Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what criteria, quantitative metrics, and scientific impact assessments were used in UK Research and Innovation's recent evidence-based prioritisation process; and if he will publish the risk assessments and scoring methodologies used to evaluate the impact of these decisions on university physics departments.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
UK Research and Innovation and the Science and Technology Facilities Council undertook a structured assessment of funding options across STFC's portfolio. The process considered scientific excellence, long-term research impact, strategic importance to the UK, international leadership, value for money and the preservation of capabilities that would be difficult or impossible to recreate if lost. Decisions were informed by more than 10 engagement events, written input from 48 project leads and more than 30 Science Board, Council and expert advisory panel meetings. Recommendations were reviewed and endorsed by the UKRI Executive Committee and approved by the UKRI Board. Information on the prioritisation process and outcomes has been published by UKRI.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of the STFC's projected £162 million deficit attributable directly to (a) foreign exchange rate fluctuations, (b) international subscription commitments, and (c) energy price increases.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Within the funding allocations set by Government, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils are responsible for managing their budgets, balancing pressures across their portfolios and ensuring their activities remain financially sustainable.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council identified a range of pressures affecting the affordability of its portfolio, including inflation, staffing and energy costs, foreign exchange movements, international subscription commitments and the costs associated with an expanded portfolio of activity. UKRI and STFC undertook a prioritisation exercise to return STFC to a sustainable financial position while protecting key capabilities. While UKRI has considered the contribution of individual cost pressures to STFC’s affordability challenge, the projected funding gap reflects the cumulative impact of multiple factors and UKRI does not routinely report or publish a breakdown of the gap by individual cost driver.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order in protecting victims.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPOs) are civil orders that are available to the police, on conviction or application to the court, to manage the risk posed by registered sex offenders and those who pose a risk of sexual harm.
SHPOs can be applied to anyone convicted or cautioned for a sexual or violent offence, including where offences are committed overseas. It can place a range of restrictions and/or requirements on individuals depending on the nature of the case, such as limiting their internet use, preventing travel abroad or attending a drug or alcohol treatment or behaviour change programme. Courts may impose prohibitions tailored to the offender's behaviour and assessed risk. Breach is a criminal offence punishable by a maximum of 5 years’ imprisonment.
The Government has awarded £99,367 through the Cabinet Office's Evaluation Accelerator Fund to support an evaluation of the effectiveness of SHPOs in reducing reoffending and improving offender management.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department issues to police forces on managing individuals subject to both a Supervision Order and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) who breach their SHPO conditions but are legally unfit to undergo standard criminal prosecution for that breach.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Secretary publishes statutory guidance for the police in relation to the exercise by them of their powers with regard to Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPOs) and interim SHPOs.
Additionally, the College of Policing publishes Authorised Professional Practice for officers involved in the management of sexual (and violent) offenders.
Individuals convicted of sexual offences subject to notification requirements and SHPOs are managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). MAPPA are a process through which the Police, Probation and Prison Services work together with other agencies to assess and manage the risks posed by individuals convicted of serious violent, sexual and terrorism offences living in the community to protect the public. Under MAPPA, agencies are expected to work together to ensure information is shared to support risk assessment and risk management and to safeguard victims and communities.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has his Department made of the efficiency of the roll-out of the Crisis and Resilience Fund.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department has worked closely with local authorities throughout implementation of the Crisis and Resilience Fund. Authorities were required to submit delivery plans by 01 July 2026 and are required to provide management information every six months, enabling the Department to monitor delivery and identify where additional support may be required.
