Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether that spousal visa fee reflects the administrative cost of processing such applications in full; and what proportion of the fee represents (a) visa processing costs, (b) the Immigration Health Surcharge and (c) other charges or cross-subsidisation of the wider immigration and borders system.

Answered by Mike Tapp

Published unit costs for processing visa applications can be viewed on Gov.UK through the following link: Visa fees transparency data - GOV.UK. The estimated unit cost of a spousal visa is currently £426, the fee for a spouse visa application is £1407.

Fees for immigration and nationality applications are kept under review. The Home Office does not make a profit from fees and any income from fees set above the cost of processing is utilised for the purpose of running the Migration and Borders system, reducing reliance of taxpayer funding.

For a spouse visa, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is separate from the visa application fee, but both are paid as part of the application process.

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is set at £1,035 per person per year and is calculated based on the length of immigration permission granted. For a standard 30‑month spouse visa, applicants pay £2,587.50 for the IHS.

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 financial and workforce impact on GP practices of the requirement to deliver same-day responses to all clinically urgent requests under the 2026/27 GP contract.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales

The 2026/27 GP Contract makes clear that requests identified by practices as clinically urgent should be responded to on the same day. This builds on NHS England’s Medium Term Planning Framework, which set an expectation that urgent appointments should be delivered on the same day so that patients with urgent needs are prioritised.

We recognise that practices will need the right capacity and flexibility to deliver this. That is why we are investing an additional £601 million in general practices (GPs) in 2026/27, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to approximately £14 billion. This builds on the £1.1 billion increase in 2025/26, the largest uplift in over a decade. Since October 2024 we have recruited 2,000 more GPs. We now have the highest number of GPs by headcount since 2015. The 2026/27 contract also introduces a practice-level GP reimbursement scheme, backed by £292 million of ringfenced funding, to help practices recruit more GPs or expand sessions.

This will support practices to manage demand, improve access for patients, strengthen GP employment, and continue to improve patient satisfaction.

Same-day appointment levels have remained broadly steady. In May 2026, 44.9% of appointments were booked and attended on the same day, up 0.3% from April 2026 and 0.7% from May 2025. This represents approximately 13 million appointments taking place on the day of booking.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the total value of payments made to With-Profits Annuitants under the Equitable Life Payments Scheme as of 30 May 2026.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

In 2010 the then government chose to allocate £1.5 billion to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme. Before it ceased operations in 2016, the Scheme had issued £1.12 billion in tax-free payments to nearly 933,000 policyholders. The remainder of the £1.5 billion has been set aside for future payments to the With-Profits Annuitants. Further information is available in the Final Report on the Scheme. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equitable-life-payment-scheme-final-report).

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 help increase the provision of contraceptive services.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

The Government provides funding for contraception, both as an essential service which general practices (GPs) must either provide or arrange for the provision of to their patients through the GP Contract, and through the Public Health Grant to local authorities.

Local authorities across England are responsible for commissioning comprehensive, open access sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception, to meet local demand, and it is for them to decide on commissioning arrangements based on an assessment of local need.

To offer greater choice in how people can access contraception services, the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service has been introduced. This enables pharmacists to issue ongoing supplies of contraception initiated in GP surgeries and sexual health services and to initiate oral contraception. Since October 2025, Emergency Hormonal Contraception forms part of the Pharmacy Contraception Service, which means women have access to the morning-after pill free of charge from pharmacies.

However, there is more to do. In the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy, published on 15 April 2026, we have set out our commitment to improve access to contraception through seamless contraception pathways, with closer working between National Health Services and local authorities to reduce fragmentation. The renewed strategy also commits to simpler, faster access to the full range of contraception, including through community, pharmacy, and digital routes.

In addition, we will include contraception in the upcoming sexual and reproductive health framework to clarify current commissioning arrangements and share opportunities and best practice for closer working and improved pathways.

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 GP contract changes on (a) patient safety, (b) primary‑care capacity and (c) workload transferred to general practice prior to its implementation on 1 April 2026.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales

The Department and NHS England considered the potential risks, benefits, and wider impact of the policy changes as part of standard policy-development processes and Equalities Impact Assessments.

