Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the safe disposal of needles in the context of the growing use of GLP-1 medicines; whether his Department has had discussions with pharmaceutical companies about meeting the costs of this disposal.

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

It is important for sharps to be disposed of safely, to avoid risk of accidental needle-stick injuries to pharmacy or general practice staff, waste management operatives, and other members of the public. All sharps should be disposed in sharps bins, which can be obtained on prescription or purchased. Local authorities are obliged to collect clinical waste, including sharps bins, from householders upon request. Under section 45(3)(b) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 they may make a reasonable charge for this service.

The Department has had no discussions with the pharmaceutical industry about meeting the cost of this disposal.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the appeals system for private parking disputes is (a) independent, (b) fair and (c) transparent.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector. It has recently outlined, in a public consultation, its proposals to better protect and support motorists whilst balancing the legitimate needs of private parking operators.

Specific views are being sought on the level of parking charge caps and on the appeals service.

The consultation closed on 26th September.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of capping (a) private parking charges and (b) penalty fees at a (i) fair and (ii) proportionate level.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector. It has recently outlined, in a public consultation, its proposals to better protect and support motorists whilst balancing the legitimate needs of private parking operators.

Specific views are being sought on the level of parking charge caps and on the appeals service.

The consultation closed on 26th September.

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 heart health pathways.

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

The latest data, from July 2025, shows that 61.6% of waits for cardiology services are within 18 weeks, which is a 1.7% improvement on the same month from the previous year. While this shows progress, we know there is more to do to reduce waiting times for heart health pathways. That is why, along with our commitment to returning to the 92% referral-to-treatment standard for elective care by March 2029, the Elective Reform Plan commits to significant elective reform in cardiology.

Cardiology is one of five priority specialties identified for significant elective reform in the Elective Reform Plan. Reforms will include increasing specialist cardiology input earlier in patient care pathways and developing standard and efficient care pathways for common cardiology symptoms. It also includes improving access to cardiac diagnostic tests through implementing more ‘straight-to-test’ pathways, where a general practitioner can refer a patient directly to secondary care for a test. This can reduce unnecessary outpatient appointments and improve waiting times even further for patients across England.

These improvements to common cardiology pathways help standardise patient care, reduce inequalities, and improve access to care, especially in the early stages of heart health pathways for patients across England.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help improve the availability of free housing-related advice services in Nottingham.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Councils have a statutory duty to provide or secure the provision of advice and information about homelessness and the prevention of homelessness, free of charge. This should form part of each council’s strategy for preventing homelessness. You can read more about this in Chapter 3 of the homelessness code of guidance on gov.uk here.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will place restrictions on the trade of British-manufactured equipment with Israel in circumstances where there is evidence of a risk that such equipment will be used to facilitate the construction of illegal settlements.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave her on 3 July to Question 62975.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with the police on taking steps to help ensure that people who incited (a) hatred and (b) violence during the Unite The Kingdom march in London on 13 September 2025 are held to account; and whether she plans to exclude from the UK people who incited (i) hatred and (ii) violence who are not (A) British citizens and (B) resident in the UK.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Secretary and Minsters have regular discussions with policing partners on a range of issues.

Decisions on how to police individual protests are for Chief Constables, who are operationally independent and best placed to assess local threat and risk.

The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental part of our society; however, this does not extend to violent behaviour and attacks on police officers.

Where the activity of protestors breaks the law, the police have the powers they need to respond. During the Unite the Kingdom protest, the Metropolitan Police Service arrested 24 people - for a variety of offences including for violent disorder, affray, assaults, and criminal damage - and are seeking to identify others.

It would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene in those operational decisions, but we continue to work closely with policing to ensure they have the right capabilities and support in place to keep the public safe and uphold the law.

A person who is not a British citizen may be excluded from the UK on the grounds that their presence here would not be conducive to the public good. Exclusion is normally reserved for cases involving national security, extremism, serious crime, war crimes, corruption and unacceptable behaviour such as inciting violence.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help improve the availability of (a) free and (b) independent benefits-related advice services in Nottingham.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Work and Pensions signposts customers to the following services in Nottingham, with which it has an active relationship.

• Meadows Advice Centre
• St. Annes Advice - Disability Employment Advisers have a strong relationship with this organisation to support customers with Mental Health conditions.
• Clifton Advice Centre
• Bestwood Advice Centre
• West Bridgford Advice Centre
• Nottinghamshire Deaf Society
• Disability Support - benefit support for those with disabilities
• Nottingham City Council has a benefits team, and specifically one for carers

St Anne’s Advice, Disability Support and Citizens Advice Centre all recently attended a DWP Health and Wellbeing event, to support customers with health conditions, and regularly attend our Disability Employment Adviser Cafes which provide an informal environment in Nottingham where the DWP works in collaboration with partners to support customers.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Loan Charge on the mental health of those affected; and if she will take steps to prevent such harm.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government commissioned an independent review of the loan charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers. The Government will respond by Autumn Budget 2025.

The independent review was led by Ray McCann whose name was suggested by one of the Loan Charge campaigners. The terms of reference made it clear that he would be supported by a team of officials based outside of HM Treasury and HMRC, none of whom had previously worked on this policy area. Mr McCann was responsible for deciding how to conduct the review and will also have the final say on what is included in his report.

HMRC has guidance and training in place for customer advisors on identifying people who need extra support and providing reasonable adjustments to meet their needs. HMRC can offer support to individuals with disguised remuneration liabilities through manageable payment plans and its well-established Extra Support Service.

Where appropriate, HMRC will signpost people to relevant voluntary and community organisations and where needed, to a dedicated Samaritans helpline for specialist emotional support where people can talk though any concerns or worries.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that the review of the Loan Charge is (a) independent, (b) transparent, (c) robust and (d) free from interference.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government commissioned an independent review of the loan charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers. The Government will respond by Autumn Budget 2025.

The independent review was led by Ray McCann whose name was suggested by one of the Loan Charge campaigners. The terms of reference made it clear that he would be supported by a team of officials based outside of HM Treasury and HMRC, none of whom had previously worked on this policy area. Mr McCann was responsible for deciding how to conduct the review and will also have the final say on what is included in his report.

HMRC has guidance and training in place for customer advisors on identifying people who need extra support and providing reasonable adjustments to meet their needs. HMRC can offer support to individuals with disguised remuneration liabilities through manageable payment plans and its well-established Extra Support Service.

Where appropriate, HMRC will signpost people to relevant voluntary and community organisations and where needed, to a dedicated Samaritans helpline for specialist emotional support where people can talk though any concerns or worries.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Universal Credit taper in incentivising part-time work.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The taper rate aims to make customers financially better off in work by ensuring that their Universal Credit award is reduced by less than their earned income.

Universal Credit has a single taper rate of 55% and some customers will also benefit from a work allowance which is the amount someone can earn before their Universal Credit award starts to reduce.

Once a customer is earning more than their work allowance (if applicable), their Universal Credit starts to be reduced at a consistent rate.

Tower Hamlets counter-demonstration on 25 October 2025

Non-indexed pre-1997 pensions

Conduct of Prince Andrew

Indefinite leave to remain and settlement

Five-year indefinite leave to remain pathway for Skilled Worker visa holders

Leeds Stand Up To Racism’s event