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 4 December 2025 to Question 95904 on Health Professions: Regulation, if he will publish a consultation on secondary legislation to modernise the General Medical Council’s regulatory framework which would enable them to consider fitness to practise concerns arising from allegations of sexual misconduct that are more than five years old during this parliamentary session.

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 (GMC) regulatory framework shortly with a view to laying this legislation before Parliament this year.

As part of the consultation, we will be consulting on a reformed fitness to practise process for the GMC.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the MP hotline can be used by hon. Members for raising non-emergency queries about claimants who have been sent housing payment demands as a result of being migrated from ESA to Universal Credit.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

We recognise that for some customers, the transition to Universal Credit can feel complex at the outset. To support individuals during this period, dedicated help is available through our Universal Credit helpline, where colleagues can provide guidance and reassurance tailored to their circumstances.

The Department’s MP Hotlines are specifically intended for urgent, non‑complex enquiries where a claimant may be at risk of harm to their wellbeing, facing an imminent loss of income, or experiencing another situation requiring immediate intervention. As such, they are not designed for routine or non‑urgent matters, including standard enquiries relating to managed migration from Employment and Support Allowance to Universal Credit or issues relating to the issuing of housing payment notifications.

Hon. Members wishing to raise non‑emergency enquiries of this type are encouraged to use the Department’s established written correspondence routes. This ensures that all enquiries are properly logged, triaged, and responded to in a way that allows us to provide thorough and appropriate support to constituents.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether foreign nationals married to UK citizens will be entitled to accompany their spouse on repatriation flights from the UAE.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The safety and security of British nationals is our top priority. On 3 March, the Foreign Secretary spoke to the House about the consular support available to individuals in the Middle East, and plans for a first assisted departure from Oman. We will provide further updates on a regular basis, including details of any further evacuation plans, but for now, the primary objective remains to secure an end to Iran's attacks on countries in the region, and the resumption of normal commercial flights.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on the availability of consular assistance for UK citizens unable to leave Israel as a result of the war in Iran who require to return home for life saving cancer treatments.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government's top priority is the safety and welfare of British nationals affected by the conflict in the Middle East. Airspace closures and security restrictions have made travel extremely difficult, but the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has stood up 24/7 consular support and is working closely with airlines and regional governments to help British nationals return home as soon as routes become viable. British nationals across the region should register their presence with the FCDO so we can provide direct updates. We will continue to prioritise assistance to the most vulnerable as the situation develops.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether prediction markets will be regulated by the (a) Gambling Commission and (b) Financial Conduct Authority.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

In order to operate in Great Britain, any prediction market would require a licence from the Gambling Commission, the independent regulator for gambling. If approved, they would be classified as a ‘Betting Intermediary’ and subject to regulation under the Gambling Act 2005. We will monitor the potential impacts of prediction markets and consider further action if needed.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on taking steps to help prevent schools wars content circulating on social media platforms.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The government takes the safety of children extremely seriously. Under the Online Safety Act, enforced by Ofcom, social media companies must act on content that is illegal. This includes material that incites violence and includes threatening behaviour likely to cause fear or provoke immediate violence. Platforms must also remove content that is harmful to children, such as dangerous online challenges.

Ofcom has the government’s full backing to use all the powers given to it by Parliament in the exercise of its regulatory responsibilities.

Windermere

Delay Repay scheme

Airport drop-off charges

Outdoor learning

NHS access to medical cannabis for children with drug-resistant epilepsy

Cardiac risk in the young

Funding for rural fire and rescue services

Conduct of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Palantir and the NHS

Found: going up in just about every year of the forecast period.18 Speaking for the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper