Asked by: John Whitby (Labour - Derbyshire Dales)
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 into the potential use of upright MRI scans to diagnose Craniocervical Instability, particularly as it relates to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Diagnostic investigations for suspected craniocervical instability in patients with Ehlers Danlos syndromes, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography, are available through existing National Health Service pathways. Access to more specialised imaging, such as upright or dynamic MRI, is determined locally and used in limited circumstances based on clinical need and the available of clinical evidence. There are no current plans to expand national provision. The commissioning of imaging services, including access to particular technologies, is the responsibility of local integrated care boards, informed by national guidance.
Asked by: John Whitby (Labour - Derbyshire Dales)
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 implications for his Department's policies of policy measures adopted in Germany to improve energy efficiency and waste heat utilisation in data centres.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
To address the growing energy demands of AI, the AI Energy Council was established. The Council offers expert insights into preparing the UK’s energy system to manage AI’s energy footprint, as well as harnessing AI’s potential within a modern energy system - aligned with the Clean Power 2030 goals.
Heat network zoning will enable heat sources to be connected to a network. This will allow for strategic heat networks to be built across the country, making use of recoverable heat sources, including data centres, where available.
The department is undertaking research into best practice for connecting heat sources to heat networks. This includes learning from national and international case studies.
Asked by: John Whitby (Labour - Derbyshire Dales)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to encourage the integration of data centres into local heat network zoning plans.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department is looking at how waste heat from data centres can be used to support the development of large scale, strategic heat networks.
Through heat network zoning, certain buildings and heat sources, including data centres, can be required to connect to a network within set timeframes.
Additionally, the Green Heat Network Fund provides £195m p.a. in capital grants up to 2029–30 for low carbon heat networks in England. One supported project is a major new network in North-West London that will utilise data centre heat, powering 10,000 new homes and 250,000m2 of commercial space.
Asked by: John Whitby (Labour - Derbyshire Dales)
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 provide targeted support to businesses that use heating oil.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government recognises that many businesses across the country will see the global events and be concerned about the impact on their fuel bills. We are monitoring the situation closely and actively engaging with industry and trade associations to understand what support may be needed.
It is vital that consumers are treated fairly. Price gouging will not be tolerated. My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State has written to the heating oil industry setting out our expectations that they adhere to the industry’s Code of Practice.
We have also requested the CMA undertake a detailed examination of the heating oil market and we will work closely with the CMA to understand their findings and develop options to increase consumer protection.
Asked by: John Whitby (Labour - Derbyshire Dales)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the written statement of 2 March 2026 on Asylum changes, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the timeline for establishing a Named Community Sponsorship scheme.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
In the Restoring Order and Control policy statement, published on 21 November 2025, the Government committed to transforming its approach to safe and legal routes. This included the creation of a named sponsorship scheme to enable community groups to sponsor refugees and displaced persons.
The delivery of the new named sponsorship scheme will support the Government’s overall objective of providing an orderly and controlled system of safe and legal routes that is aligned with community capacity to welcome refugees.
Work is underway to deliver the named community sponsorship route. Further details, including timeframes for the launch of the route, will be set out in due course.
Asked by: John Whitby (Labour - Derbyshire Dales)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her written statement of 2 March 2026 on Asylum changes, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the proposed Named Community Sponsorship scheme.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
In the Restoring Order and Control policy statement, published on 21 November 2025, the Government committed to transforming its approach to safe and legal routes. This included the creation of a named sponsorship scheme to enable community groups to sponsor refugees and displaced persons.
The delivery of the new named sponsorship scheme will support the Government’s overall objective of providing an orderly and controlled system of safe and legal routes that is aligned with community capacity to welcome refugees.
Work is underway to deliver the named community sponsorship route. Further details, including timeframes for the launch of the route, will be set out in due course.
Asked by: John Whitby (Labour - Derbyshire Dales)
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 ICBs provide an annual health check to adults with cerebral palsy.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to making sure that people with cerebral palsy receive quality care. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on cerebral palsy in adults, which is available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng119
The guidance recommends that people with cerebral palsy should have an annual review of their clinical and functional needs, carried out by a healthcare professional with expertise in neurodisabilities. This review should consider mobility, communication, pain, mental and physical health, participation, and any new or changing support needs.
While NICE guidelines are not mandatory, they reflect best practice, and the Government expects healthcare commissioners to take the guidelines fully into account in designing services that meet the needs of their local population and to work towards their implementation over time. Recommendations in NICE guidance are based on rigorous clinical and economic evidence and ensure that services are both clinically effective and cost‑effective, and support more consistent, sustainable care across the country.
Asked by: John Whitby (Labour - Derbyshire Dales)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to its response to recommendation 24 of the Environmental Audit Committee’s report entitled Environmental Sustainability and Housing Growth, published on 13 March 2026, what assessment his Department made of the potential impact of the introduction of mandatory whole-life carbon reporting by EU Member States on the technological readiness of carbon assessment methods.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department has made no such assessment.
Asked by: John Whitby (Labour - Derbyshire Dales)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to increase awareness and funding for (a) materials and mining programmes of study and (b) science and engineering apprenticeships and qualifications in the quarrying sector.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government supports education and skills training in the minerals, mining and quarrying sectors through:
Asked by: John Whitby (Labour - Derbyshire Dales)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assurances he can provide that National Parks and National Landscapes will be fully considered in any proposals for an overnight visitor accommodation levy.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The precise design and scope of the overnight visitor levy power is still under development. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will rest with Mayors and be shaped through local consultation on its design and the impacts the levy may have, including on National Parks and National Landscapes.