Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria the Department used to determine which providers were included in the Neighbourhood Health Framework; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the exclusion of optometrists from the list of providers on eye health.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Neighbourhood Health Framework is designed to provide clarity and consistency to integrated care boards (ICBs), local authorities, and their partners, in developing and scaling neighbourhood health.

General practice, primary care, pharmacies, mental health providers, community health services, social care services, local authorities, and civil society partners are included, to illustrate how services can work together to shift care from hospital to communities, improve access, and provide proactive, holistic care for people with complex needs. This is not an exhaustive list and does not prescribe which providers must be involved locally.

No specific criteria were used to determine which providers were included in the framework. The framework does not prevent other providers, including optometrists, from being part of neighbourhood health services.

The framework outlines the national minimum aims and objectives of Neighbourhood Health Services. It is important that reforms are locally led, as ICBs and local authorities are best placed to design services that make sense for their local populations. Local systems can therefore choose to go further than the minimum, including in relation to optometry.

ICBs are already able to commission enhanced services from high street optometrists including minor and urgent eye care services and glaucoma referral filtering services.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of regulatory or legislative measures to prevent private companies from unreasonably blocking the transfer of vested shares held by former employees.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Section 771 of the Companies Act 2006 requires companies to register a share transfer or provide reasons to the transferee for not doing so. Private companies’ articles of association, which must be approved by shareholders, may include provisions covering the secondary sale of shares. Such provisions may seek to balance the alignment of employee interests with the company’s long-term prospects while also considering the impact any restrictions have on employee share liquidity. In May 2025, the Government legislated to establish PISCES (Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System), the legal framework for a new type of stock exchange for private companies. PISCES makes private secondary markets more transparent and efficient, enabling employees, founders and early-stage investors to realise and reinvest their gains.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the impact that restrictions on secondary sales of private company shares have on economic growth and new business creation.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Section 771 of the Companies Act 2006 requires companies to register a share transfer or provide reasons to the transferee for not doing so. Private companies’ articles of association, which must be approved by shareholders, may include provisions covering the secondary sale of shares. Such provisions may seek to balance the alignment of employee interests with the company’s long-term prospects while also considering the impact any restrictions have on employee share liquidity. In May 2025, the Government legislated to establish PISCES (Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System), the legal framework for a new type of stock exchange for private companies. PISCES makes private secondary markets more transparent and efficient, enabling employees, founders and early-stage investors to realise and reinvest their gains.

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 to help increase awareness of PICA.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

No assessment has been made on implementing National Health Service support pathways for PICA. For adults and children, individuals presenting with PICA are assessed and supported according to their individual clinical needs and circumstances. In most cases, care is arranged locally through services commissioned by NHS integrated care boards.

The Government is focused on strengthening support for people with eating disorders more broadly, including through new national guidance for children and young people’s eating disorder services, improving early identification and intervention, and ensuring staff across mental and physical health services have the training needed to recognise and respond safely to eating disorders wherever people present.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of implementing NHS support pathways for PICA.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

No assessment has been made on implementing National Health Service support pathways for PICA. For adults and children, individuals presenting with PICA are assessed and supported according to their individual clinical needs and circumstances. In most cases, care is arranged locally through services commissioned by NHS integrated care boards.

The Government is focused on strengthening support for people with eating disorders more broadly, including through new national guidance for children and young people’s eating disorder services, improving early identification and intervention, and ensuring staff across mental and physical health services have the training needed to recognise and respond safely to eating disorders wherever people present.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure retired civil servants receive pensions via Capita.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government.

The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in receiving their pension quotes are unacceptable. I want to reassure you that this Government has taken firm action to help put things right as soon as possible. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. For priority cases, we have deployed additional resources and improved communication with affected colleagues, so that staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.

Existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been enhanced and strengthened to deliver improved performance and higher penalties for failure, including financial penalties. These have already applied in respect to Capita's performance with recent issues and delays in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Capita prioritised the most urgent cases and by the end of February, all death in service cases were either settled or progressed to the final stage or awaiting a member response. The same position was reached for ill health retirement applications by mid-March.

