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 help ensure that integrated care boards are held accountable for commissioning services for those with very severe ME/CFS the absence of a national specialised service.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are expected to commission services for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) across all levels of severity, including those with severe and very severe ME/CFS, in line with national standards, service specifications and clinical access policies set by NHS England. Prioritisation and funding remain at the discretion of ICBs.

Officials have begun work to develop a template service specification for mild and moderate ME/CFS. This template will provide best practice examples to guide the commissioning of services for ME/CFS and will now include reference to severe ME/CFS as an interim support measure.

To help support healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of ME/CFS, the Department has worked with NHS England to develop an e-learning programme for healthcare professionals. All four sessions of the e‑learning programme are now available, with sessions one, two and three having universal access, while the fourth session, which focuses on the management of severe ME/CFS, is only available to healthcare professionals. The e-learning is available at the following link: https://learninghub.nhs.uk/catalogue/mecfselearning?nodeId=7288

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the case for restoring the right to strike for prison officers in England and Wales.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Prison officers work in difficult environments every day, with some of the most challenging people in society. The Government recognises that the work of prison officers is of critical importance in protecting the public and ensuring the safety and security of those in custody.

Section 127 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act (1994) makes it unlawful for anyone to induce a prison officer to take industrial action or continue, or to withhold services, or to commit a breach of discipline. This applies to frontline operational prison staff from Band 3 prison officers to Band 11 governors in England and Wales. Industrial action in prisons, even if only partial, would create unsustainable and significant risks to safety and security. This would in turn impact on the courts, police and public safety.

HMPPS has a comprehensive engagement and consultation framework in place with the POA, as well as dispute resolution processes, which ensures they have the full opportunity to raise any issues affecting their members. This has enabled collective agreement on a range of issues. HMPPS also has the ‘Whitley’ meeting structure in place for raising and escalating matters at both national and local levels, and the National Disputes Resolution Procedural Agreement, which was introduced in 2011, allowing for independent conciliation and arbitration on terms and conditions.

We are committed to ensuring the right of everyone who works in a prison to decent conditions and a fair reward for their hard work, and we believe we can do so without the need for legislative change.

We believe the work of the Prison Service Pay Review Body provides a robust, independent compensatory mechanism. Therefore, we have no plans to review the current legislation.

We will continue to engage regularly with our recognised trade unions and welcome the constructive contribution they continue to make in ensuring that the views of staff are fully represented.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what financial support his Department has provided to small businesses in the context of recent trends in the level of kerosene costs.

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.

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.

Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday and National Nature Day

Bank holiday for celebrations if England win the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Liushenyu mining disaster and workers’ safety

100th anniversary of the birth of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Found: James Asser; Bambos Charalambous; Mr Lee Dillon; Mary Kelly Foy; Tracy Gilbert; Katrina Murray; Lee Pitcher

Found: James Asser; Bambos Charalambous; Mr Lee Dillon; Mary Kelly Foy; Tracy Gilbert; Katrina Murray; Lee Pitcher

Found: James Asser; Bambos Charalambous; Mr Lee Dillon; Mary Kelly Foy; Tracy Gilbert; Katrina Murray; Lee Pitcher

Found: Government support for small abattoirs James Asser: Fifth anniversary of the covid-19 pandemic Lee Pitcher

Found: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat; Cheadle) Katrina Murray (Labour; Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch) Lee Pitcher