Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the care sector on the adequacy of safeguarding procedures in private care homes that employ staff recruited from overseas.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Any form of abuse or neglect is unacceptable, and regulated providers have a key role in safeguarding adults. All staff are subject to employer checks and controls, and employers must satisfy themselves regarding the skills and competence of their staff.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors how well providers are safeguarding service users. As part of their regulatory regime, the CQC checks that care providers have effective systems to help keep adults safe from abuse and neglect.
International workers applying for a Health and Care Visa must submit a criminal record certificate from any country that they have resided in for 12 months or more in the last ten years. Further to this, a Disclosure and Barring Service check must be undertaken.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking to (a) improve food allergy safety and (b) provide safe gluten-free options in the hospitality sector through (i) enforcing standards on the prevention of cross-contamination, (ii) reducing reliance on generic allergy disclaimers, (iii) supporting small businesses with access to gluten-free ingredients and staff training and (iv) encouraging the uptake of accreditation schemes to ensure that people with coeliac disease and other food allergies can dine out safely.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the independent Government department responsible for food safety and allergen labelling in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Food business operators (FBOs) need to tell customers if any food they provide contains any of the 14 listed allergens as an ingredient, including cereals containing gluten. Further information on the allergen guidance for food businesses and the food allergen labelling and information requirements is available, respectively, at the following two links:
https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/allergen-guidance-for-food-businesses
In March 2025, the FSA published new guidance, Allergen Information for Non-Prepacked Foods Best Practice, which recommends that allergen information be provided in writing, and supported by a conversation with the consumer. We have also emphasised the need for those with allergies to mention these when ordering food. This new guidance is available at the following link:
All food businesses must have a food safety management system based on the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point principles. This includes identifying hazards including allergens, determining critical control points, setting limits, monitoring, corrective actions, verification, and record-keeping. Businesses can use ‘gluten-free’ claims if the level of gluten is 20 milligrams per kilogram or less, and should be able to verify such a claim. The enforcement of hygiene and allergen information regulations is the responsibility of local authorities, who monitor compliance with the latter through the Food Standards Delivery Model.
Food law does not oblige FBOs to provide gluten-free food or ingredients. However, if an FBO is made aware of a person’s allergen requirements and has agreed to provide a meal, they have an obligation to ensure that the meal does not contain that allergen and is safe. FBOs must ensure that staff receive training commensurate to their role, and the FSA has provided free online allergen training via their website, at the following link:
https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/allergy-training-for-food-businesses
This training has been accessed by over 915,000 users, including those in hospitality, to help food businesses to understand the importance of allergies. The FSA also provides guidance to FBOs and trade associations, and to local authorities who are responsible for enforcing allergen labelling laws.
As a regulator, the FSA does not provide accreditation or certification and is not in a position to endorse any other accreditation schemes. However, the FSA recognises its role in helping consumers identify safe dining options and encourages businesses to consider such schemes where appropriate.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make a comparative assessment of the level of the residential care home fees (a) in England, (b) Wiltshire and (c) Gloucestershire; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure (i) care home residents and (ii) the families of care home residents are protected from above-inflation increases in care charges.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not hold data on self-funder residential care home fees sufficient to make a comparative assessment between different local authorities. Fee rates are set by providers of adult social care. The Department does not have the power to limit the level of fees that a care home can charge. However, all businesses are required to comply with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 by ensuring that they use fair and clear terms in their standard agreements with customers.
We have launched an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission will deliver recommendations for the transformation of adult social care, including how to best create a fair and affordable adult social care system.
The current system of charging for care provides funded support for those with the least financial means. Only the income and assets, including savings, of the cared for individual can be considered by the local authority when assessing their financial eligibility for support. Where individuals have assets below £14,250, they will not contribute to their care from their assets. Local authorities have the power to set a higher threshold if they choose.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
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 support families with rises in care home fees for relatives with dementia; and whether he has made an assessment of the impact of those changes on the savings of older people.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not hold data on self-funder residential care home fees sufficient to make a comparative assessment between different local authorities. Fee rates are set by providers of adult social care. The Department does not have the power to limit the level of fees that a care home can charge. However, all businesses are required to comply with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 by ensuring that they use fair and clear terms in their standard agreements with customers.
We have launched an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission will deliver recommendations for the transformation of adult social care, including how to best create a fair and affordable adult social care system.
The current system of charging for care provides funded support for those with the least financial means. Only the income and assets, including savings, of the cared for individual can be considered by the local authority when assessing their financial eligibility for support. Where individuals have assets below £14,250, they will not contribute to their care from their assets. Local authorities have the power to set a higher threshold if they choose.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the eligibility for free prescriptions to people with Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no plans to review the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate.
