Asked by: Mark Sewards (Labour - Leeds South West and Morley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance her Department has issued on the use of telephone appointments for initial gynaecology consultations.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are taking action to reduce gynaecology waiting lists, including implementing innovative models of care that offer care closer to home and piloting gynaecology pathways in community diagnostic centres for patients with post-menopausal bleeding. As of August 2026, 59.6% of pathways were waiting less than 18 weeks for gynaecology services, an improvement of 5.4% since the Government took office.
Going forward, we will support integrated care boards to introduce a single point of access to assess all non-urgent referrals to gynaecology and women’s health services, enabling women to be directed to the best place for their needs. From October 2027, we will also introduce NHS Online, giving people on pathways relating to menopause and menstrual problems, which may be a sign of endometriosis, the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home, and substantially reducing patient waiting times.
These improvements will mean shorter waits and more convenient gynaecological care, alongside the additional reforms set out in the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewed-womens-health-strategy-for-england
Asked by: Mark Sewards (Labour - Leeds South West and Morley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to reduce waiting times for initial outpatient gynaecology appointments.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are taking action to reduce gynaecology waiting lists, including implementing innovative models of care that offer care closer to home and piloting gynaecology pathways in community diagnostic centres for patients with post-menopausal bleeding. As of August 2026, 59.6% of pathways were waiting less than 18 weeks for gynaecology services, an improvement of 5.4% since the Government took office.
Going forward, we will support integrated care boards to introduce a single point of access to assess all non-urgent referrals to gynaecology and women’s health services, enabling women to be directed to the best place for their needs. From October 2027, we will also introduce NHS Online, giving people on pathways relating to menopause and menstrual problems, which may be a sign of endometriosis, the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home, and substantially reducing patient waiting times.
These improvements will mean shorter waits and more convenient gynaecological care, alongside the additional reforms set out in the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewed-womens-health-strategy-for-england
Asked by: Mark Sewards (Labour - Leeds South West and Morley)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that early-years providers have an opportunity to demonstrate rapid improvement following an Ofsted inspection.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Ofsted report cards provide much greater transparency and insight, offering education professionals the information needed to drive improvement across the education system. Ofsted’s renewed Education Inspection Framework will clearly identify areas of strength and where a setting needs to improve.
Where Ofsted identifies that a setting or childminder has areas to improve, Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs provide targeted, diagnostic-led support through Early Years Stronger Practice Advisers. These Advisers offer bespoke, one-to-one coaching and professional guidance, including observing practice, supporting self-evaluation, developing clear and actionable improvement plans and advising on evidence-informed approaches to strengthen quality and sustain long-term improvement.
Early years providers receiving a below-expected-standard judgement will be reinspected on an accelerated timetable to ensure providers are given the opportunity to demonstrate rapid improvement to Ofsted, typically within 12 months for ‘needs attention’ and 6 months for ‘urgent improvement’.
Asked by: Mark Sewards (Labour - Leeds South West and Morley)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Ofsted’s inspection framework on the wellbeing of early-years staff.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department sets the standards and statutory requirements that all early years providers in England must meet. Ofsted is an independent non-ministerial government department, and as the regulator for early years provision, holds responsibility for inspection and operational impact. We recognise concerns raised by the sector regarding wellbeing and know there is still more to be done. We know that children thrive when they are cared for by confident, well-trained educators who feel valued. This means attracting, training and keeping great staff, and making sure they are valued and supported throughout their careers, with more support from day one.
We have developed the Education Staff Wellbeing Charter which sets out commitments from the department, Ofsted, schools and colleges to protect and promote staff wellbeing. The charter can be used to inform a whole school or college approach to wellbeing. Over 4,300 schools and colleges have signed up.
The department also signposts to mental health and wellbeing resources for education staff, this includes Education Support’s free, confidential 24-hour helpline for staff working in education
Asked by: Mark Sewards (Labour - Leeds South West and Morley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms are available for members of the public to report concerns about (a) persistent aircraft trails, (b) air quality and (c) atmospheric pollution.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Members of the public can report air quality and pollution concerns to their local authority, which has statutory responsibility for reviewing and assessing local air quality and investigating complaints relating to smoke emissions and certain other sources of local air pollution. Concerns about permitted industrial facilities can be reported by members of the public to the Environment Agency, or to the relevant local authority where it is the regulator.
Asked by: Mark Sewards (Labour - Leeds South West and Morley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency on waiting times for learner driver tests and approved driving instructor qualification tests.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As the Minister for Roads, I regularly meet with officials from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to discuss these, and other issues.
