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Written Question
Sodium Valproate and Surgical Mesh Implants: Compensation
Tuesday 22nd July 2025

Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timeline is for publishing a Government response to the Hughes Report, published on 7 February 2024.

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

The Government is carefully considering the work by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her Report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government Departments. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s Report.


Written Question
Social Media: Discrimination
Friday 18th July 2025

Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if his Department will take steps to ensure that (a) X and (b) other social media platforms prevent their artificial intelligence systems from promoting (i) racist and (ii) anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Online Safety Act’s illegal content duties took effect on 17 March. These duties require user-to-user and search services to implement robust measures designed to reduce the risks that users encounter illegal content and activity, including from illegal anti-Semitic content.

These duties apply to AI generated content in the same way as ‘real’ content - i.e. where it is shared on an in-scope service and is either illegal content or content which is harmful to children. Ofcom is responsible for taking enforcement action as appropriate and has published recommendations for how providers should fulfil their duties in codes of practice.


Written Question
Pet Travel Scheme: EU Countries
Wednesday 16th July 2025

Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the reinstatement of UK-issued pet passports for travel to EU member states; and what his planned timeline is for implementation of those passports.

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

As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on 19 May 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area. This will mean taking pets on holiday into the EU will be easier and cheaper. Instead of needing an animal health certificate each time you travel, you will be able to get a multiuse pet passport valid for travel to the EU.

With the principles and framework of a deal agreed, the Government will now need to negotiate the detail of an agreement. Our aim is to start the detailed negotiations as soon as possible, and Defra will provide more information on pet passports valid for travel to the EU in due course.


Written Question
EU Countries: Visas
Tuesday 1st July 2025

Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has had discussions with (a) EU member states and (b) (i) VFS Global and (ii) other third-party visa service providers on improving the (A) accessibility, (B) transparency and (C) efficiency of the Schengen visa application process for UK residents; and whether his Department is taking steps with relevant stakeholders to help ensure that applicants receive (1) timely communication and (2) clear recourse when experiencing (a) delays and (b) lack of response.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government regularly uses its diplomatic channels to facilitate conversations between the UK, the EU and EU Member States on issues impacting British Citizens overseas.

Non-British Citizens experiencing difficulties applying for EU entry visas should approach the relevant Embassy or High Commission for advice on what assistance their governments can provide.

More information on Schengen visa processes can be found on the website of the country to which an application is being made.


Written Question
Midwives: Apprentices
Thursday 26th June 2025

Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)

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 expand access to degree apprenticeships in midwifery for (a) mature students, (b) career changers and (c) other people who face (i) financial and (ii) practical barriers to undertaking traditional university training routes.

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

We will publish a new workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and will treat patients on time again. This will include how we ensure we train healthcare staff, through all training routes including apprenticeships, to support patients in all of our communities.


Written Question
Urinary Tract Infections: Health Education
Monday 23rd June 2025

Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)

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 public awareness of the symptoms of chronic urinary tract infections.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Health Service provides information on the symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs), including chronic UTIs, at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-tract-infections-utis/

The Department currently has no plans to raise public awareness of the symptoms of chronic UTIs. However, the Department, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is funding research to improve the diagnosis and treatment of UTIs, including chronic UTIs. This research includes the development of antimicrobial-impregnated catheters to reduce episodes of catheter-associated UTIs as well as the TOUCAN study, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.phctrials.ox.ac.uk/recruiting-trials/toucan-platform-for-uti-diagnostic-evaluation

This study is evaluating rapid point of care UTI diagnostic tests in general practice surgeries that not only enable faster detection of UTIs but also provide real-time information on antibiotic resistance, ensuring patients receive the correct treatment.


Written Question
Transport: Maidenhead
Friday 20th June 2025

Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, how much additional funding her Department plans to spend on transport projects for Maidenhead; and what those projects are.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We are yet to announce the local authority allocations for the majority of the transport funding announced in the Spending Review. This will be announced in due course. We have informed Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council of their allocation of the Local Transport Grant which is £7.336 million for the period from April 2026 to April 2030 for local transport improvements.


Written Question
Mental Health Services: Berkshire
Thursday 19th June 2025

Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)

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 reduce waiting times for adolescent mental health services in Berkshire.

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

We know children and young people are not receiving the mental health care they need and that waits for mental health services are too long across England, including Berkshire. We are determined to change that as part of our shift to prevention and earlier intervention and in line with our Plan for Change.

The Department’s Spending Review settlement means that annual National Health Service day-to-day spending will increase by £29 billion in real terms, representing a £53 billion cash uplift, by 2028/29 compared to 2023/24.

In the Spending Review announcement, we have confirmed that we will fulfil the Government’s commitments to recruit an additional 8,500 additional mental health staff by the end of the Parliament and expand mental health support teams in schools in England to cover 100% of pupils by 2029/30.


Written Question
Trams: Construction
Tuesday 17th June 2025

Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of guidance from the Highway Authority and Utilities Committee that utilities beneath tram tracks must be diverted under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 on the cost of light rail schemes; and whether her Department is taking steps to (a) review the cost-allocation model for utility diversions and (b) review the requirement to move utilities in this way.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

My Department works closely with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) - which brings together highway authorities, utilities and government with the aim of working safely and smartly to reduce the impact of street and road works on members of the public throughout the UK. The Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee is currently reviewing the Diversionary Works Code of Practice with my officials. There are currently no plans to review the regulations for cost allocation.

The New Road and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) balances the statutory rights of highway authorities and undertakers to carry out works with the need to minimise the disruption caused by these works. Financial incentives play an important role in ensuring compliance with requirements. There is a risk that by removing safeguards when utilities work on tram routes, reinstatements may not be fit for purpose, resulting in damage and possible safety issues that the tram company operator or local highway authority would then need to resolve.


Written Question
Green Belt: Maidenhead
Tuesday 17th June 2025

Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to green belt protections on (a) biodiversity, (b) access to green space and (c) the long-term preservation of rural character in Cookham.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The revised National Planning Policy Framework was published on 12 December 2024, following extensive consultation, including with local planning authorities.

I otherwise refer the hon. Members to the answers given to questions UIN 26508 on 5 February 2025, UIN 29375 on 18 February 2025, UIN 40156 on 26 March 2025 and UIN 43157 on 7 April 2025.