Asked by: Peter Prinsley (Labour - Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to introduce self/preferential e-rostering for doctors.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We want to move the National Health Service toward a culture where flexible working opportunities are much more widely available, and where employees feel supported to discuss their working patterns and options with their line manager.
Our 10 Year Workforce Plan will set out how we will ensure the NHS has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients when they need it. We will do this by ensuring staff are better treated, have better training and more fulfilling roles.
The Plan will also set out how we will increase opportunities for flexible working, including through the introduction of a new set of Staff Standards which will mandate additional action employers need to take in key areas, such as flexible working.
Additionally, NHS England, in partnership with NHS Employers, Timewise, and the NHS Staff Council, developed the Think Flex First guidance to support individuals and organisations to consider flexible working options, and to put in place structures and processes to deliver future-fit workplaces. It highlights e‑Rostering as a key enabler of flexible working for clinicians, including doctors, delivering 24/7 services, ensuring flexibility is delivered consistently, fairly, and at scale within safe clinical staffing models.
Asked by: Peter Prinsley (Labour - Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what research has his Department undertaken to understand the clinical and cost effectiveness of bilateral cochlear implantation.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that produces evidence-based guidance for the health and care system. NICE develops its recommendations with clinical and technical experts, drawing on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and engagement with patients, professionals, and other stakeholders. NICE recommended cochlear implants for children and adults with severe to profound deafness. Full details are set out in NICE’s guidance at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta566
NICE guidelines set out best practice, taking account both clinical effectiveness and value for money. National Health Service organisations are expected to take this guidance fully into account when planning and providing services for their local populations.
Asked by: Peter Prinsley (Labour - Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps has his Department taken to help ensure that ICBs have policies in place to ensure that patients get access to cochlear implants in line with revisions made to NICE guidance in March 2019.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not hold data on the number of children and adults who were fitted with unilateral and bilateral cochlear implants in each of the last eight years.
Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning services to meet the reasonable requirements of their local populations. This includes determining the most appropriate model of care for cochlear implants, taking account of clinical safety, access, quality, value for money, and the availability of alternative pathways. The Health and Care Act 2022 provides that each integrated care board may arrange for the provision of services or facilities as it considers appropriate for the purposes of the health service.
Asked by: Peter Prinsley (Labour - Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data does his Department hold on the number of (a) children and (b) adults who were fitted with (i) unilateral and (ii) bilateral cochlear implants in each of the last eight years for which figures are available.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not hold data on the number of children and adults who were fitted with unilateral and bilateral cochlear implants in each of the last eight years.
Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning services to meet the reasonable requirements of their local populations. This includes determining the most appropriate model of care for cochlear implants, taking account of clinical safety, access, quality, value for money, and the availability of alternative pathways. The Health and Care Act 2022 provides that each integrated care board may arrange for the provision of services or facilities as it considers appropriate for the purposes of the health service.
Asked by: Peter Prinsley (Labour - Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of how the National Cancer Plan will improve outcomes across all rare and less common cancers, in particular asbestos-related mesothelioma; whether he plans to engage with specialist organisations delivering best practice, including those embedded within the NHS; such as Mesothelioma UK, and what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on addressing asbestos risks in schools as part of the Government’s cancer prevention strategy.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Cancer Plan, published on 4 February, sets out several actions and commitments on rare cancers, including mesothelioma, to be delivered within the next ten years.
These include appointing a national lead for rare cancers, prioritising access to specialist treatment for patients with rare cancers, and working with charities to improve post-treatment support. The National Cancer Plan underpins a proactive approach to early diagnosis of rare cancers by utilising new artificial intelligence support tools and supporting research improving detection of rare cancers in Multi-Cancer Detection Tests. Research of rare cancers is crucial to the development of novel diagnostic and treatment routes. The National Cancer Plan sets out how rare cancers will be a research priority, including implementing the Rare Cancers Act to expand trial access, and accelerating movement from foundational research to innovative treatments.