Capita has made lump sum payments to 8,979 members, the majority of whom have retired but are not yet receiving their pension, and are on track to bring these members into regular pension payments by the end of April.

To provide immediate financial support to those who may need it, arrangements are in place for interest-free bridging loans typically up to £5,000 or £10,000 in exceptional cases to most recent retirees facing payment delays. This is alongside interim lump sum payments being made to provide immediate funds to retiring members. The pension scheme continues to make monthly pension payments to approximately 730,000 existing pensioner members on time.

The latest position of the Civil Service Pension Recovery Plan Update is available at this weblink: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-updates

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with Capita on its performance in delivering civil servant pensions.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government.

The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in receiving their pension quotes are unacceptable. I want to reassure you that this Government has taken firm action to help put things right as soon as possible. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. For priority cases, we have deployed additional resources and improved communication with affected colleagues, so that staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.

Existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been enhanced and strengthened to deliver improved performance and higher penalties for failure, including financial penalties. These have already applied in respect to Capita's performance with recent issues and delays in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Capita prioritised the most urgent cases and by the end of February, all death in service cases were either settled or progressed to the final stage or awaiting a member response. The same position was reached for ill health retirement applications by mid-March.

Capita has made lump sum payments to 8,979 members, the majority of whom have retired but are not yet receiving their pension, and are on track to bring these members into regular pension payments by the end of April.

To provide immediate financial support to those who may need it, arrangements are in place for interest-free bridging loans typically up to £5,000 or £10,000 in exceptional cases to most recent retirees facing payment delays. This is alongside interim lump sum payments being made to provide immediate funds to retiring members. The pension scheme continues to make monthly pension payments to approximately 730,000 existing pensioner members on time.

The latest position of the Civil Service Pension Recovery Plan Update is available at this weblink: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-updates

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on research for astronomy and space science of the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s proposed funding cuts of up to 60%.

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

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has committed a record £58.5 billion investment in R&D over the next 4 years. This includes £38.6 billion allocated to UKRI.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) within UKRI is maintaining its budget across this period and is currently working with the sector to model different spending scenarios for its portfolio in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics (PPAN). The impacts of different modelled scenarios across the broad and diverse range of STFC-funded facilities and programmes will be considered alongside feedback from the sector when taking final decisions.

The UK will also continue to invest in collaborative space science through the UK Space Agency, which has been allocated £2.8 billion over the next 4 years.

DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its specific investment decisions are informed by meaningful consultation with the scientific research community and a robust assessment of potential consequences for the UK’s scientific capability, research institutions and international standing.

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 the Science and Technology Facilities Council regarding their proposed funding cuts for astronomy and space science.

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

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has committed a record £58.5 billion investment in R&D over the next 4 years. This includes £38.6 billion allocated to UKRI.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) within UKRI is maintaining its budget across this period and is currently working with the sector to model different spending scenarios for its portfolio in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics (PPAN). The impacts of different modelled scenarios across the broad and diverse range of STFC-funded facilities and programmes will be considered alongside feedback from the sector when taking final decisions.

The UK will also continue to invest in collaborative space science through the UK Space Agency, which has been allocated £2.8 billion over the next 4 years.

DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its specific investment decisions are informed by meaningful consultation with the scientific research community and a robust assessment of potential consequences for the UK’s scientific capability, research institutions and international standing.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to support research into astronomy and space science.

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

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has committed a record £58.5 billion investment in R&D over the next 4 years. This includes £38.6 billion allocated to UKRI.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) within UKRI is maintaining its budget across this period and is currently working with the sector to model different spending scenarios for its portfolio in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics (PPAN). The impacts of different modelled scenarios across the broad and diverse range of STFC-funded facilities and programmes will be considered alongside feedback from the sector when taking final decisions.

The UK will also continue to invest in collaborative space science through the UK Space Agency, which has been allocated £2.8 billion over the next 4 years.

DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its specific investment decisions are informed by meaningful consultation with the scientific research community and a robust assessment of potential consequences for the UK’s scientific capability, research institutions and international standing.

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 improve working conditions including pay for those in the mental health sector.

