Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of delays in registering transfers of land ownership by HM Land Registry on the ability of local planning authorities to identify landowners and serve planning enforcement notices; and what steps she is taking to mitigate that impact.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The vast majority of searches for land ownership through HM Land Registry (HMLR) are automated with results available instantly. Where ownership has recently changed but has not yet been formally updated on the Land Register, the official copy will reveal that a change of ownership has occurred. As such, the impact of delays in registering transfers of land ownership should be negligible.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost to the public purse was of Government investment into kidney disease research in 2025-26; and which public bodies provided that investment.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In terms of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), research is funded through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Other research is funded by the Department of Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.
In 2025/26, through the NIHR, the DHSC committed £14.6 million for new research projects alongside supporting infrastructure, including understanding genetic risk, improving scans and diagnosis, testing treatments, monitoring patients in primary care, and supporting people after they leave hospital.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what the cost to the public purse was of Government investment into kidney disease research in 2025-26; and which public bodies provided that investment.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
This Department funds medical research through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). UKRI’s Medical Research Council (MRC) funds research into the detection, prevention, treatment and underpinning biology of kidney disease.
In financial year 2025–26, the MRC awarded £12.9 million for new research directly focused on kidney disease.
This response only covers MRC funded research. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) funds medical research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). DHSC will separately provide an answer to UIN 34276 to cover NIHR funded research.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department made an assessment, as part of its decision to remove time restrictions on the use of disabled persons’ concessionary bus passes from 1 April 2027, of the potential merits of extending the statutory concession to (a) local rail, (b) light rail, (c) tram and (d) metro services; and whether she has made an estimate of the cost of such an extension.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government has not formally assessed the merits or cost of extending the statutory concession to local rail, light rail, tram or metro services as part of the decision to remove the existing off-peak time restrictions on disabled persons’ bus passes from 1 April 2027.
The Government's decision relates specifically to the statutory entitlement under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS), which provides free bus travel for eligible older and disabled people in England. Local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations under ENCTS and offer additional discretionary concessions, including on other modes of transport. Decisions on such discretionary concessions are a matter for individual local authorities, taking account of local needs and priorities.
West Northamptonshire Council will be allocated £18 million under the LABG from 2026/27 to 2028/29.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what representations she has received from bereaved and harmed families on the findings and recommendations of the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation; and what steps she is taking in response to those representations.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to making pregnancy and maternity and neonatal care safer, supporting families through every stage of that journey, and giving every child the best possible start in life.
The findings of both Baroness Amos’ independent investigation into maternity and neonatal services, and Donna Ockenden’s review into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust underline the scale and urgency of the challenge we face. Too many women, babies, and families have experienced unacceptable care, and too many families continue to live with the devastating consequences when services fail.
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has made this issue a personal priority, and is chairing the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce to develop a single, national action plan – reflecting the recommendations from the Amos and Ockenden reviews – that will drive systemic and sustained improvement across maternity and neonatal care, and deliver lasting change for women, families, and their babies.
We recognise the importance of ensuring that the experiences of families affected by maternity and neonatal harm are reflected in the Taskforce’s work. The Taskforce is supported by three family expert reference groups made up of individuals with lived experience of maternity and neonatal care, including women and families who have experienced harm, parents and families caring for children affected by maternity and neonatal harm, and families who have experienced bereavement. The chairs of these groups sit on the Taskforce and represent the views and priorities raised by their members.
The Taskforce is also considering as a matter of urgency the full scope and role of the Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner prior to the appointment of that post.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a statutory public inquiry into systemic issues with maternity and neonatal services.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to making pregnancy and maternity and neonatal care safer, supporting families through every stage of that journey, and giving every child the best possible start in life.
The findings of both Baroness Amos’ independent investigation into maternity and neonatal services, and Donna Ockenden’s review into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust underline the scale and urgency of the challenge we face. Too many women, babies, and families have experienced unacceptable care, and too many families continue to live with the devastating consequences when services fail.
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has made this issue a personal priority, and is chairing the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce to develop a single, national action plan – reflecting the recommendations from the Amos and Ockenden reviews – that will drive systemic and sustained improvement across maternity and neonatal care, and deliver lasting change for women, families, and their babies.
We recognise the importance of ensuring that the experiences of families affected by maternity and neonatal harm are reflected in the Taskforce’s work. The Taskforce is supported by three family expert reference groups made up of individuals with lived experience of maternity and neonatal care, including women and families who have experienced harm, parents and families caring for children affected by maternity and neonatal harm, and families who have experienced bereavement. The chairs of these groups sit on the Taskforce and represent the views and priorities raised by their members.
The Taskforce is also considering as a matter of urgency the full scope and role of the Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner prior to the appointment of that post.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has had discussions with NICE on a potential timetable for reviewing guidance on liposuction for chronic lipoedema.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to the Hon Member for Southport on 3 July 2026 in response to Question 12297.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support is available to ICBs to commission specialist services for people with lipoedema.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to the Hon Member for Southport on 3 July 2026 in response to Question 12297.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when she plans to commence the appointment process for the statutory Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner; and when she expects the successful candidate to take up that post.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer provided on 28 July in response to Question HL2548.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has make an assessment of the potential merits of developing a national clinical pathway for the diagnosis and management of lipoedema.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to the Hon Member for Southport on 3 July 2026 in response to Question 12297.