rather than administrative tasks. The plan also commits to 95% of people with complex needs to have a personalised care plan by 2027.
The Government will publish the 10 Year Workforce Plan in spring 2026. It will set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. By setting out how we will train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs, the 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure that services are more accessible, proactive, and tailored for all patients, including those with EDS.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat - Tewkesbury)
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 help ensure that people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are quickly and accurately diagnosed.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise that doctors can find it challenging to diagnose Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) because of the wide range and variability of symptoms, and that the most common type, hypermobile EDS, currently has no specific genetic test.
Resources such as the Royal College of General Practitioners’ EDS Toolkit, now maintained by Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, are helping general practitioners (GPs) to better recognise, respond to, and manage EDS and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) in primary care. For rarer genetically confirmed types of EDS, NHS England commissions a national diagnostic service for EDS.
A primary goal of the national diagnostic service is to educate referring doctors about the diagnosis, investigation, and management of patients with complex and atypical forms of EDS. While the service focuses on rare types and accepts referrals from secondary and tertiary care, its development of guidelines and educational initiatives also benefit GPs who are on the front line of patient care.
Through the 10-Year Health Plan, we are introducing neighbourhood health centres, and deploying multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic support to people with EDS. Patients will benefit from enhanced NHS App functionality, including My Medicines and My Health, and will be able to self-refer to specialist services where appropriate.
Additionally, the 10-Year Health Plan’s commitments on artificial intelligence will give clinicians advanced tools for faster diagnosis, predictive analytics, and personalised care planning. For people with long-term conditions like EDS, this means earlier interventions, better monitoring of complex needs, and more time for clinicians to focus on patient-centred care rather than administrative tasks. The plan also commits to 95% of people with complex needs to have a personalised care plan by 2027.
The Government will publish the 10 Year Workforce Plan in spring 2026. It will set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. By setting out how we will train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs, the 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure that services are more accessible, proactive, and tailored for all patients, including those with EDS.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve early intervention for dyslexic learners.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
I refer the hon. Member for Tewkesbury to the answer of 1 December to Question 85049.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat - Tewkesbury)
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 include provisions relating to the treatment and care of people with eating disorders in the forthcoming modern service framework for mental health.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The exact scope of the modern service framework for people with severe mental illness is currently under development with external stakeholders, but we expect that it will include care and treatment for people with eating disorders.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what measures he is taking her to support rental applications by individuals or families who are victims of domestic abuse.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This government is committed to supporting victims of domestic abuse. This is part of the government’s wider mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.
Since 2021, local authorities in England have a statutory duty to ensure victims of domestic abuse and their children fleeing their homes can access support within safe accommodation when they need it. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government provided local authorities in England £160 million in 2025/26, a £30 million uplift from the previous year, to support delivery of this duty.
On 10 July 2025, regulations came into force meaning that victims of domestic abuse moving as a result of that abuse will no longer need to meet a local connection or residency test in order to access social housing; recognising the unique challenges they can face, such as fleeing an unsafe home to seek safety or support.
In addition, the Home Office is investing £1.96 million into a Flexible Fund, delivered by Women’s Aid and over 470 partner services, to support victims in England and Wales escaping abuse. This includes the option of a one-time payment of up to £2,500 to facilitate survivors’ transition to a more stable and independent future. For example, enabling them to put down a deposit for rental accommodation.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support victims of domestic abuse who urgently require alternative accommodation.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This government is committed to supporting victims of domestic abuse. This is part of the government’s wider mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.
Since 2021, local authorities in England have a statutory duty to ensure victims of domestic abuse and their children fleeing their homes can access support within safe accommodation when they need it. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government provided local authorities in England £160 million in 2025/26, a £30 million uplift from the previous year, to support delivery of this duty.
On 10 July 2025, regulations came into force meaning that victims of domestic abuse moving as a result of that abuse will no longer need to meet a local connection or residency test in order to access social housing; recognising the unique challenges they can face, such as fleeing an unsafe home to seek safety or support.
In addition, the Home Office is investing £1.96 million into a Flexible Fund, delivered by Women’s Aid and over 470 partner services, to support victims in England and Wales escaping abuse. This includes the option of a one-time payment of up to £2,500 to facilitate survivors’ transition to a more stable and independent future. For example, enabling them to put down a deposit for rental accommodation.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment she has made of effect of the monopolisation of broadband provision on developments where the broadband provider is owned by the property developer.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Ofcom is responsible for regulating the telecoms sector, and it has a duty to further the interests of citizens and consumers, where appropriate by promoting competition.
Developers decide which network operators they would like present in their buildings and negotiate commercial agreements with those operators. Developers are free to approach as many network operators as they wish and to secure multiple connections on a voluntary basis. As regulator for the sector, it is for Ofcom to assess whether there is a competition issue with housing developments and put remedies in place as appropriate.