Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what size by attendance of sporting or cultural events are within the scope of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
For providers of treatment of disease, disorder, or injury (TDDI), regulatory obligations do not vary by event type or the number of attendees. Restricting Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulation to larger events would risk unregulated providers operating at events where attendance is higher than anticipated and would create gaps in oversight at smaller events that may also require TDDI services.
The level of risk associated with an event cannot be determined by attendance figures alone. Event organisers are expected to draw on risk assessments, advice from Statutory Advisory Groups, and sector guidance such as the Purple and Green Guides to identify the appropriate level of event healthcare provision.
If, following this process, an organiser determines that first aid is sufficient for a small event, this position is unaffected. First aid does not fall within the definition of TDDI and will remain outside CQC regulation.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
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 exemption for temporary cultural and sporting events from laws mandating that medical providers be CQC registered for sporting events on the finances of that organisation.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 31 March 2026 to Question 120609.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee's 54th Report's chapter on Instruments on Interest, what assessment has his Department made of the adequacy of the Care Quality Commission to register the potential 1000 providers in scope of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 between 7 September 2026 and 6 December 2027.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department, in consultation with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), has agreed that there will be a phased approach to implementing the updated regulations. This is so:
The CQC will produce guidance that sets out the date that providers would have to apply to be registered by. This aims to prevent a backlog caused by last-minute applications.
For applications received on or by this date that are fully complete at the time of submission to allow for validation, the CQC will take all reasonable steps to undertake assessment and advise providers of the outcome of their application on or before December 2027.
Following the Penny Dash Review, the CQC accepted the high‑level recommendations, including stabilising its regulatory platform and improving the registration experience for providers. The Department meets the CQC regularly to discuss the progress of its improvements.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will publish an impact assessment of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 on the number of sporting and cultural events; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The de minimis assessment for the regulation amendment was published alongside the draft statutory instrument and explanatory memorandum, and is available at the following link:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2026/9780348279955/resources
House debates on the statutory instrument are expected to commence soon.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what definition his Department uses for a sporting or cultural event as set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Sports and cultural events can cover a variety of activities, sizes, and attendee numbers, so there is no one specific definition within the Care Quality Commission’s regulation. However, where treatment of disease, disorder, or injury (TDDI) care is deemed necessary, the amendment will mean an event organiser is safe in the knowledge that the TDDI care acquired through a provider is regulated.
This activity covers a treatment that is provided by, or under the supervision of, a defined list of healthcare professionals or by a multi-disciplinary team that includes a listed healthcare professional, or is provided by, or under the supervision of, a social worker where the treatment is for a mental disorder, or by a multi-disciplinary team that includes a social worker where the treatment is for a mental disorder, for a disease, disorder, or injury. TDDI covers a wide range of treatments. It includes examples such as:
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
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 changes removing exemptions for temporary cultural and sporting events from laws mandating that medical providers be CQC registered on the number of cultural and sporting events in England.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Manchester Arena Inquiry recommended that the Government make changes to the law to enable the Care Quality Commission to regulate event healthcare at sporting venues and gymnasiums, and under temporary arrangements, at sporting and cultural events to ensure public safety.
The Government has considered the impacts of this change, and a public consultation allowed stakeholders to provide information on the potential effects. A de minimis impact assessment was developed. This considered the impacts the changes in regulation would have, including costs.
A link to the explanatory memorandum for the proposed changes in regulation and de minimis assessment is available at the following link:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2026/9780348279955/resources
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 on trends in the number of sporting and cultural events in the UK.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS officials engage with the sector on the impacts of regulation. DCMS will continue to engage with DHSC on the removal of exemptions for temporary sporting and cultural events to ensure impacts to event delivery are mitigated as far as possible in line with the policy recommendations from the Manchester Arena Inquiry.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the introduction of the UK ETS to maritime operators on ticket prices on ferries travelling between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The scheme will apply to the operator of the ship, not the passengers, and operators decide how they manage any costs.
If operators choose to pass on the costs, any impact on the price is expected to be minimal given the length of the route between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight and any impacts of the scheme on these services will be considered in a review of the UK ETS Maritime regime in 2028.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason ferries serving Scottish islands are exempted from the UK ETS scheme.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Exemptions will apply to ferry services to Scotland’s islands and certain peninsular communities. These are based on the unique and pressing challenges faced by these communities due to exceptional reliance on ferries for essential goods, healthcare, education, and employment, as well as additional legal duties under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018.This exemption will be reviewed in 2028.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is responsible for reforming the regulation of funeral directors.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.