Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered adopting (a) mandatory sterilisation equipment, (b) spot checks, (c) minimum qualification standards and (d) other international best practices for nail and beauty salons.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Nail and beauty salons are already required to comply with various legislation depending on the services they offer. This includes the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and other legislation such as the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. This legislation requires that operators ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of their employees and that their clients are not exposed to risks to their health and safety.
The Government is committed to addressing longstanding concerns around the safety of the cosmetics sector. On 7 August we announced our plans to introduce further regulation in this space. As part of this work the Government has committed to legislating to introduce a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures through powers granted through the Health and Care Act 2022. Under this scheme, which will be operated by local authorities, practitioners will be required to obtain a licence to perform specified cosmetic procedures, and the premises from which they operate will also need to be licensed.
The consultation response sets out that, in the first instance, the Government will prioritise the introduction of legal restrictions to ensure that cosmetic procedures that are deemed to pose the highest level of risk to the public, such as the liquid Brazilian butt lift, are classed as Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated activities. This will mean that these procedures will only be performed by suitably qualified regulated healthcare professionals, working for providers who are registered with the CQC.
We will subsequently take forward work to determine which procedures will be included within the scheme and what requirements will have to be met in order to be granted a licence. This includes requirements relating to training and qualification standards and infection prevention and control measures. We are working with a range of stakeholders to better understand the risks posed by unsafe practice and to ensure the design of the licensing scheme addresses these safety concerns. To help inform this work, we will consider what relevant systems and standards are already in place, both in the United Kingdom and overseas.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
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 ensure that (a) training and (b) accreditation for nail and beauty professionals reflect modern (i) hygiene and (ii) safety standards.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Nail and beauty salons are already required to comply with various legislation depending on the services they offer. This includes the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and other legislation such as the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. This legislation requires that operators ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of their employees and that their clients are not exposed to risks to their health and safety.
The Government is committed to addressing longstanding concerns around the safety of the cosmetics sector. On 7 August we announced our plans to introduce further regulation in this space. As part of this work the Government has committed to legislating to introduce a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures through powers granted through the Health and Care Act 2022. Under this scheme, which will be operated by local authorities, practitioners will be required to obtain a licence to perform specified cosmetic procedures, and the premises from which they operate will also need to be licensed.
The consultation response sets out that, in the first instance, the Government will prioritise the introduction of legal restrictions to ensure that cosmetic procedures that are deemed to pose the highest level of risk to the public, such as the liquid Brazilian butt lift, are classed as Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated activities. This will mean that these procedures will only be performed by suitably qualified regulated healthcare professionals, working for providers who are registered with the CQC.
We will subsequently take forward work to determine which procedures will be included within the scheme and what requirements will have to be met in order to be granted a licence. This includes requirements relating to training and qualification standards and infection prevention and control measures. We are working with a range of stakeholders to better understand the risks posed by unsafe practice and to ensure the design of the licensing scheme addresses these safety concerns. To help inform this work, we will consider what relevant systems and standards are already in place, both in the United Kingdom and overseas.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
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 monitor (a) cases of (i) parasitic infections and (ii) chemical sensitisation and (b) infection rates associated with poor hygiene practices in nail and beauty salons.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Nail and beauty salons are already required to comply with various legislation depending on the services they offer. This includes the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and other legislation such as the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. This legislation requires that operators ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of their employees and that their clients are not exposed to risks to their health and safety.
The Government is committed to addressing longstanding concerns around the safety of the cosmetics sector. On 7 August we announced our plans to introduce further regulation in this space. As part of this work the Government has committed to legislating to introduce a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures through powers granted through the Health and Care Act 2022. Under this scheme, which will be operated by local authorities, practitioners will be required to obtain a licence to perform specified cosmetic procedures, and the premises from which they operate will also need to be licensed.
The consultation response sets out that, in the first instance, the Government will prioritise the introduction of legal restrictions to ensure that cosmetic procedures that are deemed to pose the highest level of risk to the public, such as the liquid Brazilian butt lift, are classed as Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated activities. This will mean that these procedures will only be performed by suitably qualified regulated healthcare professionals, working for providers who are registered with the CQC.
