Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to protect whistleblowers in the NHS.

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

The Employment Rights Act 1996, as amended by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, gives employees protection against unfair dismissal and detriment in employment on the basis that they have made a protected disclosure, as well as a right to seek remedy through an employment tribunal where this occurs. Separate regulations also protect National Health Service job applicants from discrimination on the grounds they have made a protected disclosure in the past.

In addition to legal protections, there is a range of support in place for NHS workers who wish to report concerns, including local Freedom to Speak Up Guardians, a National Freedom to Speak Up policy, and support from independent organisations such as Speak Up Direct.

Through delivery of the 10‑Year Health Plan, we will ensure that the Care Quality Commission, as part of its existing inspection and regulatory responsibilities, takes account of whether NHS providers have effective Freedom to Speak Up arrangements, where this forms a relevant line of enquiry. Where relevant, this includes whether providers have effective whistleblowing arrangements in place and whether staff feel able to raise concerns safely without fear of detriment.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered the potential merits of making farmers with land in a Self-Invested Personal Pension eligible for Agricultural Property Relief.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Assets do not qualify for agricultural property relief or business property relief when held within a pension. This is because the pension member is not treated for inheritance tax purposes as beneficially entitled to the underlying assets held by the pension scheme. This is consistent with the existing policy on the treatment of assets held by a pension scheme and there are no plans to make any changes.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason unpaid carers are not eligible for vaccination against Coronavirus, in the context of them being eligible for vaccination against flu.

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

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious illness, resulting in hospitalisations and deaths, arising from COVID-19.

Although seasonal flu and COVID-19 can both cause severe disease, they differ in their epidemiology and pathology. As such, the population groups at higher risk of severe disease will not necessarily be the same for each pathogen and the JCVI has considered each programme individually.

The JCVI advised in its autumn 2024 advice that, in the current era of high population immunity to COVID-19 and with all cases due to Omicron sub-lineages of COVID-19, currently available COVID-19 vaccines provide limited protection against transmission and mild or asymptomatic disease. The JCVI therefore advised that the focus of the programme should be on offering vaccination where it directly protects an individual at higher risk. In line with this advice, unpaid carers ceased to be offered COVID-19 vaccination in autumn campaigns from autumn 2024. Eligibility for the spring COVID-19 vaccination campaigns has never included unpaid carers.

The focus of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is on vaccination of older adults and individuals who are immunosuppressed. These are the two groups who continue to be at higher risk of serious disease, including mortality.

In line with JCVI advice for spring 2026 and autumn 2026, a COVID-19 vaccination is being offered this spring and autumn to the following groups:

- adults aged 75 years old and over;

- residents in care homes for older adults; and

- individuals aged six months old and over who are immunosuppressed.

The JCVI keeps all vaccination programmes under review.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what capital funds are open to independent cinemas.

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

Independent cinemas are vital anchors for local communities, offering cultural access for people across the UK and helping to sustain our high streets. Cinemas based in not-for-profit mixed arts venues in England may meet the eligibility criteria for Arts Council England's Creative Foundations Fund; we estimate this applies to approximately 13% of the 218 full-time independent cinemas in the UK. Independent cinemas can also apply for various public funding schemes through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's Arm's Length Bodies if they meet the eligibility criteria. For example, through the British Film Institute, cinemas can access support for audience-facing projects through the BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund; and can join the BFI Film Audience Network and apply for funding to support projects that bring audiences together for screenings of UK independent and international films. This sector will also benefit from permanently lower business rates multipliers for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure venues, starting this year.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to take steps with the National Wealth Fund to provide funding for heat networks in rural and coastal areas such as Cornwall.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) supports new and existing heat networks across England and Wales to adopt low carbon technologies. Applicants to the scheme are also encouraged to seek financing options from the National Wealth Fund and can opt to have their project information shared with the Fund for them to consider potential support. Heat network developers in coastal areas can contact the GHNF delivery partner, Triple Point Heat Networks, or consult the scheme guidance (Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF): Round 11 application guidance - GOV.UK) for further information.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of making Cornwall a priority area for strategic heat network zoning.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Heat network zoning, due to come into force later this year, will grant new powers to local government to accelerate heat network development in areas where they will be the most affordable heating solution.