The Department of Health and Social Care is working across Government, and closely with partners including charities, the National Health Service, and specialist organisations to learn and share best practice, with the goal of improving the lives and outcomes of people with rare cancers, including mesothelioma. The Government also provides financial support available through the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, and two lump sum compensation schemes delivered through the Department of Work and Pensions.
Asked by: Peter Prinsley (Labour - Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the adequacy of online identity verification checks used by motor insurance providers to prevent fraudulent policies being issued using stolen personal information.
Answered by Rachel Blake - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government takes the issue of fraud extremely seriously.
The FCA is an independent body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry. The FCA expects firms to have robust systems and controls to detect and prevent financial crime. The FCA monitors firms and has robust powers to act against firms that fail to comply with its rules.
As set out in the final report of the cross-Government Motor Insurance Taskforce, published in December 2025, the Government, regulators and industry are taking a range of actions to combat fraud related to motor insurance. This includes the FCA’s work to identify and remove fraudulent advertising; the Insurance Fraud Bureau and Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department’s work to detect, investigate and deter motor insurance fraud; and collective efforts to deliver on the commitments in the Home Office’s Insurance Fraud Charter.
Asked by: Peter Prinsley (Labour - Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of rapid alcohol delivery services on the level of alcohol dependency and alcohol-related harm; and whether she plans to review existing licensing and age-verification regulations to access such services.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Licensing Act 2003 regulates the sale and supply of alcohol. The Government recognises that consumer purchasing habits have evolved in recent years, particularly with a notable growth in alcohol sales made via online platforms and rapid delivery services.
The Department for Health and Social Care, which has responsibility for policy on health harms, and the Home Office are looking at how current licensing rules apply to these services and monitoring emerging evidence on the impact they may be having on people’s health. I am clear that we will act where necessary to protect public safety.
To this end, I will shortly hold a roundtable jointly with the Minister for Public Health and Prevention to consider solutions with healthcare professionals and experts in the field.
Asked by: Peter Prinsley (Labour - Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has considered introducing an online system for Personal Independence Payment claimants to report a change in circumstances, in line with other Government departments that offer digital self-service options; and if he will make an assessment of the potential benefits of such a system for accessibility, efficiency, and user experience.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Health Transformation Programme is transforming the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) service to improve efficiency, accessibility, and user experience, build trust in our decisions, and support people to enter or remain in work.
Customers can access an online service to submit their health information after calling us to start their claim and this is already available to over 90% of new PIP customers. This is benefiting customers by removing postage times and increasing accessibility.
Asked by: Peter Prinsley (Labour - Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the removal of Training Interface Group (TIG) fellowships on the provision of specialist cleft surgery training; and what steps he is taking to help ensure the continued development of cross-specialty expertise across ENT, maxillofacial and plastic surgery.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England made the decision in 2025 to discontinue central funding of the salary support component of the Training Interface Group programme, and to target financial resources more effectively to address regional workforce priorities. Regions or provider organisations that wish to continue developing these skills are still able to recruit, fund, and train staff using the curriculum set by the Joint Committee on Surgical Training.
NHS England is also working to understand where they can enhance and support smaller, highly specialised areas of practice.
NHS England has initiated a plan, working with clinical subject matter experts, to define the demand and future supply needed for the training of cleft lip and palate surgeons and to shape the future training and workforce investment needed in this area.
Asked by: Peter Prinsley (Labour - Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket)
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 recognise clinical academic training undertaken during specialty training by doctors in England towards consultant salary seniority.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Clinical academic training undertaken during medical specialty training does not currently count towards consultant salary seniority. However, salary seniority may be negotiated locally at the start of a consultant post. Universities have separate pay scales for clinical academics which would take academic experience into account.
Clinical academic trainees can have academic time counted towards their Certificate of Completion of Training. Trainees undertaking a higher academic qualification, such as a PhD, during their training may qualify for an academic pay premium. This is a taxable, non-pensionable allowance for trainees in England who have completed an approved higher degree and returned to clinical training. It is paid annually until the completion of clinical training and is aimed at incentivising academic careers.