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 improve (a) awareness and (b) early diagnosis of osteoporosis before people suffer bone fractures as a result of the disease.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

There are resources in place to help support healthcare professionals in the early diagnosis of osteoporosis, such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical knowledge summary on osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures.

The Royal College of General Practitioners also has an e-learning module for general practitioners on the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis, developed in collaboration with the Royal Osteoporosis Society, which is designed to support the early diagnosis of osteoporosis by highlighting which groups are at higher risk of osteoporosis and fragility fractures.

In March this year, the Government announced funding for 20 new bone density, or DEXA, scanners across England, supported by £2.6 million of investment. Tens of thousands of patients will benefit from faster access to bone scans as a result, helping to ensure that people with bone conditions, such as osteoporosis, get diagnosed earlier. This builds on the first wave of 13 DEXA scanners announced last year.

Last year in 2025, over 21,000 extra DEXA scans were delivered compared with the previous year, 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will ensure that the MOD Defence Medical Service updates its policy on Mefloquine-damaged veterans to (a) acknowledge the recent confirmation by NHS England that Mefloquine neurotoxicity (i) exists and (ii) requires clinical management, (b) accept that misdiagnosis of Mefloquine-damaged veterans as having PTSD can lead to the prescribing of inappropriate psychiatric medication (A) leading to serious worsening of their condition and (B) impeding the search for effective treatment of brain damage caused by Mefloquine, and (c) develop a communications strategy, in conjunction with other relevant MOD bodies and the NHS, to make veterans and GPs aware that veterans presenting with suicidal ideation should routinely be checked for exposure to Mefloquine during their past service in the armed forces.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

I refer the hon. member to the answer provided by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in January this year. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-12/104605

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) and DHSC recognise that mefloquine is associated with neurological and psychiatric adverse effects. Defence Medical Command (DMedC) support an approach to healthcare in which treatment is directed towards the patient’s clinical diagnosis and presenting symptoms and managed in accordance with current evidence-based clinical practice and relevant national guidance. DMedC is not aware of evidence or national guidance that recommends withholding otherwise appropriate treatments where clinically indicated, solely on the basis of previous mefloquine exposure.

The MOD will continue to review emerging evidence, including systematic reviews, regulatory advice from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MRHA) and recommendations from expert bodies concerned with malaria prevention.

As outlined in the response by the former Minister for Health Innovation and Safety, NHS England is considering adding screening for prior mefloquine use and any associated adverse events to initial Op COURAGE and Op RESTORE assessments.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has met with Fighting with Pride to discuss the operation of the Financial Recognition Scheme.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

The Ministry of Defence values the insights and expertise of partners from across the charity sector and welcomes regular dialogue. Defence Ministers and officials regularly meet with its representatives, including the Chief Executive Officer.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to include within the Financial Recognition Scheme ("FRS") those veterans who resigned from the armed forces as a result of pressure to do so on account of their sexual orientation; if he will ensure that Subject Access Requests by such veterans for their Service Records will be prioritised in time to meet the FRS application deadline of 12 December 2026; and what provisions he will make for the proper consideration of applications by such veterans to the FRS whose relevant contemporary documentation has been destroyed by his Department.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

The scope of the Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) already includes those who felt pressured to resign and they are encouraged to apply for the LGBT Impact Payment. The Impact Payment is assessed by an Independent Panel, separate from and independent of Defence, and provides recognition for a broad range of impacts felt under the Ban, including experiencing pressure to resign.

Defence does not require applicants to provide service records to support their application and encourages veterans to apply with their own personal testimonies. Subject Access Requests from any individuals, not just LGBT veterans, can take time to complete, not only due to high demand but also as records are stored in multiple locations. Prioritising requests from LGBT veterans would be unfair on other veterans applying to other Defence schemes that do require such evidence.

All applications are considered on a basis of reverse burden of proof; the information provided by the applicant will be accepted if the reported events are more likely to have occurred than not, unless there is evidence on their case file to the contrary. This approach prevents applicants being disadvantaged due to records being incomplete through no fault of their own.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of whether the Independent Impact Panel has sufficient capacity to determine all outstanding claims, before the Financial Recognition Scheme closes, made by veterans pressured into leaving the armed forces on account of their sexuality.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

Defence is committed to ensuring all applications are completed equitably and in the timeliest manner possible. Steps have been taken to increase the speed of processing Impact Payment applications, including recruiting both an additional Independent Panel Chair and Members, thereby enabling further Panel sittings each week. Application numbers and processing speeds are continually monitored to ensure any additional measures are taken to enable the conclusion of all applications by, or soon after, the time the Scheme closes for applications.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the costs and benefits of paid paternity leave, with reference to the comparative costs and benefits in European countries with a higher level of take-up, including Germany and Spain.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Government is considering a range of evidence on the costs and benefits of parental leave and pay as part of the ongoing Parental Leave and Pay Review. This includes evidence from other countries, including European countries such as Germany and Spain, which have different parental leave and pay systems and higher levels of fathers’ leave take-up.

The costs and benefits of paid paternity leave depend on the design of the entitlement, including its duration, payment rate and take-up. The Government has not yet reached conclusions on potential reforms. The Review is expected to report in early 2027, setting out next steps for taking forward any reforms to implementation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the findings and recommendations of research conducted by the University of Essex on the prevalence of non-sexual violence against women and girls in armed conflicts in fragile states; and if she will make it her policy to broaden the scope of her Department's Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan, published on 23 February 2023, for such states to also include non-sexual against women and girls.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government is committed to advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and to tackling all forms of violence against women and girls in conflict and fragile settings. As part of this commitment, the UK is refreshing our WPS National Action Plan to ensure it responds to current and emerging threats to women and girls. The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed the UK's commitment to this agenda in her speech marking 25 years of the Women, Peace and Security agenda on 24 November 2025: Twenty-Five years of Women Peace and Security - GOV.UK.

In May 2026, the Foreign Secretary launched a new global campaign to tackle violence against women and girls, including through a new International Coalition. The campaign covers all forms of violence against women and girls, including violence in conflict settings.

The Government has noted the University of Essex research and will continue to consider its findings alongside a broad range of evidence.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason her Department did not pause the installation of additional floating bus stops until further research on safety had been carried out in the context of the advice of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee; what analysis she has undertaken of the likelihood of cyclists giving way to blind people trying to cross cycle lanes to board and alight from buses at floating bus stops; and what consideration she has given to representations on that subject by the National Federation of the Blind of the UK and other charitable bodies.

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

On 20 November 2025, the Government put a pause on new floating bus stops that require people to board or alight directly from or into a cycle track.

During the passage of the Bus Services Act, officials met with NFBUK who presented their views on the issue. Meetings were also held with other groups representing vision-impaired people.

Active Travel England is currently carrying out research into the safety, accessibility and suitability of floating bus stops across different contexts that will consider potential design solutions to improve accessibility.

Memorial plaque for Ann Widdecombe

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of whether the Independent Impact Panel has sufficient capacity to determine all outstanding claims before the Scheme closes.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 July 2026 to Question 16834 to the hon. Member for New Forest East (Sir Julian Lewis).

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-07-08/16834.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he has yet met with Fighting With Pride to discuss the LGBTQ+ Financial Recognition Scheme.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 July 2026 to Question 16835 to the hon. Member for New Forrest East (Rt hon. Sir Julian Lewis MP).

Found: Friend the Member for New Forest East (Sir Julian Lewis), will he take the opportunity of the new NPPF