There are extensive arrangements in place in England to ensure that prescriptions are affordable for everyone. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there is a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place for which those with Schwachmann Diamond Syndrome may be eligible. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.
People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme, which provides help based on a comparison between a person’s income and requirements.
People who need to pay and need many prescription items could save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as needed for a set cost. An annual PPC costs £114.50 and will save money if they need 12 or more items in 12 months. To help spread the cost, people can pay for an annual PPC by ten monthly direct debits, which works out as just over £2 per week. A three-month PPC for £32.05 is also available.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the ingestion of microplastics from plastic-based chewing gum on public health.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is monitoring and assessing emerging information concerning the wider issue of microplastics in food.
The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) is an independent scientific advisory committee that provides advice to the FSA and other Government Departments. No assessment has been made on the potential impact of the ingestion of microplastics from chewing gum specifically, as the COT is currently considering the issue of microplastics in general.
The COT has previously concluded that there is currently insufficient data to carry out a full risk assessment. Further research is required into standardisation of analytical techniques as well as the effects of microplastics on humans. The FSA is keeping the issue of microplastics under review as new evidence becomes available.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of constituency boundary changes on the availability of (a) discharge to assess and (b) respite care beds in South Cotswolds constituency; and what steps he is taking to ensure local provision of those beds.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Hospital discharge and respite care planning and provision are the responsibility of local authorities and local National Health Service bodies, including integrated care boards, trusts and foundation trusts. The geographical footprint of these bodies is not affected by constituency boundary changes.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
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 impact of providing free continuous glucose monitoring systems to patients eligible for the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of doing so on (a) the incidence of and (b) complications arising from type II diabetes.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Continuous glucose monitoring systems are available on the National Health Service in line with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines which state that, among other criteria, a person must have a diagnosis of diabetes. People with a diagnosis of diabetes are not eligible for the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP).
Therefore, no assessment has been made on the impact of providing free continuous glucose monitoring systems through the NHS DPP.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of providing funding for (a) continuous glucose monitoring and (b) other preventive technologies on (i) NHS expenditure and (b) complications arising from type II diabetes.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Data from the National Diabetes Audit suggests that the number of people with type 2 diabetes using continuous glucose monitoring is increasing. In 2022/23, 37,000 people were using continuous glucose monitoring, rising to 95,000 people in 2023/24, and to 155,000 people in 2024/25. Metrics that are useful for health systems to monitor access to glucose monitoring will be published later this year
Unlike for medicines, there is no national pathway to prioritise and nationally fund the highest impact health technology, including wearable technology. As a result, we see significant unwarranted variation in uptake, weakening the perceived attractiveness of the United Kingdom’s market. From April 2026, building on and adapting our experience with medicines, we will begin expanding NICE’s technology appraisal process, which includes mandated funding by the NHS, to cover some devices, diagnostics, and digital products. This will focus on those that meet the NHS’ most urgent needs and support financial sustainability.
By 2035, all patients will have access to wearables. Wearables will enable patients and their carers to better manage their care by having access to their health data such as blood pressure and glucose levels. They will also enable remote monitoring to alert a patient’s care team to any issues so that appropriate interventions can be made quickly before they progress. The 10-Year Health Plan aims to reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and enhance the care of patients living with diabetes through the delivery of the three shifts:
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
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 impact of (a) removing (i) dental therapist and (ii) dental technician roles and (b) other changes to the Skilled Worker visa eligibility list on internationally trained dental professionals seeking registration with the General Dental Council.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Registration with the General Dental Council in the United Kingdom is a separate process from obtaining a Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa, although both are required to enable overseas dental professionals to work in the UK.
On 1 July 2025, changes to immigration rules were laid before Parliament which, subject to Parliamentary approval, will come into force from 22 July. Dentists meet the new higher skill level of Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 6 or above, and continue to remain eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa under the immigration changes.
The expanded Immigration Salary List (ISL) and interim Temporary Shortage List (TSL) allow time-limited access, until the end of 2026, to the UK’s immigration system for selected occupations of skill level RQF 3 to 5, with restrictions on bringing dependants. The evidence considered by the independent Migration Advisory Committee for the ISL and by the Department for Business and Trade for the TSL did not support including dental technicians, dental nurses, dental hygienists, or dental therapists on either list. Therefore, these occupations will no longer be eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa or Skilled Worker visa from 22 July.
A transition period applies for those already in the UK, where skilled workers can continue to be sponsored in RQF level 3 to 5 occupations if they are already in the route, meaning they have a visa or have a Certificate of Sponsorship issued, before 22 July, even where an occupation is not on the ISL or the TSL, providing they continue to meet all other requirements of the route.