Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the planned changes to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund on access to therapeutic support for children and families; and whether she considered communicating those changes to hon. Members prior to the parliamentary recess.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The new criteria for the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) will enable as many children and families as possible to access the available funding. The department always assesses the impact of changes on vulnerable children. The changes were finalised during Parliamentary recess and the announcement was made during recess to allow the fund to open and minimise further delays to children waiting for therapy. A written statement was laid on Parliament’s first day back after recess.
By 31 March 2025, the ASGSF had spent all its allocated budget.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much and what proportion of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund budget for the 2024–25 financial had been spent by 31 March 2025.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The new criteria for the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) will enable as many children and families as possible to access the available funding. The department always assesses the impact of changes on vulnerable children. The changes were finalised during Parliamentary recess and the announcement was made during recess to allow the fund to open and minimise further delays to children waiting for therapy. A written statement was laid on Parliament’s first day back after recess.
By 31 March 2025, the ASGSF had spent all its allocated budget.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of US tariffs on the UK defence manufacturing industry.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Government is assessing the impact of, and our response to, US tariffs across the full spectrum of UK manufacturing industries, including the defence sector. The United States remains the United Kingdom's foremost defence and security partner. The UK has a strong and balanced trading relationship with the US worth £315 billion which supports 2.5 million jobs across both countries. This Government is seeking to negotiate an agreement with the US to deepen our economic relationship, while ensuring all options are considered in response to tariffs.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the Competition and Markets Authority's infant formula and follow-on formula market study, published on 14 February 2025.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s final market study report on infant formula and follow-on formula. We are working with the Devolved Governments closely to consider its recommendations, and relevant Ministers will agree a formal response collectively. We will work to ensure that any outcomes are in the best interest of consumers and public health.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether GP training includes a mandatory rotation on (a) obstetrics and (b) gynaecology.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The curricula for postgraduate medical specialty training are set by individual royal colleges and faculties. The General Medical Council approves curricula and assessment systems for each training programme. Curricula emphasise the skills and approaches that a doctor must develop in order to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) sets the curriculum that all general practitioners (GPs) must cover before they are able to pass the examination to become a member of the RCGP and to work independently as a GP.
Obstetrics and gynaecology are not mandatory specialties in a GP programme, and there are no mandatory jobs in GP specialty training. GP training is a balanced programme which allows the trainee to meet the outcomes of the curriculum. Women's health, including sexual and reproductive health, is a significant element of the General Practice and Community Placement elements of GP specialty training and of the curriculum.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to consider the recommendations from the Competition and Markets Authority's infant formula and follow-on formula market study, published on 14 February 2025.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Infant feeding is critical to a baby’s healthy growth and development. The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and that includes helping families to access support to feed their baby. Whilst breastfeeding has significant health benefits, we recognise that for those families that cannot or choose not to breastfeed, it is vital that they have access to infant formula that is affordable and high quality. Infant formula regulations ensure that all infant formula is suitable for meeting the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.
The Government welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study report on infant formula and follow-on formula. We are working with other Government Departments and the Devolved Governments to consider its recommendations, and relevant Ministers will also be consulted.
The legislation which sets the general principles and requirements of overall food law places a statutory requirement to consult on potential changes to food law.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the Competition and Markets Authority's infant formula and follow-on formula market study, published on 14 February 2025.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Infant feeding is critical to a baby’s healthy growth and development. The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and that includes helping families to access support to feed their baby. Whilst breastfeeding has significant health benefits, we recognise that for those families that cannot or choose not to breastfeed, it is vital that they have access to infant formula that is affordable and high quality. Infant formula regulations ensure that all infant formula is suitable for meeting the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.
The Government welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study report on infant formula and follow-on formula. We are working with other Government Departments and the Devolved Governments to consider its recommendations, and relevant Ministers will also be consulted.
The legislation which sets the general principles and requirements of overall food law places a statutory requirement to consult on potential changes to food law.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to implement the recommendations within the Competition and Markets Authority's infant formula and follow-on formula market study, published on 14 February 2025.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Infant feeding is critical to a baby’s healthy growth and development. The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and that includes helping families to access support to feed their baby. Whilst breastfeeding has significant health benefits, we recognise that for those families that cannot or choose not to breastfeed, it is vital that they have access to infant formula that is affordable and high quality. Infant formula regulations ensure that all infant formula is suitable for meeting the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.
The Government welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study report on infant formula and follow-on formula. We are working with other Government Departments and the Devolved Governments to consider its recommendations, and relevant Ministers will also be consulted.
The legislation which sets the general principles and requirements of overall food law places a statutory requirement to consult on potential changes to food law.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Competition and Markets Authority's infant formula and follow-on formula market study, published on 14 February 2025, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of launching a public consultation on infant formula regulations.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Infant feeding is critical to a baby’s healthy growth and development. The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and that includes helping families to access support to feed their baby. Whilst breastfeeding has significant health benefits, we recognise that for those families that cannot or choose not to breastfeed, it is vital that they have access to infant formula that is affordable and high quality. Infant formula regulations ensure that all infant formula is suitable for meeting the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.
The Government welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study report on infant formula and follow-on formula. We are working with other Government Departments and the Devolved Governments to consider its recommendations, and relevant Ministers will also be consulted.
The legislation which sets the general principles and requirements of overall food law places a statutory requirement to consult on potential changes to food law.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
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 potential impact of US tariffs on the domestic supply of (a) methylphenidate and (b) pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is working closely with life sciences stakeholders and other Government departments to assess the potential impact of United States tariffs on global medicine supply chains. We have a range of well-established processes to mitigate risks to patients where there are shortages. We will continue to review the need to utilise these procedures as more information becomes available on the impact of tariffs on any specific products or companies.