Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the McCloud Pension Remedy for Armed Forces veterans will be implemented in time for March 2026.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 October 2025 to Question 80011.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
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 the potential implications for his policies of (a) the CDC guidance in the US and (b) other international models for management of Diethylstilbestrol exposure.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has not undertaken any specific assessment of the potential implications for its policies of guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States or other international models for the management of exposure to diethylstilbestrol.
The Department works closely with various expert United Kingdom bodies, recognised and widely respected internationally for their excellence, and bases policies on evidence provided by national authorities such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will provide an update on the Government’s plans to address pavement parking; and if she will set out a timetable for when local authorities will be given further powers to tackle this issue.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to the 2020 pavement parking consultation and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them. We will announce the next steps and publish our formal response as soon as possible. Local authorities can make use of Traffic Regulation Order powers to manage pavement parking.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance is available to clinicians for patients with a family history of diethylstilbestrol exposure.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government encourages all women, including those exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero, to attend regular cervical screenings which test for human papillomavirus, the cause of most cervical cancers. Women who believe or know that they were exposed to DES in utero may also need regular colposcopy which falls outside the routine screening programme. We recommend that they should speak to their general practitioner about this as local arrangements should be made for the follow up of women who display evidence of DES exposure. Further information regarding individuals exposed to DES is contained within the cervical screening guidance for the National Health Service, at the following link:
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has asked NHS England to work with local cancer alliances to ensure that providers are aware of this existing screening and follow up guidance for individuals exposed to DES, and that those who could benefit from additional screening have access to this.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the national body that develops authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the NHS on best practice in the care and treatment of patients with defined conditions. NICE has not issued any guidance on the diagnosis and management of patients potentially exposed to DES and it currently has no plans to do so. Decisions on the development of new topics for NICE guidance are taken by the NICE prioritisation board, chaired by its Chief Medical Officer, in line with its published prioritisation framework.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to issue updated clinical guidance on diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure to (a) general practitioners, (b) gynaecologists and (c) oncologists.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government encourages all women, including those exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero, to attend regular cervical screenings which test for human papillomavirus, the cause of most cervical cancers. Women who believe or know that they were exposed to DES in utero may also need regular colposcopy which falls outside the routine screening programme. We recommend that they should speak to their general practitioner about this as local arrangements should be made for the follow up of women who display evidence of DES exposure. Further information regarding individuals exposed to DES is contained within the cervical screening guidance for the National Health Service, at the following link:
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has asked NHS England to work with local cancer alliances to ensure that providers are aware of this existing screening and follow up guidance for individuals exposed to DES, and that those who could benefit from additional screening have access to this.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the national body that develops authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the NHS on best practice in the care and treatment of patients with defined conditions. NICE has not issued any guidance on the diagnosis and management of patients potentially exposed to DES and it currently has no plans to do so. Decisions on the development of new topics for NICE guidance are taken by the NICE prioritisation board, chaired by its Chief Medical Officer, in line with its published prioritisation framework.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to update NHS clinical reference materials or NICE guidelines to include information on the diagnosis, management, and screening of patients potentially exposed to Diethylstilbestrol.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the national body that develops authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the NHS on best practice in the care and treatment of patients with defined conditions. NICE has not issued any guidance on the diagnosis and management of patients potentially exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) and it currently has no plans to do so. Decisions on the development of new topics for NICE guidance are taken by the NICE prioritisation board, chaired by its Chief Medical Officer, in line with its published prioritisation framework.
The current advice from the UK Health Security Agency, formerly Public Health England, is that routine cervical screening is appropriate for those who believed they were exposed to DES in utero. Further information on the UK Health Security Agency’s advice is available at the following link:
Participation in the National Breast Screening Programme is also recommended. Pregnant women who know that they were exposed in utero to DES should inform their obstetrician and be aware of the increased risks of ectopic pregnancy and preterm labour.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
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 the potential third-generation health impacts of Diethylstilbestrol exposure; and whether specific research has been commissioned to examine those impacts on fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and cancer risk.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government encourages all women, including those exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero, to attend regular cervical screenings which test for human papillomavirus, the cause of most cervical cancers. Women who believe or know that they were exposed to DES in utero may also need regular colposcopy which falls outside the routine screening programme. We recommend that they should speak to their general practitioner about this as local arrangements should be made for the follow up of women who have the stigmata of DES exposure. Further information regarding individuals exposed to DES is contained within the cervical screening guidance for the National Health Service, at the following link:
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has asked NHS England to work with local cancer alliances to ensure that providers are aware of this existing screening and follow up guidance for individuals exposed to DES.