We will subsequently take forward work to determine which procedures will be included within the scheme and what requirements will have to be met in order to be granted a licence. This includes requirements relating to training and qualification standards and infection prevention and control measures. We are working with a range of stakeholders to better understand the risks posed by unsafe practice and to ensure the design of the licensing scheme addresses these safety concerns. To help inform this work, we will consider what relevant systems and standards are already in place, both in the United Kingdom and overseas.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
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 comparative assessment of the regulation of nail and beauty salons in (a) the UK and (b) other European countries.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Nail and beauty salons are already required to comply with various legislation depending on the services they offer. This includes the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and other legislation such as the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. This legislation requires that operators ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of their employees and that their clients are not exposed to risks to their health and safety.
The Government is committed to addressing longstanding concerns around the safety of the cosmetics sector. On 7 August we announced our plans to introduce further regulation in this space. As part of this work the Government has committed to legislating to introduce a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures through powers granted through the Health and Care Act 2022. Under this scheme, which will be operated by local authorities, practitioners will be required to obtain a licence to perform specified cosmetic procedures, and the premises from which they operate will also need to be licensed.
The consultation response sets out that, in the first instance, the Government will prioritise the introduction of legal restrictions to ensure that cosmetic procedures that are deemed to pose the highest level of risk to the public, such as the liquid Brazilian butt lift, are classed as Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated activities. This will mean that these procedures will only be performed by suitably qualified regulated healthcare professionals, working for providers who are registered with the CQC.
We will subsequently take forward work to determine which procedures will be included within the scheme and what requirements will have to be met in order to be granted a licence. This includes requirements relating to training and qualification standards and infection prevention and control measures. We are working with a range of stakeholders to better understand the risks posed by unsafe practice and to ensure the design of the licensing scheme addresses these safety concerns. To help inform this work, we will consider what relevant systems and standards are already in place, both in the United Kingdom and overseas.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered the introduction of (a) mandatory hygiene protocols and (b) licensing requirements for nail and beauty salons.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Nail and beauty salons are already required to comply with various legislation depending on the services they offer. This includes the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and other legislation such as the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. This legislation requires that operators ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of their employees and that their clients are not exposed to risks to their health and safety.
The Government is committed to addressing longstanding concerns around the safety of the cosmetics sector. On 7 August we announced our plans to introduce further regulation in this space. As part of this work the Government has committed to legislating to introduce a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures through powers granted through the Health and Care Act 2022. Under this scheme, which will be operated by local authorities, practitioners will be required to obtain a licence to perform specified cosmetic procedures, and the premises from which they operate will also need to be licensed.
The consultation response sets out that, in the first instance, the Government will prioritise the introduction of legal restrictions to ensure that cosmetic procedures that are deemed to pose the highest level of risk to the public, such as the liquid Brazilian butt lift, are classed as Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated activities. This will mean that these procedures will only be performed by suitably qualified regulated healthcare professionals, working for providers who are registered with the CQC.
We will subsequently take forward work to determine which procedures will be included within the scheme and what requirements will have to be met in order to be granted a licence. This includes requirements relating to training and qualification standards and infection prevention and control measures. We are working with a range of stakeholders to better understand the risks posed by unsafe practice and to ensure the design of the licensing scheme addresses these safety concerns. To help inform this work, we will consider what relevant systems and standards are already in place, both in the United Kingdom and overseas.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
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 low-cost, unregulated online beauty courses on (a) public safety and (b) professional standards.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Nail and beauty salons are already required to comply with various legislation depending on the services they offer. This includes the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and other legislation such as the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. This legislation requires that operators ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of their employees and that their clients are not exposed to risks to their health and safety.
The Government is committed to addressing longstanding concerns around the safety of the cosmetics sector. On 7 August we announced our plans to introduce further regulation in this space. As part of this work the Government has committed to legislating to introduce a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures through powers granted through the Health and Care Act 2022. Under this scheme, which will be operated by local authorities, practitioners will be required to obtain a licence to perform specified cosmetic procedures, and the premises from which they operate will also need to be licensed.