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

We are committed to making the National Health Service the best place to work by supporting and retaining our hardworking and dedicated healthcare professionals, including those working in the mental health sector. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will set out how we will deliver this change by making sure that staff are better treated, have more fulfilling roles, and hope for the future.

We are taking a number of steps to improve working conditions for NHS staff including the development of a new set of staff standards for modern employment. The standards will focus on the areas that we know matter the most to staff, including: supporting line management; improving staff health and wellbeing; promoting flexible working; violence prevention and reduction; and tackling racism and sexual safety.

On 5 February we received the NHS Pay Review Body report and on 12 February we accepted their independent recommendation for a 3.3% consolidated headline pay award for 2026/27. For the first time in six years, this pay increase for NHS Agenda for Change staff will be in April pay packets, demonstrating our commitment to getting money to NHS staff earlier than in previous years.

Additionally, on 17 March, we received the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration’s report and on 20 March accepted their independent recommendations for a headline pay increase of 3.5% for doctors and 3.75% increase to the pay element of high-street dental contracts and community dental service dentists.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has had discussions with HM Treasury on the potential merits of introducing ringfenced, multi-year capital funding upgrading for breast screening equipment, including digital breast tomosynthesis, to help ensure equitable access to modern breast screening technology.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to providing quality and timely care and treatment to people with breast cancer, including through equitable access to modern breast screening technology. The NHS Breast Screening Programme is seeing improvement in uptake nationally with annual data from NHS England for 2024/25 showing 70.6% of women attending their appointment.

Digital mammography, which offers high quality images, currently remains the primary screening tool for the programme. At present, digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is an optional tool in the assessment of screen detected soft tissue breast abnormalities following mammography.

In 2025, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), who advises the Government on all screening matters, set up a working group of breast cancer screening experts to help it consider new and emerging evidence and developments that could further improve the United Kingdom’s breast screening programme. This includes exploring DBT in addition to other tests and technologies, to detect breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue. Other modalities are magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography, using either hand-held or automated modalities, and contrast-enhanced mammography.

If, following this work, the UK NSC makes a recommendation regarding DBT, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, would be asked to make a decision on whether to accept the recommendation, alongside wider policy and operational advice.

Service providers are responsible for purchasing and maintenance of breast screening equipment, and where there are issues and updates are required, they apply to the local capital investment programmes or the funding available in the current Spending Review period via the NHS England National Diagnostics Transformation Programme.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his criteria are for introducing digital breast tomosynthesis into the NHS breast screening programme.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to providing quality and timely care and treatment to people with breast cancer, including through equitable access to modern breast screening technology. The NHS Breast Screening Programme is seeing improvement in uptake nationally with annual data from NHS England for 2024/25 showing 70.6% of women attending their appointment.

Digital mammography, which offers high quality images, currently remains the primary screening tool for the programme. At present, digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is an optional tool in the assessment of screen detected soft tissue breast abnormalities following mammography.

In 2025, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), who advises the Government on all screening matters, set up a working group of breast cancer screening experts to help it consider new and emerging evidence and developments that could further improve the United Kingdom’s breast screening programme. This includes exploring DBT in addition to other tests and technologies, to detect breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue. Other modalities are magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography, using either hand-held or automated modalities, and contrast-enhanced mammography.

If, following this work, the UK NSC makes a recommendation regarding DBT, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, would be asked to make a decision on whether to accept the recommendation, alongside wider policy and operational advice.

Service providers are responsible for purchasing and maintenance of breast screening equipment, and where there are issues and updates are required, they apply to the local capital investment programmes or the funding available in the current Spending Review period via the NHS England National Diagnostics Transformation Programme.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress the Government has made following his comments on the 15th July 2025 to improve opportunities for communities to buy clean power locally.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department recognises the requests to take steps to better enable local energy markets and trading to lower bills and increase the resilience of the electricity networks.

DESNZ is investigating barriers to local supply, and is working with Ofgem, Great British Energy and relevant stakeholders to find solutions that work in the best interests of local generators and consumers.

Ofgem and Elexon’s work on code modifications like P441 will help more community energy groups identify and understand the different routes to market in order to sell their energy.