We will support at least ten locations to establish their heat network zones soon after Heat Network Zoning Regulations go live. We will announce locations in due course which will be a result of assessing locations across England.

Longer term DESNZ is looking to develop its pipeline of future zones, inviting strategic and local authorities to submit information by 29 May 2026.

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 prevent further reductions in opening hours and patient access for community pharmacies.

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

Last year, the Government increased funding for community pharmacy to almost £3.1 billion, representing the largest uplift for any part of the National Health Service across 2024/25 and 2025/26.

Pharmacies in areas of high health need and limited provision continue to receive additional support through the Pharmacy Access Scheme, helping to maintain reasonable access to NHS pharmaceutical services.

The Department is consulting Community Pharmacy England on proposals for contractor reimbursement and remuneration for 2026/27 and will announce the outcome once the consultation concludes.

The majority of community pharmacies are contractually required to open for a minimum of 40 core hours per week, with a small proportion required to open for 72 hours. If changes to pharmacy opening hours risk limiting patient access, integrated care boards can take action locally.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to maximise UK food security in the context of climate instability.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Steps being taken to maximise food security in the context of climate instability include:

An £11.8 billion allocation to deliver sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. This includes increasing spend on nature-friendly farming, with Environmental Land Management Schemes to £2bn by 2028/29.

£120 million in funding, starting this year, to improve productivity, trial new technologies and drive innovation across the agricultural sector.

£70 million of this funding has been allocated to Farming Innovation Programme grants, supporting investment in new technologies to boost Britain’s food security.

Defra investment, with the Met Office Hadley Centre, in the Food, Farming and the Natural Environment programme strengthen the evidence base on adaptation options and identify and evaluate key adaptation measures to improve agri-food sector, resilience.

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 (a) adequacy of the time taken and (b) effectiveness of the General Optical Council's action in cases of malpractice.

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

The Department has regular discussions with the General Optical Council (GOC) on regulatory matters.

While the GOC is an independent regulator responsible for managing its fitness to practise processes, the Government expects the GOC to take steps to improve the efficiency and timeliness of case handling.

In March 2026, the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) published its 2024/25 performance review of the GOC, concluding that that it met all 18 Standards of Good Regulation, including those relating to fitness to practise. The PSA found that most fitness to practise investigations were timely and adequate, with risks managed appropriately. However, the PSA identified some areas for improvement which the GOC is addressing through an action plan. The PSA will monitor the progress of this plan as part of its continuous oversight of GOC’s performance.

In parallel, the Department is progressing wider, longer-term reforms to the regulatory frameworks of the healthcare professional regulators. These will enable them to be more responsive to changes in the health and care workforce and give them the flexibility to modernise their fitness to practise processes whilst maintaining public protection.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on the Horticulture Sector Growth Plan.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra is preparing a Sector Growth Plan for the horticulture sector, following the first meeting of the Farming and Food Partnership Board in March.

Defra officials are meeting with horticulture sector experts to shape an industry-led, sector-owned plan that brings together Government and industry expertise.

The plan will identify key industry challenges and opportunities to boost productivity and profitability, while cutting environmental impact, and taking into account market realities and government priorities.

100th anniversary of the birth of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Found: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat; Glastonbury and Somerton) Terry Jermy (Labour; South West Norfolk) Jayne Kirkham

Found: Staffordshire Attendees  Mr Alistair Carmichael MP (Chair)  Sarah Bool MP  Charlie Dewhirst MP  Jayne Kirkham

Found: Shropshire Att endees • Mr Alistair Carmichael MP (Chair) • Sarah Bool MP • Charlie Dewhirst MP • Jayne Kirkham

Found: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat; Glastonbury and Somerton) Terry Jermy (Labour; South West Norfolk) Jayne Kirkham