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 9 June 2025 to Question 56880 on Health Professions: Regulation, when he plans to publish a consultation on a draft legislative framework for the General Medical Council which would enable them to consider fitness to practise concerns arising from allegations of sexual misconduct that are more than five years old.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to modernising the regulatory frameworks for all healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom.

As a first step, we aim to consult on secondary legislation to modernise the General Medical Council’s regulatory framework in late 2025 and to lay this legislation before Parliament in 2026. This will be followed by further legislation which will modernise the governing legislation of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and of the Health and Care Professions Council, within the current parliamentary period.

The Department will continue to work with regulators, the devolved administrations, and other key partners as we develop more consistent, efficient, and effective regulatory frameworks.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to Question 71117 tabled by the hon. Member for St Albans on 29 August 2025.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

A full and clear response to question 71117 was published on 17/09/2025.

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 with NHS England to support Integrated Care Boards to deliver the service specification entitled Specialised neurology services (adults), published on 13 August 2025.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England has revised the national service specification for specialised neurology following extensive consultation with clinical and charity partners. The service specification includes guidance on both specialised and core neurology services, and includes an annex which provides greater clarity for neurology sub-specialties.

The national specialised commissioning neurology transformation programme has also developed guidance as part of an integrated care system toolkit, specifically to support the implementation of the service specification.

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 adequacy of the level of funding available for the UK Neuro Forum.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Whilst no specific programme of funding is currently available for the UK Neuro Forum, we will continue to look for funding opportunities and use existing levers in other health and care initiatives that align with the forum’s priorities. The Department has also dedicated staff resources to supporting the forum.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she has considered the potential merits of applying the Direct Vision Standard regulations for HGV drivers nationwide.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Vehicle construction regulations are generally set at an international level in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and the UK played an active role in the development of regulation 167 on direct vision. This regulation is included in the European Union’s General Safety Regulation (GSR). Following external analysis of the specific benefits and costs of the GSR measures, the Government is exploring options for updates to our national type approval legislation to mandate fitment of these safety technologies and vehicle design features in Great Britain.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times has a PIP claimant's payment been (a) missed and (b) delayed following the registration of an appointee on their account in the last 12 months.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

We do not hold any data about the impacts of registration of an appointee on a person’s PIP payments.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a separate immigration desk system at the UK border for people who (a) live and work in the UK and (b) do not hold a UK passport.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

There are no proposed changes to airport queuing arrangements for any cohorts, including for non-British citizens who live and work in the UK, at the current time. We keep this under review to prioritise security, maintain fluidity and ensure we continue to run our border in the best interests of the UK whilst also considering capacity and availability of space at individual ports.

As set out in our Immigration White Paper, published May 2025, we are now moving to the next phase in our vision to revolutionise the UK border by using technology to make visible changes to security, flow and the passenger experience. We aim to do this through the piloting of new innovative technologies later this year and by continuing to explore options to expand the use of automation and eGates to more cohorts.

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