The consultation response sets out that, in the first instance, the Government will prioritise the introduction of legal restrictions to ensure that cosmetic procedures that are deemed to pose the highest level of risk to the public, such as the liquid Brazilian butt lift, are classed as Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated activities. This will mean that these procedures will only be performed by suitably qualified regulated healthcare professionals, working for providers who are registered with the CQC.
We will subsequently take forward work to determine which procedures will be included within the scheme and what requirements will have to be met in order to be granted a licence. This includes requirements relating to training and qualification standards and infection prevention and control measures. We are working with a range of stakeholders to better understand the risks posed by unsafe practice and to ensure the design of the licensing scheme addresses these safety concerns. To help inform this work, we will consider what relevant systems and standards are already in place, both in the United Kingdom and overseas.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to (a) review and (b) update the national (i) curriculum and (ii) accreditation frameworks for nail and beauty qualifications.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Nail and beauty salons are already required to comply with various legislation depending on the services they offer. This includes the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and other legislation such as the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. This legislation requires that operators ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of their employees and that their clients are not exposed to risks to their health and safety.
The Government is committed to addressing longstanding concerns around the safety of the cosmetics sector. On 7 August we announced our plans to introduce further regulation in this space. As part of this work the Government has committed to legislating to introduce a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures through powers granted through the Health and Care Act 2022. Under this scheme, which will be operated by local authorities, practitioners will be required to obtain a licence to perform specified cosmetic procedures, and the premises from which they operate will also need to be licensed.
The consultation response sets out that, in the first instance, the Government will prioritise the introduction of legal restrictions to ensure that cosmetic procedures that are deemed to pose the highest level of risk to the public, such as the liquid Brazilian butt lift, are classed as Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated activities. This will mean that these procedures will only be performed by suitably qualified regulated healthcare professionals, working for providers who are registered with the CQC.
We will subsequently take forward work to determine which procedures will be included within the scheme and what requirements will have to be met in order to be granted a licence. This includes requirements relating to training and qualification standards and infection prevention and control measures. We are working with a range of stakeholders to better understand the risks posed by unsafe practice and to ensure the design of the licensing scheme addresses these safety concerns. To help inform this work, we will consider what relevant systems and standards are already in place, both in the United Kingdom and overseas.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will consider extending access to cardiac screening to people aged 14 to 35 who participate in sport.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In the United Kingdom, national screening programmes are introduced based on the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific advisory committee which advises ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries on all aspects of population and targeted screening and which supports implementation.
The UK NSC last reviewed screening for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in people under the age of 39 years old in 2019 and concluded that population screening should not be offered. Further information is available at the following link:
https://view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk/sudden-cardiac-death/
The UK NSC is currently examining the evidence for SCD screening and will open a public consultation to seek comments from members of the public and stakeholders on this in due course.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
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 Wait 45 policy on (a) ambulance release times and (b) levels of corridor care in hospitals.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has not made a specific assessment. However, ambulance handover delays have improved since last year, and monthly average national handover times have been under 30 minutes since May 2025.
As part of the preparations for winter, the Department and NHS England have asked all services to develop and test winter plans, including specific actions to improve flow through hospitals and making progress on eliminating corridor care.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
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 (a) level and (b) nature of the challenges faced by A&E staff; and what additional support he is providing to boost A&E staff morale.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government is committed to making the National Health Service the best place to work, by supporting and retaining our hardworking and dedicated healthcare professionals, including those working in accident and emergency departments. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will set out how we will ensure that staff are better treated, have better training, and have more fulfilling roles.
We will also work with the Social Partnership Forum to introduce a new set of staff standards for modern employment. The new standards will reaffirm our commitment to supporting staff by tackling the issues that matter to them. They will cover access to nutritious food and drink at work, reducing violence against staff, tackling racism and sexual harassment, standards of ‘healthy work’ and occupational health support, and support for flexible working. These standards will provide a framework for leaders across the NHS to build a supportive culture to help boost morale across the workforce.