No immediate negative impacts have been identified from these policies. If any are identified at a later stage, the Department will consider and review them. The changes are intended to improve access to general practices (GPs), build workforce capacity, and strengthen prevention. They include measures to increase GP capacity, including a new practice-level GP reimbursement scheme and greater flexibility to recruit GPs through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme.

We are routinely collecting data on workforce, patient access, and service use to inform the assessment of impacts.

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 people who receive a neurodevelopmental diagnosis in adulthood, particularly women, and ensure that health professionals effectively guide people to appropriate local services and support.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

The Government is committed to supporting people with neurodevelopmental conditions, including women and those diagnosed in adulthood, so that they receive the right support, tailored to their individual needs, to live well in their communities.

Following a neurodevelopmental diagnosis, adults can access a range of health and care support. Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing individual’s health needs and local authorities are responsible for an individual’s care and support needs, and making appropriate provision available locally, including access to support services. NHS Talking Therapies are also available for adults with neurodevelopmental conditions experiencing depression or anxiety.

NHS England’s national operational guidance on autism sets out that post-diagnostic support should include appropriate information and signposting or facilitating introductions to other services within or beyond health. Post-diagnostic support can also include signposting to sources of help for other conditions or provision of support around accepting and understanding a diagnosis.

Similarly, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) recommends that people diagnosed with ADHD are provided with information, support, and advice to help them understand and manage their condition and access appropriate local services.

In December 2025, the Government launched the Independent Review into the Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism. The interim report, published in March 2026, finds that access to diagnosis and support remains uneven, with some groups and individuals still under-identified, while others are entering diagnostic pathways in increasing numbers. The next phase will examine inequalities in prevalence, diagnosis, support, and outcomes in more detail, including variation by age, sex, ethnicity, deprivation and other characteristics. The final report, due in the summer, will make recommendations on how the Government, the health system, and wider public services can respond to increasing demand for support more fairly and effectively so that people receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place.

Separately, we will develop and publish a revised cross-Government autism strategy. The current strategy will remain in effect until a revised strategy is published. This will be informed by all relevant evidence, reviews, and reports, including the recommendations from the House of Lords Autism Act 2009 Inquiry Committee report and the Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism. As part of this work, we will consider and seek the views of stakeholders as to whether the revised autism strategy should be extended to cover ADHD.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what consideration he has given to the involvement of young people with politics and their potential disenfranchisement following the social media ban.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

Young people represent the future of our country. The Government believes young people must be seen and heard and that ambition is at the heart of major government priorities including Votes at 16. The Government committed in its manifesto to increasing the engagement of young people in our vibrant democracy, by giving 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all UK elections. We want to build and encourage long-lasting engagement with our democracy. Early engagement by younger voters will build the foundations for their lifetime participation in our electoral processes. The government’s decision to ban social media companies from offering their services to under 16s reflects the fact that they have repeatedly failed to keep children safe online.

Social media is not the only – nor always the most reliable – source of high-quality news content. Young people will continue to have access to political information from a wide range of trusted sources, including schools and colleges, the Electoral Commission and other impartial organisations. There will also be a defined list of exemptions, including, for example, educational services.

We are working across Government and with stakeholders to consider how best to support democratic education ahead of the franchise extension. This includes strengthening democracy education and media literacy in the national curriculum.

In addition, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has also established the Democratic Engagement Fund to support politically neutral projects that help people understand, engage with and participate in democracy.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the special relationship with the USA, what plans she has for bolstering and developing the special relationship.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on this question by the Foreign Secretary in the last session of departmental oral questions on 16 June.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his department is doing to address recruitment and retention issues in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

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

Decisions on employment in obstetrics and gynaecology are a matter for individual National Health Service trusts which manage their recruitment at a local level, ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are working closely with NHS England, employers, and educators to improve transition into the workforce.

The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of fees charged for spousal visa applications; and if she will provide a breakdown of the £3,994.50 fee.