Furthermore, where appropriate, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is considering how the Department may be able to share awareness of this issue with colleagues from across the Government who are responsible for related areas of chemical and environmental health policy, with a view to minimising future public health risks.
There are no plans by the Department to undertake an assessment of the potential impact of DES exposure on the long-term or intergenerational health of people in the United Kingdom.
The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). While no research has been commissioned into the health outcomes of people exposed to DES in utero, the NIHR would welcome high quality funding applications in this area. Further information on the scope of research funding calls is available on the NIHR website.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
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 raise awareness among healthcare professionals of the long-term health risks associated with in utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government encourages all women, including those exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero, to attend regular cervical screenings which test for human papillomavirus, the cause of most cervical cancers. Women who believe or know that they were exposed to DES in utero may also need regular colposcopy which falls outside the routine screening programme. We recommend that they should speak to their general practitioner about this as local arrangements should be made for the follow up of women who have the stigmata of DES exposure. Further information regarding individuals exposed to DES is contained within the cervical screening guidance for the National Health Service, at the following link:
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has asked NHS England to work with local cancer alliances to ensure that providers are aware of this existing screening and follow up guidance for individuals exposed to DES.
Furthermore, where appropriate, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is considering how the Department may be able to share awareness of this issue with colleagues from across the Government who are responsible for related areas of chemical and environmental health policy, with a view to minimising future public health risks.
There are no plans by the Department to undertake an assessment of the potential impact of DES exposure on the long-term or intergenerational health of people in the United Kingdom.
The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). While no research has been commissioned into the health outcomes of people exposed to DES in utero, the NIHR would welcome high quality funding applications in this area. Further information on the scope of research funding calls is available on the NIHR website.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
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 the potential impact of diethylstilbestrol exposure on the (a) long-term and (b) intergenerational health of people in the UK.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government encourages all women, including those exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero, to attend regular cervical screenings which test for human papillomavirus, the cause of most cervical cancers. Women who believe or know that they were exposed to DES in utero may also need regular colposcopy which falls outside the routine screening programme. We recommend that they should speak to their general practitioner about this as local arrangements should be made for the follow up of women who have the stigmata of DES exposure. Further information regarding individuals exposed to DES is contained within the cervical screening guidance for the National Health Service, at the following link:
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has asked NHS England to work with local cancer alliances to ensure that providers are aware of this existing screening and follow up guidance for individuals exposed to DES.
Furthermore, where appropriate, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is considering how the Department may be able to share awareness of this issue with colleagues from across the Government who are responsible for related areas of chemical and environmental health policy, with a view to minimising future public health risks.
There are no plans by the Department to undertake an assessment of the potential impact of DES exposure on the long-term or intergenerational health of people in the United Kingdom.
The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). While no research has been commissioned into the health outcomes of people exposed to DES in utero, the NIHR would welcome high quality funding applications in this area. Further information on the scope of research funding calls is available on the NIHR website.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
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 feasibility of using historic medical records to (a) identify and (b) contact people who may have been exposed to diethylstilbestrol.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise the consequences for those who were exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) and offer our sincere sympathies to those who continue to be affected.
There have been no discussions between the Department and patient advocacy groups representing people affected by exposure to DES. However, we will consider what more can be done to improve the situation for these individuals.
The Department has not assessed the feasibility of using historic medical records to identify and contact people who may have been exposed to DES. In the 1970’s, medicines vigilance was only in its infancy and there were no electronic records or systematic monitoring of prescriptions. There has been a step change in reporting and record-keeping since this time, and today’s regulatory frameworks are significantly different with much stricter post-authorisation monitoring, allowing for earlier identification and action on emerging safety issues. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency regulates medicines supplied in the United Kingdom and its activity spans the whole of a medicine’s lifecycle.