The Department is also commissioning an independent national evaluation, which will assess the Fund’s delivery, impact and value for money.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of operational budget reductions on particle physics and astronomy research, relative to other research disciplines across UKRI; and for what reason operational funding reductions were designated at a level of up to 30%.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), as part of UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), completed an evidence-based prioritisation exercise to ensure its portfolio remains financially sustainable and focused on the highest-priority scientific opportunities, major international commitments and multidisciplinary facilities. The exercise considered scientific excellence, long-term research impact, strategic importance, value for money and preservation of capability. Following community engagement and expert advice, the PPAN budget is expected to decrease by 2.7% over four years, while major multidisciplinary facilities remain operational and internationally important commitments are protected. STFC grant funding for Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics (PPAN) postdoctoral researchers has been maintained at 2025/26 levels, while PhD studentships and fellowships were also protected.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she (a) has reviewed and (b) plans to review the (i) provision and (ii) location of (A) inpatient and (B) outpatient health services in South Hertfordshire.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise the challenges significant housing and population growth can place on primary care health infrastructure. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our ambition to create a Neighbourhood Health Service, shifting care from hospitals into communities and bringing more integrated, preventative care closer to people’s homes. The 10 Year Capital Plan, published in July, sets out how we will support delivery of that vision through capital investment.
The Government is investing over approximately £200 million of Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation funding to tackle historic underinvestment into the primary care estate. This funding continues to support upgrades to existing general practice surgeries, allowing practices to offer more appointments.
A further £200 million will support upgrading the existing estate to deliver approximately 50 neighbourhood health centres through upgrades. We announced Wave 1 of Neighbourhood Health Centre upgrade schemes in March 2026, with 27 sites across England selected to bring care closer to home. We are also assessing proposals for a pipeline of new build neighbourhood health centres.
Proposals for future waves of neighbourhood health centres are currently being assessed against published criteria, as set out in the Neighbourhood Health Centre Guidance, with final decisions on future schemes yet to be confirmed. Further information on the criteria is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/neighbourhood-health-centres/
Projects that meet the criteria will be invited to develop detailed business cases before any final funding decisions are taken. Rollout for neighbourhood health centres will start in the areas of greatest need, with investment prioritised where it can have the greatest impact and address material gaps in community and neighbourhood health infrastructure.
Integrated care boards (ICBs), like the Central East ICB which covers the South Hertfordshire area, are responsible for commissioning, including planning, securing, and monitoring, services within their health systems through delegated responsibility from NHS England. The National Health Service has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient medical services, including general practice, in each local area. ICBs should evaluate the needs of the populations for which they are responsible and plan service provision as required.
The Department continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to determine how the developer contributions system can be strengthened and improved to support the planning and delivery of the required social infrastructure in areas of population growth.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance and timetable her Department has provided to Integrated Care Boards regarding the allocation of General Practice capital funding for primary care infrastructure developments.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise the challenges significant housing and population growth can place on primary care health infrastructure. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our ambition to create a Neighbourhood Health Service, shifting care from hospitals into communities and bringing more integrated, preventative care closer to people’s homes. The 10 Year Capital Plan, published in July, sets out how we will support delivery of that vision through capital investment.
The Government is investing over approximately £200 million of Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation funding to tackle historic underinvestment into the primary care estate. This funding continues to support upgrades to existing general practice surgeries, allowing practices to offer more appointments.
A further £200 million will support upgrading the existing estate to deliver approximately 50 neighbourhood health centres through upgrades. We announced Wave 1 of Neighbourhood Health Centre upgrade schemes in March 2026, with 27 sites across England selected to bring care closer to home. We are also assessing proposals for a pipeline of new build neighbourhood health centres.
Proposals for future waves of neighbourhood health centres are currently being assessed against published criteria, as set out in the Neighbourhood Health Centre Guidance, with final decisions on future schemes yet to be confirmed. Further information on the criteria is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/neighbourhood-health-centres/
Projects that meet the criteria will be invited to develop detailed business cases before any final funding decisions are taken. Rollout for neighbourhood health centres will start in the areas of greatest need, with investment prioritised where it can have the greatest impact and address material gaps in community and neighbourhood health infrastructure.
Integrated care boards (ICBs), like the Central East ICB which covers the South Hertfordshire area, are responsible for commissioning, including planning, securing, and monitoring, services within their health systems through delegated responsibility from NHS England. The National Health Service has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient medical services, including general practice, in each local area. ICBs should evaluate the needs of the populations for which they are responsible and plan service provision as required.