In April 2025, the Government announced a package of measures to reduce practical car test waiting times and deliver around 10,000 additional tests per month. More than 2.13 million practical driving tests were conducted in the 12 months to August 2026 – the highest rolling 12-month figure on record. DVSA also conducted over 906,000 driving tests between April and August 2026, up 15.5% on last year.
Alongside reintroducing overtime incentives, DVSA continues to recruit driving examiners and make the booking system fairer to increase test availability, protect access to tests and reduce waiting times.
Across driving examiner recruitment campaigns between 2021 and 2025, the average time from a formal offer of employment to a new entrant completing training and entering a test centre was 104 days. Although the training course lasts six weeks, recruitment times can be affected by pre-employment checks, candidate response times, notice periods and pre-booked leave.
DVSA continues to recruit additional ADI examiners and has increased its training capacity. ADI examiners work across multiple test centres and are deployed according to demand. Through the "book to hold" service, trainees can apply for part 2 or part 3 tests even when no appointments are available, allowing DVSA to identify demand and allocate examiner resources effectively. Where appropriate, priority is given to those nearing the end of their two-year qualification period. Provided a part 3 test application is submitted before the expiry date, the test itself may take place afterwards.
Asked by: Mark Sewards (Labour - Leeds South West and Morley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress her Department has made on reducing waiting times for practical driving tests.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As the Minister for Roads, I regularly meet with officials from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to discuss these, and other issues.
In April 2025, the Government announced a package of measures to reduce practical car test waiting times and deliver around 10,000 additional tests per month. More than 2.13 million practical driving tests were conducted in the 12 months to August 2026 – the highest rolling 12-month figure on record. DVSA also conducted over 906,000 driving tests between April and August 2026, up 15.5% on last year.
Alongside reintroducing overtime incentives, DVSA continues to recruit driving examiners and make the booking system fairer to increase test availability, protect access to tests and reduce waiting times.
Across driving examiner recruitment campaigns between 2021 and 2025, the average time from a formal offer of employment to a new entrant completing training and entering a test centre was 104 days. Although the training course lasts six weeks, recruitment times can be affected by pre-employment checks, candidate response times, notice periods and pre-booked leave.
DVSA continues to recruit additional ADI examiners and has increased its training capacity. ADI examiners work across multiple test centres and are deployed according to demand. Through the "book to hold" service, trainees can apply for part 2 or part 3 tests even when no appointments are available, allowing DVSA to identify demand and allocate examiner resources effectively. Where appropriate, priority is given to those nearing the end of their two-year qualification period. Provided a part 3 test application is submitted before the expiry date, the test itself may take place afterwards.
Asked by: Mark Sewards (Labour - Leeds South West and Morley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average time is between the recruitment of a driving examiner and that examiner conducting practical driving tests.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As the Minister for Roads, I regularly meet with officials from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to discuss these, and other issues.
In April 2025, the Government announced a package of measures to reduce practical car test waiting times and deliver around 10,000 additional tests per month. More than 2.13 million practical driving tests were conducted in the 12 months to August 2026 – the highest rolling 12-month figure on record. DVSA also conducted over 906,000 driving tests between April and August 2026, up 15.5% on last year.
Alongside reintroducing overtime incentives, DVSA continues to recruit driving examiners and make the booking system fairer to increase test availability, protect access to tests and reduce waiting times.
Across driving examiner recruitment campaigns between 2021 and 2025, the average time from a formal offer of employment to a new entrant completing training and entering a test centre was 104 days. Although the training course lasts six weeks, recruitment times can be affected by pre-employment checks, candidate response times, notice periods and pre-booked leave.
DVSA continues to recruit additional ADI examiners and has increased its training capacity. ADI examiners work across multiple test centres and are deployed according to demand. Through the "book to hold" service, trainees can apply for part 2 or part 3 tests even when no appointments are available, allowing DVSA to identify demand and allocate examiner resources effectively. Where appropriate, priority is given to those nearing the end of their two-year qualification period. Provided a part 3 test application is submitted before the expiry date, the test itself may take place afterwards.
Asked by: Mark Sewards (Labour - Leeds South West and Morley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to enforce animal welfare regulations relating to the killing of piglets on commercial pig farms.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Gorton and Denton, Hannah Spencer, on 4 June 2026 to PQ UIN 3739.
Asked by: Mark Sewards (Labour - Leeds South West and Morley)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of borrowing costs on small businesses in the construction sector.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that borrowing costs can affect cash flow, investment decisions and growth prospects for small businesses, including those operating in the construction sector. We continue to monitor economic conditions and engage regularly with businesses and representative bodies to understand the challenges they face. The Government is supporting small and medium-sized enterprises through measures to improve access to finance, while broader economic policies are focused on delivering stability and supporting sustainable growth across the economy.