Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Department of Health's document entitled Statutory guidance for Local Authorities and NHS organisations to support implementation of the Adult Autism Strategy, published in March 2015, what plans his Department has to update the Autism Act 2009 statutory guidance.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The House of Lords has established an Autism Act 2009 Committee, which is holding an inquiry to look at the Autism Act, the autism strategy, and the autism statutory guidance, and which will make recommendations to the Government by 30 November 2025. This will inform the Government’s future approach.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with his European counterparts to support state institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the context of alleged attempts to undermine the Dayton Peace Accords.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In response to unconstitutional activities by Republika Srpska entity President Dodik, the UK, with European counterparts, is working to ensure a strong and unified international response that encourages Bosnian state institutions to act to protect Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH's) sovereignty and stability. At the UN and other multilateral fora we have coordinated backing for BiH state institutions to resolve the current political crisis. We welcome the High Representative's clear statements setting out support for the state institutions. The Foreign Secretary, the Special Envoy and I continue to engage leaders in BiH and the region in support of BiH's territorial integrity. I reiterated these messages to BiH Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković and the High Representative of BiH when we met on 12 April, and recently convened Quint partners with my French counterpart to discuss our response to these destabilising and undermining actions.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allocating further funding for research into improving treatments for PANS and PANDAS.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise that more research is necessary to understand the multiple factors leading to pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) and pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS), and to understand how best to raise awareness among healthcare professionals on how to diagnose these conditions and support affected children and their families.
The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including conditions such as PANS and PANDAS.
In October 2024, a project led by NIHR BioResource announced a partnership with PANS PANDA UK to delve further into immune conditions and mental health, and how to raise awareness of these neuropsychiatric conditions.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to reduce the duration of the recruitment process for the Royal Air Force.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The current Government inherited a crisis in recruitment and retention from the last administration but are taking steps to address it.
Since June 2024, the recruitment timeline for Enlisted Aviator entrants has reduced by over 10 per cent and work is ongoing to reduce this further to ensure applicants have a positive candidate experience.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) candidate recruitment journey has been improved by an overhaul of the RAF recruitment website and portal, process improvements such as the streamlining of eligibility checks and aptitude assessments, and the introduction of the digital exchange of medical information with civilian GPs.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of providing financial support to established (a) community and (b) charitable groups.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
This government recognises the vital role that charitable organisations and community groups play in providing crucial support to families and individuals across the country. These organisations, as well as the wider Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector, are integral to the Government’s vision for national renewal and delivery of the five national missions.
DCMS officials regularly review the health and sustainability of the sector; working with leading research institutions to review available data on a range of sector based issues, including financial stability.
The department continues to promote availability of funding for smaller charities in several ways, including delivery of a number of grant schemes, such as the ‘Know Your Neighbourhood Fund’. Support for charities is also available through social investment which provides access to grants, repayable finance and a blend of the two. In particular, this government is continuing to look at how dormant assets can be used to support the availability of finance to facilitate VCSEs becoming more entrepreneurial and financially resilient. An estimated £350 million will flow into the Dormant Assets Scheme between 2024-28, with details on how this money will be distributed to be provided in due course.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
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 reduce waiting times for musculoskeletal services in Rushcliffe constituency; and if he will consider the use of chiropractors as regulated healthcare professionals to reduce those waiting times.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England does not nationally commission chiropractic care as it is a complementary and alternative medicine. There are no plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of integrating chiropractic care into centrally commissioned National Health Service care.
Where there is demand, integrated care boards are able to make independent decisions on which health professionals they employ and may commission a limited amount of such treatment.
Cutting waiting lists forms a key part of the Government’s mission to reform the NHS.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
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 ensure that newly-qualified (a) nurses and (b) other healthcare professionals trained in the UK have sufficient job opportunities.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Decisions on the availability of job opportunities for newly qualified nurses and other healthcare professionals trained in the United Kingdom are a matter for individual National Health Service trusts. NHS trusts manage their recruitment at a local level, ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.
We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of chiropractors in supporting people in Rushcliffe constituency to return to work.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Whilst no assessment has been made on the potential merits of chiropractors in supporting people in Rushcliffe constituency to return to work, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire & Rutland District offers a range of employment support interventions for individuals experiencing health issues. This includes support from Disability Employment Advisors who offer a Direct Support appointment service, looking into removing barriers, identifying any reasonable adjustments and delivering individually tailored support, including in-work support.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that the availability of apprenticeships in the education sector meets demand in (a) Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire; and whether she is taking steps to (i) increase the range of apprenticeship opportunities in this area, (ii) improve access for young people and (iii) support schools in recruiting apprentices.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
There are a number of apprenticeship standards available in the education and early years sector including level 3 Teaching assistant, level 5 Early years lead practitioner and level 6 Teacher.
To support employers to access apprenticeships, the government pays £1,000 to employers when they take on apprentices aged 16 to 18, and for apprentices aged 19 to 24 who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan or have been in local authority care. Non-levy paying employers can also benefit from the government paying the full training costs for young apprentices aged 16 to 21, and for apprentices aged 22 to 24 who have an EHC plan or have been in local authority care.
The department continues to promote apprenticeships to young people, adults and employers through the ‘Skills for Life’ campaign.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will (a) increase the tax-free childcare allowance and (b) allow parents to use that allowance in place of funded hours.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The £2,000 Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) top-up, which can be claimed per year and per child up to age 11 (and £4,000 per disabled child, up to age 16), was set at this level because the Government believes it strikes the right balance between helping parents with their childcare costs and managing the public finances in a responsible way.
From September 2025, childcare entitlements for eligible working parents of children aged from nine months will increase from 15 hours to 30 hours, helping hundreds of thousands of families with the cost of childcare and supporting parents to work. This year alone, we expect to provide over £8 billion for the early years entitlements – which is an additional £2 billion (over 30% increase) compared to 2024. Please note that parents can claim both TFC and DfE childcare entitlements so long as they are eligible.
The government keeps all aspects of childcare policy under review.