Answered by Mike Tapp

Fees for immigration and nationality applications are kept under review. Where changes to fee legislation are made, Impact Assessments are produced which identify potential impacts resulting from the changes. The most recent Impact Assessment which includes considerations in respect of fees for family routes is published here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2026/44/pdfs/ukia_20260044_en.pdf.

The Home Office publishes the fees charged and the estimated unit cost of processing immigration and nationality applications on gov.uk. This can be reviewed via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-fees-transparency-data.

The Home Office also provides for exceptions to the need to pay application fees in a number of specific circumstances. These include affordability-based waivers for entry clearance and leave to remain on family and human rights grounds.

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is set at £1,035 per person per year and is calculated based on the length of immigration permission granted. For a standard 30‑month spouse visa, applicants pay £2,587.50 for the IHS. This coupled with the spousal visa cost of £1407 means applicants pay £3994.50. The IHS rates are set using analysis from the Department of Health and Social Care on the average yearly cost to the NHS of treating those who pay the IHS. This analysis is regularly reviewed to make sure the rates reflect the actual cost of providing healthcare to migrants. The IHS is charged as a fixed amount, rather than based on individual use, which ensures the system is fair to everyone who pays.

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 invest in evidence-based training, guidance and resources to improve health and education professionals' understanding of neurodevelopmental conditions and support neurodivergent children and adults.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

Under the Health and Care Act 2022, from 1 July 2022, all providers registered with the Care Quality Commission must ensure their staff receive learning disability and autism training appropriate to their role. This will ensure staff have the right confidence, knowledge, and skills to provide safe and informed care. To guide providers on how to meet the statutory training requirement, a Code of Practice was published and laid in Parliament, becoming final on 6 September 2025. To support this, the Government is rolling out the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism to the health and adult social care workforce.

NHS England has also published guidance and operational frameworks to improve the quality of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) services, including guidance to support clinicians and services in providing appropriate assessment, diagnosis, and care. The Medium-Term Planning Framework sets clear expectations for integrated care boards (ICBs) and providers to improve access to services and the quality of assessments by implementing existing and new guidance, as published.

As part of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms, we are investing approximately £1.8 billion over the next three years for local area partnerships, including local authorities and ICBs, to develop a new ‘Experts at Hand’ offer. This offer is designed to strengthen the capability of mainstream education settings by providing access to support from key services and health and specialist education practitioners, including speech and language therapists and support workers or assistants, occupational therapists and support workers or assistants, educational psychologists and trainees, and specialist teachers, both local authority-based and those based in specialist or alternative provision settings.

We are also investing over £40 million in the specialist workforce, including £26 million to train more educational psychologists and £15 million to support more speech and language therapists to work in education settings. This new offer is designed to strengthen the capability of mainstream education settings so that more specialist expertise can be accessed by mainstream settings to support all children and young people thrive, including those with SEND.

In December 2025, the Government launched an Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism. This review will inform a new approach that reduces waiting times, improves the quality of care, and promotes prevention and early intervention. The review’s final report is due to be published in the summer.

Found: 2025 Members present Dame Chi Onwurah (in the Chair) George Freeman Dr Allison Gardner Samantha Niblett

Found: Tom Collins; Emily Darlington; Maya Ellis; George Freeman; Dr Allison Gardner; Kit Malthouse; Samantha Niblett

Found: Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); George Freeman; Kit Malthouse; Freddie van Mierlo; Samantha Niblett

Found: Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); George Freeman; Kit Malthouse; Freddie van Mierlo; Samantha Niblett

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure continuous support for landfill gas generation and methane abatement assets immediately following the end of the Renewables Obligation in April 2027 and while his Department is exploring implementation of a long-term methane capture scheme.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon Friend the Member for South Derbyshire (Samantha Niblett) on 2^nd July 2026 to Question 14090.

As set out in the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, the government is exploring the possibility of a long-term methane capture scheme alongside suitable transitional arrangements. DESNZ will shortly consult on proposals for a possible transitional scheme, including an anticipated delivery timetable.