Industry feedback informed the Draft Modification Report considered by the Panel on 12 March leading to the Final Modification Report submitted to Ofgem on 17 March.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how the Government is supporting communities to buy clean power locally.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department recognises the requests to take steps to better enable local energy markets and trading to lower bills and increase the resilience of the electricity networks.

DESNZ is investigating barriers to local supply, and is working with Ofgem, Great British Energy and relevant stakeholders to find solutions that work in the best interests of local generators and consumers.

Ofgem and Elexon’s work on code modifications like P441 will help more community energy groups identify and understand the different routes to market in order to sell their energy.

Industry feedback informed the Draft Modification Report considered by the Panel on 12 March leading to the Final Modification Report submitted to Ofgem on 17 March.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will provide an update on the progress of the consultation into the Safety at Street Works and Road; Works Code of Practice, which was last updated in July 2013.

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

The Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice is currently being revised. Work on the updated Code of Practice is at an advanced stage and is undergoing legal review. Subject to the conclusion of that review, the Department for Transport expects to consult publicly on the draft updated Code later this year. We expect to publish the finalised Code in 2027.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the updated Safety at Street Works and Road; Works Code of Practice will be published.

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

The Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice is currently being revised. Work on the updated Code of Practice is at an advanced stage and is undergoing legal review. Subject to the conclusion of that review, the Department for Transport expects to consult publicly on the draft updated Code later this year. We expect to publish the finalised Code in 2027.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will reinstate a route to settlement by allowing time spent under the Ukraine Schemes to count towards the 10‑year settlement pathway.

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

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment and education. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.

From the outset, the Government has been clear that the Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route. This reflects the Ukrainian Government’s wishes for His Majesty’s Government to offer temporary sanctuary, due to their strong desire for the eventual return of its citizens to Ukraine once it is safe to do so.

The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will introduce a transition visa at the end of the Ukraine Permission Extension period.

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

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment and education. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.

From the outset, the Government has been clear that the Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route. This reflects the Ukrainian Government’s wishes for His Majesty’s Government to offer temporary sanctuary, due to their strong desire for the eventual return of its citizens to Ukraine once it is safe to do so.

The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what conversations he has had with Business and Trade colleagues regarding improving employment conditions for those in the mental health sector.

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

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, meets regularly with colleagues in the Department of Business and Trade to discuss a range of topics.

We are committed to making the National Health Service the best place to work by supporting and retaining our hardworking and dedicated healthcare professionals, including those working in the mental health sector. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will set out how we will deliver this change by making sure that staff are better treated, have more fulfilling roles, and hope for the future.

We are taking a number of steps to improve working conditions for NHS staff, including the development of a new set of staff standards for modern employment. The standards will focus on the areas that we know matter the most to staff, including: supporting line management; improving staff health and wellbeing; promoting flexible working; violence prevention and reduction; and tackling racism and sexual safety.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support is available to help the cold chain and general haulage industry to manage cost increases across the supply chain, including to help stabilise costs for businesses and consumers.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport recognises growing concerns around rising fuel and transport costs caused by the conflict in the Middle East. The Department fully recognises the need to maintain the continuity of critical supply chains and is actively monitoring any potential impacts. The Department continues to work and meet regularly with industry, including representatives of the cold chain industry, to understand the pressures and options to mitigate any risks.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support the cold chain and general haulage industry given recent changes in the price of fuel.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport recognises growing concerns around rising fuel and transport costs caused by the conflict in the Middle East. The Department fully recognises the need to maintain the continuity of critical supply chains and is actively monitoring any potential impacts. The Department continues to work and meet regularly with industry, including representatives of the cold chain industry, to understand the pressures and options to mitigate any risks.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with the cold chain industry on changes in the level of fuel prices.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport recognises growing concerns around rising fuel and transport costs caused by the conflict in the Middle East. The Department fully recognises the need to maintain the continuity of critical supply chains and is actively monitoring any potential impacts. The Department continues to work and meet regularly with industry, including representatives of the cold chain industry, to understand the pressures and options to mitigate any risks.

Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday