Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure transparency in the use of statutory consultation in the appointment of judges.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Lord Chancellor is committed to transparent and merit-based selection processes that maintain the quality of our judiciary.

Statutory consultation is provided for in legislation and requires the independent Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) to seek views from those with relevant experience, unless the appropriate authority agrees it is not required. It is one of a range of shortlisting and selection tools used by the JAC to ensure that candidates are of good character and have relevant capabilities for the role.

The JAC made changes to the operation of statutory consultation following an independent review in 2022 to provide clearer information about when and how statutory consultation is used. It has recently published an evaluation of those changes alongside updated guidance for candidates and consultees (https://judicialappointments.gov.uk/corp-publication/evaluation-on-the-revised-approach-to-statutory-consultation/).

Candidates can complain to the JAC and, if dissatisfied, to the independent Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman if they believe that their application for appointment has not been handled appropriately.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure transparency in the appointment of judges.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Lord Chancellor is committed to transparent and merit-based selection processes that maintain the quality of our judiciary. I refer the hon. Member for Wrekin, Mark Pritchard to the answer I gave on 1 May 2025 to Question 47182 (https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-04-23/47182).

In January 2026, the independent Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) relaunched its website which includes detailed information about the new Judicial Skills and Abilities Framework, and updated guidance about statutory consultation. In addition, the Ministry of Justice works with the JAC and the judiciary to produce the annual Diversity of the Judiciary statistics, with detailed data about judicial appointments.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Judicial Appointment Commission on its use of resources to challenge Freedom of Information requests.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The independent Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) is designated as a public body under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). The JAC is responsible for meeting its statutory obligations under the FOIA and the Data Protection Act 2018, including ensuring requests are handled in line with the relevant legislation. Decisions on the responses to individual Freedom of Information requests, including any associated legal consideration, are for the JAC.

The JAC as a non-departmental public body is responsible for managing its own resources including in relation to meeting its statutory obligations. The governance and accountability arrangements between the Ministry of Justice and the JAC are set out in the framework document agreed in line with HM Treasury’s Managing Public Money, including in relation to governance and financial matters

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 (a) prevalence of respiratory disease and (b) number of emergency hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in (i) the Wrekin constituency and (ii) Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin compared with national averages.

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

Data is available for emergency Finished Admission Episodes (FAEs) where there was a primary diagnosis of 'respiratory conditions’. The following table shows the FAEs where there was a primary diagnosis of 'respiratory conditions’ for the Telford and The Wrekin constituencies, as well as for England, in English National Health Service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector, for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26:

Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS England.

Available data on trends in respiratory conditions can be found on the Department’s fingertips dataset. Data is not available by parliamentary constituency. Data is available at regional, county, unitary authority, and integrated care board level. Information for Shropshire can be found at the following link:

https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/Respiratory#page/1/gid/1/pat/15/ati/502/are/E06000051/iid/40701/age/163/sex/4/cat/-1/ctp/-1/yrr/1/cid/4/tbm/1

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 merits of a Modern Service Framework on lung health.

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

The Government will consider long-term conditions for future waves of modern service frameworks (MSFs), including respiratory conditions. The criteria for determining other conditions for future MSFs will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. After the initial wave of MSFs is complete, the National Quality Board will determine the conditions to prioritise for new MSFs as part of its work programme.

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 earlier diagnosis of endometriosis.

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

It is unacceptable that women can wait so long for an endometriosis diagnosis, and we are committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care for endometriosis.

As announced in September 2025, we will establish an “online hospital”, NHS Online, which will give people across the country on certain pathways the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home.

Menstrual problems which may be a sign of endometriosis will be among the first conditions available for referral to NHS Online from 2027. We’ve chosen some of the conditions with the longest waits and where online consultation works best.

NHS Online will help to reduce patient waiting times, delivering the equivalent of up to 8.5 million appointments and assessments in its first three years, four times more than an average trust, while enhancing patient choice and control over their care. This will allow women with menstrual problems which may be a sign of endometriosis across the country to reach a diagnosis sooner.

The General Medical Council (GMC) has introduced the Medical Licensing Assessment to encourage a better understanding of common women’s health problems among all doctors as they start their careers in the United Kingdom. The content for this assessment includes several topics relating to women’s health, including endometriosis.

In November 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) updated their guideline on endometriosis, which makes firmer recommendations for healthcare professionals on referral and investigations for women with suspected diagnosis, and will help the estimated one in 10 women with endometriosis receive a diagnosis faster. NICE is working with the National Health Service to ensure adoption of this best practice endometriosis care.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to protect whistleblowers who breach legislation relating to official secrets, including the Official Secrets Act 1989 and the National Security Act 2023, in order to protect the UK's national security.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Government is not currently considering any legislative reform in this area as the existing frameworks provide appropriate protections for protecting national security. There are established channels for members of the security and intelligence services to raise concerns, which can then be investigated appropriately without compromising national security through unauthorised public disclosure.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the number of former (a) National Security Advisers and (b) Deputy National Security Advisers since 2005 who advise (i) Chinese registered companies and (ii) subsidiaries of Chinese companies registered outside of China.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Crown servants are subject to the Business Appointment Rules when accepting new appointments outside government after Crown service.

For the most senior Crown servants, if an applicant has made an application for advice and the role is subsequently taken up, that advice will be published by the relevant body. Any advice provided to former National Security Advisers and Deputy National Security Advisers that was considered by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA), prior to its closure on 13 October 2025, would have been published on ACOBA’s page on GOV.UK here

From 13 October 2025, any advice provided to former National Security Advisers and Deputy National Security Advisers will have been considered by the Civil Service Commission, and would be published on its website here

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to develop a new National Autism Strategy.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government will develop a new autism strategy. I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Manchester Rusholme on 26 February 2026 to Question 114228.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of sexual offences that have been committed by asylum seekers in (a) the West Mercia Police region and (b) Shropshire since 2025.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office does not hold data on the number of people in asylum accommodation who have been accused of a crime. Allegations of criminal activity are matters for the police, who are responsible for recording, investigating, and progressing criminal reports.

Home Office accommodation providers and operational staff work closely with local police forces to share relevant safeguarding information to manage risks within the asylum accommodation estate. Where incidents occur, established processes ensure that appropriate action is taken to protect both asylum seekers and staff, and additional support is deployed where necessary.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential risks of Iran's (a) diesel-electric submarine fleet, (b) mini-submarines and (c) underwater unmanned autonomous vehicles on (i) the Royal Navy and (ii) UK commercial shipping.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Ministry of Defence routinely monitors and assesses the capabilities and activities of the Iranian Armed Forces, including its naval assets.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will have discussions with the previous seven Cabinet Secretaries on information disclosed to them in diplomatic telegrams by overseas staff on the (a) personal use of UK diplomatic residences by Andrew Mountbatten Windsor when he was a UK Trade Envoy and (b) action taken following receipt of that information.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Rt Hon Member will be aware that a related police investigation is underway, as per the statement of Thames Valley Police on 19th February. The Government stands ready to support the police in whatever way it can.