The Department continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to determine how the developer contributions system can be strengthened and improved to support the planning and delivery of the required social infrastructure in areas of population growth.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
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 support primary care networks in increasing patient capacity and reducing waiting times for GP appointments in towns which are increasing in population.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise the challenges significant housing and population growth can place on primary care health infrastructure. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our ambition to create a Neighbourhood Health Service, shifting care from hospitals into communities and bringing more integrated, preventative care closer to people’s homes. The 10 Year Capital Plan, published in July, sets out how we will support delivery of that vision through capital investment.
The Government is investing over approximately £200 million of Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation funding to tackle historic underinvestment into the primary care estate. This funding continues to support upgrades to existing general practice surgeries, allowing practices to offer more appointments.
A further £200 million will support upgrading the existing estate to deliver approximately 50 neighbourhood health centres through upgrades. We announced Wave 1 of Neighbourhood Health Centre upgrade schemes in March 2026, with 27 sites across England selected to bring care closer to home. We are also assessing proposals for a pipeline of new build neighbourhood health centres.
Proposals for future waves of neighbourhood health centres are currently being assessed against published criteria, as set out in the Neighbourhood Health Centre Guidance, with final decisions on future schemes yet to be confirmed. Further information on the criteria is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/neighbourhood-health-centres/
Projects that meet the criteria will be invited to develop detailed business cases before any final funding decisions are taken. Rollout for neighbourhood health centres will start in the areas of greatest need, with investment prioritised where it can have the greatest impact and address material gaps in community and neighbourhood health infrastructure.
Integrated care boards (ICBs), like the Central East ICB which covers the South Hertfordshire area, are responsible for commissioning, including planning, securing, and monitoring, services within their health systems through delegated responsibility from NHS England. The National Health Service has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient medical services, including general practice, in each local area. ICBs should evaluate the needs of the populations for which they are responsible and plan service provision as required.
The Department continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to determine how the developer contributions system can be strengthened and improved to support the planning and delivery of the required social infrastructure in areas of population growth.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria her Department will use to select locations for new Neighbourhood Health Centres, and in what way priority will be given to areas with limited primary care capacity.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise the challenges significant housing and population growth can place on primary care health infrastructure. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our ambition to create a Neighbourhood Health Service, shifting care from hospitals into communities and bringing more integrated, preventative care closer to people’s homes. The 10 Year Capital Plan, published in July, sets out how we will support delivery of that vision through capital investment.
The Government is investing over approximately £200 million of Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation funding to tackle historic underinvestment into the primary care estate. This funding continues to support upgrades to existing general practice surgeries, allowing practices to offer more appointments.
A further £200 million will support upgrading the existing estate to deliver approximately 50 neighbourhood health centres through upgrades. We announced Wave 1 of Neighbourhood Health Centre upgrade schemes in March 2026, with 27 sites across England selected to bring care closer to home. We are also assessing proposals for a pipeline of new build neighbourhood health centres.
Proposals for future waves of neighbourhood health centres are currently being assessed against published criteria, as set out in the Neighbourhood Health Centre Guidance, with final decisions on future schemes yet to be confirmed. Further information on the criteria is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/neighbourhood-health-centres/
Projects that meet the criteria will be invited to develop detailed business cases before any final funding decisions are taken. Rollout for neighbourhood health centres will start in the areas of greatest need, with investment prioritised where it can have the greatest impact and address material gaps in community and neighbourhood health infrastructure.
Integrated care boards (ICBs), like the Central East ICB which covers the South Hertfordshire area, are responsible for commissioning, including planning, securing, and monitoring, services within their health systems through delegated responsibility from NHS England. The National Health Service has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient medical services, including general practice, in each local area. ICBs should evaluate the needs of the populations for which they are responsible and plan service provision as required.
The Department continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to determine how the developer contributions system can be strengthened and improved to support the planning and delivery of the required social infrastructure in areas of population growth.